Arsenal vs Watford match report: Holders dumped out by Hornets as pressure grows on Arsene Wenger

In the 16 years these two clubs have trained side-by-side, separated by little more than a Hertfordshire hedgerow, the envious glances over it have always been from Watford. Not this week. Arsenal may be off to Catalonia tomorrow, but it is Watford who are going to Wembley next month, and they will be the ones travelling with hope in their hearts.

Watford have never won the FA Cup, but they will fear no one after knocking out the back-to-back winners on their own turf yesterday as the year of the underdog took another bite out of the game’s pedigree clubs.

The Hornets, who had not scored since the fifth round on St Valentine’s weekend, struck twice in the third quarter, through Odion Ighalo and a thunderbolt from Ade Guedioura. In a late rally, sparked by a Danny Welbeck goal, the holders were the width of a post away from forcing a replay, but Watford held on.

It was the Gunners’ first defeat in this competition since Colin Kazim Richards scored the only goal for Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates in the 2013 fifth round. Third in the Premier League, eight points behind Leicester City, and needing to overhaul a 2-0 deficit in the Champions League against Barcelona, Arsenal’s season, which promised so much, looks like drifting to a miserable conclusion. Arsène Wenger spoke, as so often, of his players’ character, of his team not deserving to lose, of continuing the fight, but the sense that twilight is falling on a golden era in north London gathers momentum.

open image in gallery

For Watford, the season remains one of rich promise. With the main aim – preserving their top-flight status – already achieved, this cup run is a bonus. They can go to their first semi-final since 2007 with no pressure, which makes them dangerous opponents, especially with Ighalo back in the goals.

Pre-match Wenger had commented wryly of people’s expectations that “even in Paradise, Adam was not happy”, but a more appropriate Biblical reference to the mood at the Emirates would have invoked Doubting Thomas. The “In Wenger we trust” banner has fewer adherents these days, with many supporters having lost faith in the Frenchman’s ability to deliver the title again. Wenger’s team selection reflected the need to win, and keep further mutiny at bay. Despite the gargantuan challenge they face in Catalonia he fielded a strong side including Mesut Özil, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud.

But the trouble in Paradise is not just on the pitch. A trio of fan groups had promoted a boycott by season-ticket holders, who stood to fork out £35-£70 for this game as their cup credits had been used up. To judge from the empty red seats, a significant number heeded the call – in sharp contrast to the visiting support, who numbered more than 8,000.

This was a show of faith as Watford went into the match without a goal in more than five hours’ play. They did not often look like breaking the drought in the first half. With Troy Deeney on the left in a five-man midfield, Ighalo was isolated.Twice Ighalo was sent clear, twice Deeney made up the ground to join him and twice the pass was awry. The more Deeney tried to get forward in support the more exposed Nathan Ake was at left-back, with Calum Chambers and Joel Campbell creating overloads against him.

It was from such a situation Arsenal should have scored in the opening minutes as they made their usual fast start, but neither Sanchez nor Giroud could convert Chambers’ cross. Eight minutes later Giroud was judged offside – a tight call – as he netted from a Sanchez pass. As the pressure continued, a timely tackle by Ake prevented Campbell scoring from Kieran Gibbs’ cross, then Mohamed Elneny twice wasted fine chances.

It could have been worse for Arsenal. In the 27th minute Gabriel launched a two-footed tackle on Deeney which might easily have drawn a red card. To Watford’s fury Andre Marriner did not even award a free-kick. Afterwards, flushed with the joy of victory, Quique Sanchez Flores dismissed the incident as “nothing special – the kind of contact we see every weekend in England”. Wenger suggested both players had approached the tackle the same way, and Gabriel had merely been quicker.

Deeney was unimpressed. “I was unhappy with that,” he said. “I could have gone through him as well and I tried my best to keep the studs down, and the letter of the law, but he come over the top. They are the ones that can break legs. Thankfully I am a big lad and I rode the tackle.”

Fortunately Deeney, who said he did not think Gabriel intended to hurt him, was able to continue. Flores was thus able to push him up to join Ighalo in the second period, with Etienne Capoue tasked with protecting Ake. The Hornets immediately looked better balanced, and cracks appeared in Arsenal’s defence. Five minutes after the break a counter-attack forced a throw-in. Deeney beat Chambers and Per Mertesacker to flick it on, and Ighalo rolled Gabriel far too easily to score.

Thirteen minutes later came further proof their telepathy had returned as Ighalo found Deeney, who held the ball before laying it back to Guedioura. The Algerian, who had run forward untracked, lashed in a stunning strike and Watford had a platform to defend.

Wenger sent on Welbeck, Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi. Arsenal laid siege to Costel Pantilimon’s goal, but the chances fell to the wrong men, Gibbs and Chambers. Then, with three minutes left, came a rare moment of incisiveness. Welbeck played a one-two with Özil, ran on to the German’s backheel, and halved the deficit. Belatedly there was an urgency to Arsenal’s attack and in the 90th minute they came agonisingly close to levelling. Iwobi, from the edge of the area, struck the post, the ball rebounded onto Pantilimon, thence to Welbeck, who somehow shot wide.

The relevant Old Testament tale was not Adam and Eve, but David and Goliath.