Gunners show unity of strength
Oezil's outburst motivates Gunners to impressive win over Watford
ARSENAL 4
(Alexis Sanchez 4, Alex Iwobi 38, Hector Bellerin 48, Theo Walcott 90)
WATFORD 0
There were the tell-tale signs of unrest.
Playmaker Mesut Oezil didn't mince his words when he said that Arsenal had "screwed up" their season, for falling so far behind Premiership leaders Leicester City despite leading the table at one stage.
In response, Arsene Wenger blasted the German playmaker for his comments, insisting that he will make sure his players give it all they've got until the season is over.
The Gunners, however, showed no signs of turmoil within their camp at the Emirates last night.
Even if there was any, they would have likely eradicated it with this fluid performance.
The 4-0 win over Watford was one of their most convincing displays of their campaign.
Wenger's side looked a different team from the one before the recent international break.
Perhaps it was the elimination from the Champions League that returned them their focus.
Gone was their lethargy and nervousness.
This was an Arsenal brimming with confidence and raring to go.
Alexis Sanchez showed no signs of fatigue, despite having just returned from South America where he played for Chile in two World Cup qualifiers.
It took him just four minutes to put them on the path to victory.
Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was able to block his first effort, but stood helpless when he tapped in the rebound to put his team 1-0 up.
It was clear the Chilean was in the mood.
The Hornets, though, naively ignored the warning.
Seven minutes before the break, he made them pay a heavy price.
He did all the hard work with a sizzling run on the right, before setting Alex Iwobi up to thump a first-time shot past Gomes.
The 2-0 half-time advantage was a richly deserved one.
But, as if determined to show that there is life still in their title challenge, they came out all guns blazing in the second half.
Only three minutes had passed when defender Hector Bellerin made it 3-0 with a shot that went in off a huge deflection.
Moments later, Iwobi nearly grabbed his second goal, but was denied by the crossbar.
DAMAGE
Watford then began to play some proper football, but the damage was already done.
Theo Walcott, who came on for Iwobi in the 74th minute, provided the icing on the cake for the Gunners with the fourth goal right on 90 minutes.
Wenger can certainly take heart from the fine show, but he must be even more impressed by his players' response.
Arsenal needed this big win to set the tone for the final stretch of their Premiership campaign.
They are now eight points behind Leicester (who play Southampton today), with seven games left to go for both teams.
Arsenal will "play with passion until the end", Wenger had said.
They certainly let their boots do the talking last night.
OTHER RESULTS
- Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 4
- Bournemouth 0 Man City 4
- Norwich 3 Newcastle 2
- Stoke 2 Swansea 2
- Sunderland 0 West Brom 0
- West Ham 2 Crystal Palace 2
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