Watford stuns holder Arsenal in FA Cup

After recent slip-ups in the Premier League title race, Arsenal has made an exit from the FA Cup with a 2-1 defeat to Watford at the Emirates Stadium.

Published : Mar 13, 2016 22:13 IST

Watford striker Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring one of his team's two goals.
Watford striker Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring one of his team's two goals.
lightbox-info

Watford striker Odion Ighalo celebrates after scoring one of his team's two goals.

Watford stunned FA Cup holder Arsenal with a 2-1 quarter-final victory that piled further pressure on Arsene Wenger at a mutinous Emirates Stadium.

Recent slip-ups in the Premier League title race and the likelihood that Barcelona will complete a two-legged Champions League victory over Arsenal this week left a third consecutive FA Cup triumph as the most realistic prospect of silverware for long-serving boss Wenger this season.

But it failed to make first-half dominance count, with Mohamed Elneny the main culprit in terms of missed chances, and Watford – without a goal in its previous three matches – capitalised on growing anxiety after the break.

Hornets top scorer Odion Ighalo ended a run of 599 minutes without a goal with an opportunist strike before Adlene Guedioura hit a spectacular second after 63 minutes. Danny Welbeck reduced the arrears with two minutes to play. and fellow substitute Alex Iwobi struck the post in a breathless finale, but Wenger's men could not avoid a first FA Cup defeat since Blackburn Rovers left north London with a shock win in February 2013.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud had the ball in the net after nine minutes but he was marginally offside when collecting Alexis Sanchez's throughball. Nathan Ake made a vital challenge in the Watford area with Joel Campbell poised to open the scoring, although the host was struggling to make much of an impression in the Watford area.

Home centre-back Gabriel was incredibly fortunate his rash, two-footed lunge on Troy Deeney went unpunished, while Elneny's woeful 30th-minute hack over the Watford bar lacked such danger but was similarly unaccomplished. Elneny endured another shocking miss following fine build-up play from Mesut Ozil and Campbell, and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon's yellow card for time-wasting at the subsequent goal-kick underlined Watford's desire for the interval to arrive.

Tables turn

Giroud headed over from a left-wing corner as Arsenal resumed on the front foot but Ighalo stunned Emirates Stadium in the 50th minute. Deeney flicked on Ake's long throw at the near post and Ighalo rolled Gabriel to steer a shot beyond David Ospina on the turn.

The Watford strikers combined to similar effect two minutes later, with Gabriel again coming off second best as Ighalo shot over. Arsenal was rattled and Ighalo showed some of the form behind his recent drought when he misjudged a lunging attempt in the 60th minute – the impressive Ake having raided town the left.

That wastefulness was almost punished as Pantilimon made a stunning reaction save to deny Giroud at his near post, but Watford grabbed the breathing space it required.

Once more, Deeney was the provider – his excellent hold-up play crowned by a measured lay-off for the onrushing Guedioura to clatter an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net from the right corner of the area. Etienne Capoue prevented Giroud from converting a Calum Chambers cross at the near post and the France striker made way as part of triple substitution that saw Theo Walcott, Welbeck and Iwobi introduced.

Welbeck stroked a measured finish into the far corner when he collected Ozil's clever backheel, and the former Manchester United man should have spared the Wenger some awkward questions when he crashed over a minute later - Iwobi's initial drive having cannoned back off the post.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment