Match Reaction: Watford 0 Arsenal 3

[I am invisible]

I thought Ozil was decent actually. Well, he started slow like the rest of them but grew into it. He's so much better when he decides to arrive into advanced positions because 9 times out of 10 he picks the right pass.

I don't think the performance was that bad really, underwhelming after the United blitz sure, but I never felt as though we didn't have a grasp of things. Plenty of bluster from Watford but aside from when Ighalo was clean through and shanked it wide, we weren't riding our luck. We defended really well.

You've got to make some allowance for international disruption - losing all your players for a couple of weeks is always going to knock you out of your stride a little bit. Still managed to smash in 3 and keep a clean sheet, away from home, without being at our best...

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger's decision not to screw with the team is encouraging. Shows he didn't make the mistake of taking the opponent lightly and appreciated how important it was to consolidate the Utd performance. Hopefully he puts the same team out midweek against Robben.

[Power n Glory]

I thought Ozil was decent actually. Well, he started slow like the rest of them but grew into it. He's so much better when he decides to arrive into advanced positions because 9 times out of 10 he picks the right pass.

I don't think the performance was that bad really, underwhelming after the United blitz sure, but I never felt as though we didn't have a grasp of things. Plenty of bluster from Watford but aside from when Ighalo was clean through and shanked it wide, we weren't riding our luck. We defended really well.

Ozil was decent and contributed but had a very quiet first half and it's the slow starts that can be costly. Watford had chances. Not sure why we were playing such a high line but I remember Kos scrambling back to clear Deeney's cross. If he'd have missed clearing that it would have been a tap in goal. You mention the one they shanked wide and then we had the ball over the top Merts struggled to deal with and Cech almost blundered.

2nd half we were better but patches where we're not sharp up front and then have that lapse in concentration after 20 mins or so have cost us games before. Not saying it was a really bad game, just saying we've had similar performances and not been so fortunate.

[GP]

Last night I had a dream that we had loaned Ozil out. I can't remember who it was but I think it was an Italian team who play in blue and white stripes.

[Kano]

Crucial stretch of games coming up in the Prem, that are going to really give us a clear idea of what this team is about. Everton, Spurs and Swansea. The sort of teams we've struggled against for the past couple of seasons and if we can pick up a couple of wins at least, then this team really might be on the road towards something meaningful.

[Niall_Quinn]

Crucial stretch of games coming up in the Prem, that are going to really give us a clear idea of what this team is about. Everton, Spurs and Swansea. The sort of teams we've struggled against for the past couple of seasons and if we can pick up a couple of wins at least, then this team really might be on the road towards something meaningful.

We could win our next 10 and it still wouldn't really give us any indication. Examining the history, we are never far from a catastrophic collapse. Better to just hold your breath until it is mathematically impossible for us to fuck up spectacularly. With Arsenal the cliché is valid, you take each game as it comes. If we can avoid that collapse we have a chance of winning this title, provided everyone else remains as inconsistent as they have been so far. We have the best TEAM in the league. The gypos have the best SQUAD. That's what will make the difference in the end I suppose. But if Aguero can remain unfit for as long as possible and if Ozil, Alexis and Coquelin stay fit - we have a chance.

[Power n Glory]

We could win our next 10 and it still wouldn't really give us any indication. Examining the history, we are never far from a catastrophic collapse. Better to just hold your breath until it is mathematically impossible for us to fuck up spectacularly. With Arsenal the cliché is valid, you take each game as it comes. If we can avoid that collapse we have a chance of winning this title, provided everyone else remains as inconsistent as they have been so far. We have the best TEAM in the league. The gypos have the best SQUAD. That's what will make the difference in the end I suppose. But if Aguero can remain unfit for as long as possible and if Ozil, Alexis and Coquelin stay fit - we have a chance.

That's my attitude. I think we have seen it all with Arsenal. Can only judge game by game and hope we see improvements with each result or a response with every set back.

[Kano]

I've been banging on about our record against the top 8 over the past couple of seasons and how poor it is. Top four mini-league is one thing but beating those just below is just as important. We can beat the other pub teams regularly, without issue. Man Utd was one marker, making inroads against these teams will be another. Of course you're right, we can balls it up just as we have done before and I won't be completely sold on our chances until we hit April and we're still in with a good shout. Squad management is the key and the biggest doubt given Wenger's recent history. Even if we don't win the league, as long as we have pushed continually until May, then that's enough for me. A competent Arsenal team that can sustain a title push throughout the entire season is the least we can ask for. That would be a massive change from the past decade.

[Niall_Quinn]

Last night I had a dream that we had loaned Ozil out. I can't remember who it was but I think it was an Italian team who play in blue and white stripes.

That's technically referred to as a nightmare, not a dream.

[Niall_Quinn]

I've been banging on about our record against the top 8 over the past couple of seasons and how poor it is. Top four mini-league is one thing but beating those just below is just as important. We can beat the other pub teams regularly, without issue. Man Utd was one marker, making inroads against these teams will be another. Of course you're right, we can balls it up just as we have done before and I won't be completely sold on our chances until we hit April and we're still in with a good shout. Squad management is the key and the biggest doubt given Wenger's recent history. Even if we don't win the league, as long as we have pushed continually until May, then that's enough for me. A competent Arsenal team that can sustain a title push throughout the entire season is the least we can ask for. That would be a massive change from the past decade.

And played entertaining football along the way. That will be good enough for me too, and always has been. I'd also like to see us get a fair crack of the whip in the games against the top 4. No more if these stupid interventions by the refs, just let the two teams play it out. It was all well and good the FA reversing Dean's incompetence, but the fact the chavs walked away with 3 points when they were on a downward spiral and we dropped the 3 points that would have seen us sitting top this morning is a huge influence exerted by one tinpot dictator. People will say that's just part of the game, but in fact it isn't. The rules are clear enough. Hopefully the refs will read up on them before taking charge of our bigger matches.