FA Cup: Arsenal 1-2 Watford - 5 talking points
The Watford players celebrate after the second goalArsenal were knocked out at home by a determined Watford side who went on to beat them 2-1 in the FA Cup. Second half goals from the impressive Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura were enough to seal Watford's place in the semifinals of the tournament.Danny Welbeck came on to score as a substitute, but Arsenal were unable to get that second goal to at least ensure a replay against the Hornets. The Gunners next face Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League and only a miracle can help them progress into the next round of that competition. Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 Arsenal lost the plot yet again
With an 8-point gap at the top of the Premier League between league leaders Leicester City and third-placed Arsenal, we can say that the Gunners have lost the plot again as they have been knocked out of the FA Cup as well. Whereas, in the Champions League, they face a daunting task of beating Barcelona at the Camp Nou, which is close to impossible given the performances of Arsenal in the recent past.
What this means is that the Gunners have now been dismantled from the Premier League’s favourites position as well as the FA Cup favourites tag. This situation will leave Arsene Wenger’s men in a tough position ahead of the 10 remaining fixtures they are scheduled to play including the midweek tie against the Spanish giants.
It has happened in the past, and it looks like it will continue to happen for one more season at least. Arsene Wenger’s future at the club was in doubt when two seasons ago, the Gunners lost the plot after having stayed at the top of the table for 125 days, but still finishing fourth.
What had saved him was the eventual FA Cup glory which meant the trophy drought had ended. The same story was repeated last season when they won a second consecutive FA Cup. But now that the FA Cup is gone, the question that will remain to be answered is that will Wenger be shown the door finally? or will it be the same story all over again?