Arsenal let two goal lead slip in Sanchez Flores' first game

Quique Sanchez Flores' first game in charge of Watford in his second spell ended positively after his team managed to get a 2-2 draw versus Arsenal at Vicarage Road. However, Arsenal will be kicking themselves as their clinical finishing had put them two goals up at half-time. 

Watford started the game positively after Arsenal's early attacks and were actually the better team. Deulofeu had the first shot on goal in the sixth minute and then Bernd Leno had to make a tremendous save five minutes later to deny Tom Cleverley. Deulofeu, who was arguably Watford's best player in this game, then beat Maitland-Niles before cutting back to Holebas who fired over. The Hornets were bright in the opening 20 minutes, but seconds after Pepe hit wide, they surprisingly fell behind. 

Hughes was dispossessed in his own half, Kolasinac then sprinted down the middle before he found Aubameyang who made no mistake. Watford tried to recover from falling behind against the run of play, but before they could, after 32 minutes, Arsenal doubled their lead. Ozil played a lovely pass into the box for Maitland-Niles and he squared for Aubameyang to tap in for his second. He made sure he stayed onside despite the Watford players claiming the contrary.

The home side did not lose heart though and Hughes fired wide before Guendouzi was lucky not to be punished after Arsenal tried to play the ball out from the back. He was dispossessed on the edge of the D, but Deulofeu saw his shot saved. The half ended with a fight between Holebas and Pepe after the Watford man was upset with the ex-Lille man flicking his leg out at him. Watford did not play badly in the first half, but Arsenal were more clinical and punished their errors. 

After the interval, Watford were much better than their opponents. Femenia put an early cross in and the hosts side made their intentions clear. Doucoure cue ended one seven minutes into the second period, but one minute later, Watford halved the deficit in comical fashion. Leno passes to Sokratis in his own box and his attempted pass to Guendouzi was deflected by Deulofeu straight to Cleverley who fired home. They got away with it twice, but not a third time. Deulofeu had stepped into the area slightly early, but it was not spotted by the officials.

The goal spurred Sanchez Flores' side on and Deulofeu and Femenia both had glorious chances to level before Aubameyang hit a tame effort at Foster. Sarr, Femenia and Deulofeu all then tried their luck and an equaliser was on the way. 

That finally arrived 10 minutes from time when Pereyra was brought down by David Luiz in the box and Anthony Talyor pointed to the spot. Pereyra decided to take it himself and sent Leno the wrong way from 12 yards. 

They were not finished there though and went for a winner. Deulofeu hammered a shot wide before Cleverley was denied by an exceptional David Luiz header. Arsenal were on the back foot and in stoppage time, Doucoure should have won it for Watford. He made a superb run on the counter and played a one-two with Sarr before his shot was hit straight at Leno. Had it been either side of him, it would have been 3-2,

The two sides had to settle for a draw, but there is no doubt that Watford will be much happier with it. They showed great fighting spirit to comeback into this one while Arsenal will be ruing individual errors which cost them in a poor second half display. All in all, a draw was the right result.