Arsenal blow lead at lowly Watford

Quique Sanchez Flores enjoyed a happy return to Watford as Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead at Vicarage Road to draw 2-2 yesterday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang looked to have the Gunners well on course for a comfortable three points when he struck twice in 11 minutes before the break.
However, Sanchez Flores, who was appointed as Hornets’ boss for the second time last week after one point from their opening four games of the season saw Javi Gracia sacked, roused the hosts for an impressive second-half fightback.
Arsenal played a huge part in their own downfall too as they gifted possession away inside their own box for Tom Cleverley to pull a goal back before David Luiz upended Roberto Pereyra, who slotted home the resulting penalty.
Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka admitted the Gunners were lucky to escape with a point. “We came out and played such a bad second-half. You have to say we are happy to take a point,” said Xhaka.
A point sees Arsenal only move level with Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea and Leicester behind Liverpool and Manchester City in the early season battle for a top-four finish.
However, it is Watford who will feel they should even have gone onto win the game as Arsenal boss Unai Emery’s inability to find a balance between his brilliant attack and shoddy defence continued. Emery recalled Mesut Ozil to his starting line-up for the first time since he and Sead Kolasinac were the victims of a carjacking attack in July.
Ozil initially struggled to settle as Watford started the brighter with Cleverley’s rising drive forcing Bernd Leno into a fine save before Jose Holebas fired horribly off-target with a great chance from the edge of the area.
However, Watford have now conceded 10 goals in their opening five games to the campaign and were opened up far too easily to allow Aubameyang to open the scoring on 21 minutes. The home fans were screaming for a foul as Dani Ceballos won back possession, but Watford were slow to react as Kolasinac burst down the left and fed Aubameyang, who spun and fired low past Ben Foster.
Ozil was involved as a patient build-up from the visitors doubled their lead on 32 minutes. At the end of a 20-pass move, Ozil freed Ainsley Maitland-Niles in behind the Watford defence and the right-back squared for Aubameyang to slot home his fifth goal in as many games this season.
Twice the visitors escaped gifting Watford a way back into the game when Matteo Guendouzi was caught in possession on the edge of his own box, trying to play out from the back. But Arsenal did not learn their lesson and were finally punished when Sokratis Papastathopoulos gifted possession to Gerard Deulofeu and the Spaniard teed up Cleverley to shot low past Leno.
Watford were then in the ascendancy as Deulofeu curled just wide, Ismaila Sarr scuffed a great chance for his first goal in English football off target and Pereyra’s flicked finish flashed across goal. They finally got the equaliser their second-half display deserved nine minutes from time when Pereyra was clipped by Luiz inside the box and the Argentine sent Leno the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Deulofeu sent another effort inches wide and Cleverley’s fierce drive was deflected over by Luiz as wave upon wave of Watford attack continued.
But is was Abdoulaye Doucoure who squandered the best chance of all for a winner deep into stoppage time when he shot too close to Leno with just the German goalkeeper to beat to leave Watford still bottom of the Premier League table.

Wilson hands Everton more away day blues at Bournemouth
Earlier, Callum Wilson scored twice as Bournemouth curbed early season optimism over Everton’s prospects with a 3-1 win. The England international took advantage of some sloppy defending from the visitors to head home the opener from close range, but Everton levelled before half-time through Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Toffees have spent big again this summer in a bid to challenge the established ‘top six’ for a European place, but will need to improve on the road to do so. Ryan Fraser’s driven free-kick restored Bournemouth’s lead 23 minutes from time via a deflection off Fabian Delph before Wilson’s cool finish to lob international teammate Jordan Pickford made the game safe.
Everton have now picked up just one point from three away games this season after also failing to win at Crystal Palace and Aston Villa. Victory takes Bournemouth above their opponents on goal difference with both sides on seven points from their opening five games.

English Premier League results
Bournemouth 3 (Wilson 23, 72, Fraser 67) Everton 1 (Calvert-Lewin 44); Watford 2 (Cleverley 53, Pereyra 81-pen) Arsenal 2 (Aubameyang 21, 32)
Played Saturday: Norwich 3 (McLean 18, Cantwell 28, Pukki 50) Manchester City 2 (Aguero 45, Rodri 88); Liverpool 3 (Mane 28, 40, Salah 72) Newcastle 1 (Willems 7); Brighton 1 (Maupay 51) Burnley 1 (Hendrick 90+1); Manchester United 1 (Rashford 8-pen) Leicester 0 Sheffield United 0 Southampton 1 (Djenepo 66); Tottenham 4 (Son 10, 23, van Aanholt 21-og, Lamela 42) Crystal Palace 0; Wolves 2 (Abraham 69-og, Cutrone 85) v Chelsea 5 (Tomori 31, Abraham 34, 41, 55, Mount 90+6)
Playing today: Aston Villa v West Ham (1900 GMT)