Loads of Arsenal supporters have been sharing the same message on social media in response to the Gunners dropping two points on the road to Watford, with many labelling the performance on Sunday as a shambles.
Unai Emery’s men travelled to Vicarage Road with an eye on moving joint-second in the Premier League standings after Norwich City beat Manchester City on Saturday, but failed to capitalise on the chance presented when second-half errors gifted Watford two goals.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given Arsenal a 2-0 lead going into the break, after first firing the ball beyond Ben Foster with a half volley on the turn before tapping home in the 32nd minute following a 20 pass-long flow of play – the longest sequence leading to a goal in the top-flight this season (Opta).
The Gunners were slow out of the break, however, and Watford sniffed their chance to gain a foothold in proceedings, before a sloppy pass out by Sokratis Papastathopoulos from a short goal kick presented Tom Cleverley with a chance to pull a goal back.
Sokratis’ blunder was the 14th error leading to an opposition goal by an Arsenal player since the start of the 2018/19 term (Opta), at least two more than any other Premier League side have recorded in the same period.
No club has conceded more penalties than Arsenal since the start of last season, either, with David Luiz committing the Gunners’ tenth (Opta) against Watford when he dangled his boot out in front of Roberto Pereyra and allowed the Hornets to draw level from the spot.
By full time, Watford had fashioned 31 shots on Bernd Leno’s goal, the most Arsenal have faced in a Premier League game since Opta began collecting data during the 2003/04 campaign.
Arsenal, on the other hand, only fashioned seven efforts on Ben Foster’s goal (WhoScored) – with only four recorded as being on target – achieved a worse pass accuracy rating than the hosts (83% to Watford’s 88%), attempted fewer tackles (12 to 17), fewer dribbles (12 to 16) and won fewer aerial duels (3 to 9).
For many Gunners supporters, the performance was a shambles, and questions were raised over Emery’s tactics, having opted against moving away from taking short goal kicks following Watford’s first goal of the day.
Here are a few messages shared by Arsenal supporters following the Watford clash, which saw the Emirates Stadium natives fail to record a Premier League win having held a two-goal lead for the first time since April 2016 (Opta)…
Arsenal is never gonna change absolute shambles
— Sonuç T Saltunç (@Veloce_Alonso) September 15, 2019
Tell you what, Watford is one who dropped two points here. We’re shambles
— FG (@FunnyGooner) September 15, 2019
Emery just undid everything he had done…we are a shambles
— #OTBag (@OTBag_Certified) September 15, 2019
Emery is not the man for the job, absolute shambles #afc
— Paul Noonan (@noonchild11) September 15, 2019
watford gifted two jammy goals we threw this one away I blame Emery and Leno fir this shambles also luiz
— Patso (@gunnerpa1963) September 15, 2019
This is what happens when you take Guendouzi, Ozil and Ceballos off. Emery will never learn. No wonder his seat record is shambles. #WATARS
— Total Raumdeuter (@RaumdeuterTotal) September 15, 2019
Hopefully emery gets fired. This is shambles
— jamaican gunnar (@JamaicanGunnar) September 15, 2019
Utter shambles in the second half. Xhaka not fit to wear the shirt, Luiz the new Mustafi and Emery our of his depth. He needs to go !!!
— Nick Esson / 51.13 (@5113dover) September 15, 2019
If your judgment is that bad that you put your faith in #Xhaka as club captain & worse stick with him when it’s clear he’s a liability you deserve what you get. Not having him #Emery #WATARS #shambles
— hinchy (@Ars3nalMan) September 15, 2019
unai emery has managed a 2-0 win yet he’s getting a 2-2 draw, shambles.
— bailee (@pogbakh) September 15, 2019
Emery took out his best midfielders for trial versions with 30 minutes to go. This guy has been all sorts of shambles!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Taiwo’s Husband (@YomaVictor) September 15, 2019
