Arsenal: Fans slam Sokratis for Watford display

Plenty of Arsenal supporters have slammed Sokratis Papastathopoulos for his involvement in a blunder moment which led to Tom Cleverley striking the ball past Bernd Leno and his overall performance.

Arsenal were holding a comfortable 2-0 lead going into the break thanks to a brace by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but started the second 45 minutes slowly and allowed Watford to build some early momentum as they chased for a route back into the game.

A flurry of tame efforts by the hosts showed signs of Arsenal being shaky coming out of half time as the Hornets piled on the pressure, but Quique Sanchez Flores’ men presented a limited threat with each effort going to waste.

The Gunners handed Watford a route back into the game in the 53rd minute, though, when Sokratis failed to register the threat of Gerard Deulofeu as he calmly played the ball out from a short goal kick, but his effort intended to reach Matteo Guendouzi was intercepted by the Hornets’ Spanish midfielder.

Deulofeu’s out-stretched boot diverted the ball into the path of former Manchester United midfielder Cleverley, who struck a first-time shot under the body of Leno to hand the Hornets a foothold in proceedings.

Watford maintained the pressure in the aftermath of the goal and looked to be the side in the clear ascendancy, as Emery refused to alter his tactics and continued to trust Leno, Sokratis and David Luiz to play out from the back at goal kicks.

But Arsenal fans were already venting their frustrations on social media, with many slating Sokratis for his role in Cleverley’s goal.

Here are a few of the messages shared…

Sokratis really naive and poor!

— Rob (@Rob1_BBB) September 15, 2019

You don’t play from the back with Sokratis

— スラッシュ (@surasshu0x0) September 15, 2019

That second was embarrassing, abysmal, shocking and disgusting. Sokratis I've had it with. Luiz has just added extra calamity to our backline. Xhaka is a donkey. Nothing more to say but let the circus continue.

— AFC Tiki Taka (@AFC_TikiTaka) September 15, 2019