Three points but still no cojones: Watford 0-1 Arsenal

We did it! We did it! Arsenal FC have kept a clean sheet away from home. I repeat, Arsenal FC have kept a clean sheet away from home. In a business where results are all that matters this of course was crucial in the race for the top 4, however, we are kidding ourselves if we seriously believe that we showed ‘cojones’ in the form of a convincing performance at Vicerage Road.

This is how we managed the result last night:

We are still terrible away from home

We cannot kid ourselves. I mean, we were bad enough as it is away from home, this time we were given the bonus of the opponent’s captain getting sent off in the 10th minute. If ever there was a time to dominate awat from home this was it, but it didn’t feel any different at all. Passing was wayward, we looked out of ideas at time and they had plenty of chances despite being a man down. It was awful to watch, and there were so many instances where I was simply waiting for the inevitable equaliser, that thankfully never came. If we play like that at Naples, we are out of the Europa League, pure and simple. This is what a lot of our fanbase really needs to realise. It is all well and good to be positive about a result, and of course I am too, but we need to understand that it is, with due respect, that it was Watford today and not a team with better finishers or else the scoreline was going to be different. Similar things can be said about the Everton game where they should have had many many more chances.

Leno is turning out to be one of players of the season

It is unbelievable that he didn’t start the season but now that he is our undisputed number one, my word is he doing a great job. In the Everton game and in this one as well, he kept us in it in the former and arguably won us the game in the latter. At the end of the day it isn’t the greatest sign that we are relying on our goalkeeper making so many saves, it points to a faltering defence, but at least this piece is place for Emery. One less thing for him to worry about as he looks to use the next couple of transfer windows to buy the kind of player he needs to challenge and take Arsenal back to the level it belongs.

Aubameyang’s goal still deserves credit

Look at the end of the day it was definitely lucky, no doubt, but he still needs to push on the gas, he needs to floor it to get that opportunity. This goes deeper into the mentality of the man, that he’s willing to run hard and chase and give it his everything even if there’s a slim chance of getting the ball. There are plenty in this squad who aren’t willing to do this. If you continue to work hard and fight your just reward will arrive sooner or later. This is the sort of thing I sometimes find lacking in the squad. I feel as though half the squad has that fight and hunger and the other half are just willing to let things happen. Once again this is something that Emery needs to identify in the coming seasons to have everyone in the squad on the same page. It makes the decision to let Ramsey, one of our true fighters in the squad, leave all the more baffling, but I guess that’s a discussion for another time.

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