“First three points in this young season”.
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An early penalty from Santi Cazorla, plus an Alexis Sanchez tap-in and a Mesut Ozil header saw the visitors blow Watford away in the opening 45 minutes at Vicarage Road on Saturday. The second-half showed what we can do.
“He likes to sit, give good long balls and be available for the centre-backs”.
“They had medicals. We have to finish the paperwork and I don’t know exactly when we will announce it but look, I think it could be announced at the beginning of the week”.
This, then, was the ideal tonic – a promising performance and result, albeit against opponents they really should overpower – required heading into the global break.
The pressure had been on Wenger and his side heading into the weekend after flawless starts from both Manchester clubs had left them playing catch-up.
Holding’s role in the first team may well be under threat with the impending arrival of Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia but the young Englishman has thrived since moving to Arsenal.
This, then, was just the performance and outcome required before the Gunners head into the worldwide break. But of course we need him.
“We tried already in December a year ago (to sign him for the January window)”. It gives us a chance to get some oxygen and some space.
Watford defender Younes Kaboul, who made his debut, said of the boss: “He’s learning and improving”.
“A lot of players are new so we have to prepare later. We had two hard away games (against Leicester City and Watford) but today I believe we had a good, solid performance”, Wenger said.
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Watford (3-5-2): Gomes 5; Kaboul 5, Prodl 5, Kabasele 5 (Janmaat 52, 6); Amrabat 5 (Success 77), Guedioura 6 (Pereyra 45, 7), Capoue 7, Behrami 6, Holebas 6; Deeney 6, Ighalo 6.
