Speaking this weekend, Wenger said: “He is a guy who plays naturally behind the ball, he is a bit similar to Petit in the way he plays football”.
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Wenger, who looks certain to add Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi and Deportivo La Caruna striker Lucas Perez to his ranks in the coming days, likened Xhaka to a former Arsenal favourite and revealed the club had made a move for him a year ago. Cech had to be on alert to make a smart double save from Jose Holebas and Odion Ighalo, while Ighalo also struck an overhead kick just over the crossbar. “We had two hard away games (against Leicester City and Watford) but today I believe we had a good, solid performance”, Wenger said.
“I think what we have seen from him today is what we want from him. (Robert) Pereyra, (Daryl) Janmaat, (Younes) Kaboul and Success all came in and did very well”.
Yes, a sudden shift through the gears was still followed be a definite late wobble but, for the first half at least, Arsenal delivered sufficient quality here to suggest that they can still seriously challenge in this 21st season under Arsene Wenger. We were 3-0 up at half-time and in the second half we still created many chances but we missed something in the final ball, like we did at Leicester. “Now we have to rest a week, some players play with national teams and after that we have to think about Southampton at home and we need to win at home”.
“So we are happy now, it’s confidence for the team. The organisational things are still missing and two starting players were out last minute and this really didn’t help”.
Elsewhere, Arsenal and champions Leicester City picked up their first Premier League wins of the season by beating Watford and Swansea City respectively while Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Liverpool. “Watford” in native stands quite uncompromising and often leaves the field without goals scored. “We have not got any plans for anyone else now”.
– Only Norwich City (10) have given away more penalties in the Premier League since the start of 2015-16 than Watford (9).
They played against Chelsea in their last game in the Premier League and lost it by 1-2.
The Swiss global set an unwanted record of not winning a single tackle from his six attempts and committing four fouls on his debut against Liverpool but he has quickly adapted to the rigours of the Premier League since.
Arsenal had seven shots on target in this game, six of which were in the first half.
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After the global break, Watford travel to West Ham on Saturday, 10 September while Arsenal host Southampton.
