Wenger now takes his team to Barcelona, needing to overturn a 2-0 first-leg defeat to advance into the last eight of the Champions League.
Advertisement
Arsenal were aiming to become the first side since Blackburn Rovers in the 1880s to win the Cup for three years in a row but instead they slumped to a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions for the first time since November 2002.
Then came the final, on 63th minute of the game, when Troy Deeney teamed up with Algeria winger Adlene Guedioura to slam a right-foot screamer into the top-right corner, making a 2-1 victory for Watford and ending Arsenal’s reign of the FA Cup.
“Let’s focus on the next game and I believe it is important we stick all together and give our best in Barcelona”.
‘We have lost a game.
“It is a typical cup game where a team comes and fights and takes their chances with us trying to score”.
“Arsenal has lost games before and we will lose again in the future. We don’t want to just go there and make up the numbers”. We have to look at ourselves for the first goal.
“Arsenal are going through a hard period, but I was surprised and a bit disappointed (by the banner)”, Vieira told talkSPORT 2.
What this means is that the Gunners have now been dismantled from the Premier League’s favourites position as well as the FA Cup favourites tag.
Watford made the breakthrough in the 50th minute as Deeney flicked a left-wing throw-in to Ighalo, who turned, held off Gabriel and beat David Ospina with a low shot.
Wenger reacted angrily to the criticism but Mertesacker acknowledged he could understand the negativity and said Arsenal should be scoring more goals judging by the amount of chances they are creating.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright says “it is tearing him apart” to see Arsene Wenger come under fire from Gunners fans. We have shown that we can respond, always, and this team has a great spirit and a very strong attitude. He won the ball, it looked to me Deeney as well (had both feet off the ground).
“But I kept my head up and kept on working because I know the goals will start coming again”.
Advertisement
And Watford boss Flores said the pre-match atmosphere in the dressing room was “amazing, perfect”.
