After 20 years of Arsene Wenger, Arsenal fans have learned to expect a cloud of disappointment on deadline day.
But last night, his team found a brand new way to close the transfer window in underwhelming fashion by losing to Watford, a team in abject form and freshly dumped out of the FA Cup by Millwall.
Arsene Wenger has said that Arsenal “were not mentally ready” to deal with Watford’s physical play in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss at the Emirates, and was left questioning why his team keeps getting off to bad starts in games.
Arsenal were 2-0 down after just 13 minutes as Watford dominated the first half, using their size advantage in almost every position to prevent the Gunners from establishing their normal passing game in the steady rain.
Alex Iwobi pulled a goal back in the second half, but Arsenal could not find an equaliser and fell nine points behind leaders Chelsea in a damaging setback to their Premier League title hopes.
Wenger, banned from the touchline, frowned down from the stands as the visitors struck twice in the opening 13 minutes through Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney.
Perhaps this was the spirited reaction Walter Mazzarri had demanded after the Millwall humbling and some justification for resting most of his first-team.
Watford were fabulous in the first-half, snapping into tackles, clinical in front of goal and determined to protect the lead once they had it established.
‘It was not good, especially in the first 20 minutes,’ conceded Wenger. ‘We were not mentally ready to win the physical duels. We knew it would be direct and physical. They were sharper than us.
‘We lost a bit of patience in our build-up and exaggerated the individual game. Every time we passed the ball quickly we created dangerous situations but we all wanted too much to be the saviour and didn’t stick to our game.’
Arsenal were jeered off at the end and Alexis Sanchez performed his now-familiar sulky flounce down the tunnel