Arsenal registered their first win of the season with a 1-3 win over their neighbours Watford. Arsenal's creative trio of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Özil scored in an emphatic first half display by the visitors.
Walter Mazzarri's men were blown to pieces in the first half but did manage to put up a fight in the second half. New boy Roberto Pereyra scored on his debut to spice things up in the second half. The win keeps Watford straddled in the drop zone whereas Arsene Wenger's side leapfrog into the top half of the table.
Watford
Heurelho Gomes - 6/10
The Brazilian was let down by his rearguard in the first half drowning all his effort down the drain. He made few telling saves in the game which kept Watford in the game.
Younes Kaboul - 6/10
He was unable to cope with the movement of Alexis Sanchez in the first half. Looked a lot more comfortable in the 4-man defence but the damage had already been done. It was a shaky performance by the former Spurs man.
Sebastian Prödl - 6/10
The Austrian centre-half was very poor in the first half. His inability to read off the ball movement left the Watford back three completely open. Like many of his peers, he salvaged himself in the second half with a sound reading of the game.
Christian Kabasele - 4.5/10
The Belgian debutant was constantly irritated by the pace of Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain. And his distribution was very wasteful as well. It was a hard welcome to the Premier League for the former Genk man.
Nordin Amrabat - 7/10
He was tad uncomfortable as a wing-back in the first half but he really spun to life in second half with Watford's realignment to a back four. He put Monreal to the sword with his more traditional approach as a winger for the entire second half.
Adléne Guedioura - 5/10
He was too passive to support Capoue and Behrami in the midfield. In a way he was the sacrificial goat who made way to boost the Hornets' chances of revival. His inability to close the space in midfield made him redundant in the setup.
Etienne Capoue - 7/10
He was the only Watford player who looked threatening for the entire duration of the game. He was pivotal in hosts' consolation goal. His passing and movement gave Watford a new dimension in midfield.
Valon Behrami - 6/10
The former Lazio midfielder held his own against his compatriot Xhaka in a fairly congested midfield. Kept Watford midfield ticking in the second half. Simple and effective.
Jose Holebas - 5/10
The Greek full-back was pretty inconsistent in the game. There were times when he looked promising as well as really awful. His crossing was a bit of a letdown today.
Troy Deeney - 6/10
Watford captain worked hard but he looks like a pale shadow of his former self. With an expansive midfield playing behind him, he needs to up his game sooner rather than later.
Odion Ighalo - 7/10
He was really unlucky today as he failed to register his name on the scoresheet. For all his graft and creativity, he needs to find his scoring boots quickly in order to boost Watford's survival chances.
Substitutes -
Roberto Pereyra - 8/10
It was a debut for him and he made an instant impact. The ex-Juventus man really made life miserable for Arsenal's defence with his movement and positioning. It seems like a shrewd signing by Mazzarri.
Daryl Janmaat - 7/10
Another debutant who made an impact upon his arrival. It was his substitution which turned the tide for Watford as it released Watford's wingers from the shackles. It is a bittersweet beginning for Janmaat at Vicarage Road.
Issac Success - 6/10
The Granada man looks like an exciting prospect on the first looks of him. He made a couple of surging runs from the midfield. He can trouble defences with his twinkle toes.
Arsenal
Petr Cech - 8/10
He is the reason why Arsenal's win looks convincing on paper. He made some breathtaking saves in the second half to keep a resurgent Watford at bay.
Hector Bellerin - 7/10
It was a good day in the office for the buccaneering fullback. Kept Watford's left flank quiet for most of the game. He could've been more proactive on the offensive front, considering Watford had acres of space on flanks for almost 55 minutes of the game.
Rob Holding - 7/10
Yet another impressive display by the young defender. He was astute and calm throughout the game. He looks like an able deputy to Koscielny. He seems like a bargain signing by Wenger.
Laurent Koscielny - 7.5/10
The Frenchman kept Arsenal defence in control in the second half when Watford was piling on the pressure. He did exceedingly well to negate the aerial threat of Ighalo and Deeney. A commanding display.
Nacho Monreal - 5.5/10
It was a horrible second half from the Spaniard. He was slain by Amrabat which led to his substitution in the 73rd minute. Overall, it was an ordinary game from Monreal belittling his lofty standards.
Santi Cazorla - 6.5/10
The Spaniard, despite scoring, had a pretty average game. Although he did compliment Xhaka in the midfield, he could've done a lot more in the offensive department. It was restrained performance from the Spanish magician largely due to added defensive duties of playing in a two man midfield.
Granit Xhaka - 7.5/10
The Swiss international provided much-needed steel in the Arsenal midfield. His distribution was really impressive and it looks like he is settling into this Arsenal midfield.
Theo Walcott - 7.5/10
Walcott looked lethal in the first half. He wreaked havoc in Watford defence with his slimy movement and pace and was unlucky to not score. It was his best performance of this season.
Mesut Ozil - 8/10
The German assist king looked everything what Arsenal missed against Liverpool and Leicester. He kept the Arsenal midfield ticking in the final third. Capped off his first start of the season with a wonderful goal.
Alexis Sanchez - 7.5/10
The Chilean is finally back to life in 2016/17 season. He was unplayable at times in the first half with his movement scaring daylights out of Kaboul. He did cool down a notch in the second half but it was a great game on his part.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin - 7/10
It was an improved display at the Vicarage Road by Ox. For most of the first half, he was a real nuisance for Kaboul and Kabasele with his pace. He too like Walcott, improved a lot from last week. Although, he needs to work on his finishing.
Substitutes
Mohammed Elneny - 6/10
The Egyptian was brought on to relieve Ozil and he did a good job to stall the Watford juggernaut in the second half by tightening the noose with his midfield positioning.
Jack Wilshere - 6/10
The injury-plagued midfielder is slowly getting up to the speed with his little cameos. It was a much-improved display by the Arsenal midfielder. His effortless movement was an encouraging sign.
Kieran Gibbs - 6/10
He was brought on to contain a rampant Amrabat and he did so to great effect by shackling him for space. His surge of pace did wonders for Arsenal's battered left flank, especially defensively.
