A late Robin special earned us three more valuable points against the premierships bottom club.
Whilst it can be argued that this is the sort of game we would have squandered two points earlier in the season it was still a little worrying in the way that we struggled, at times, against a far inferior team.
We did, of course, create our usual quota of chances & Watford were thankful on a few occasions to Ben Foster.
Six points out of six so far over the Christmas period is a far better present to most Gooners than some ropey old M&S sweater!
Lehmann - 6 - One smart save & nothing he could do about the Watford equaliser, did flap a bit today though.
Hoyte - 6 - You could hardly say he contributed to a solid defensive performance did alright going forward.
Toure - 7 - Consistent as ever & worked hard. Put in some good tackles & a few bursts forward.
Djourou - 4 - Has the potential to be anything but had one of his shaky days & was lucky not to pay a heavy price when causally losing possession on the edge of his own box. Replaced at half time due to a “slight injury”. (Senderos 46)
Clichy - 6 - Still not setting the world on fire but getting more consistent.
Hleb - 6 - A quiet game today but very much a team player. (Walcott 71),
Fabregas - 7 - Ran the midfield with the help of Gilberto, some intelligent passing & tough tackling.
Gilberto - 9 - Pushing Cesc close for player of the season so far. A totally inspirational performance saw one superb last ditch tackle prevent a certain Watford goal & added yet another goal to his tally with our opener which he headed in from Toure's flick on.
Rosicky - 7 - A lively 79 minutes with one particular run & shot testing Foster in the Watford goal. (Julio Baptista 79)
Van Persie - 7 - Showed a little bit of magic with a great run to pick up Walcott's pass & a smart curling finish for our winner.
Adebayor - 8 - Coming into his own now he has won the confidence of the crowd. Doesn't just work hard but shows great skill & awareness.
Senderos - 6 - (46) We certainly looked a bit more solid in the second half with big Phil replacing Djourou.
Walcott - 6 - (71) A quiet 19 minutes but a glorious pass to find Van Persie to set up our winning goal.
Julio Baptista - 5 - (79) I don't think we are going to see the best out of this fella until springtime. Desperately needs a run in the team, perhaps we will see more of him for a longer spell in the two cup ties coming up against Liverpool.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Flamini.
We did, of course, create our usual quota of chances & Watford were thankful on a few occasions to Ben Foster.
Six points out of six so far over the Christmas period is a far better present to most Gooners than some ropey old M&S sweater!
Lehmann - 6 - One smart save & nothing he could do about the Watford equaliser, did flap a bit today though.
Hoyte - 6 - You could hardly say he contributed to a solid defensive performance did alright going forward.
Toure - 7 - Consistent as ever & worked hard. Put in some good tackles & a few bursts forward.
Djourou - 4 - Has the potential to be anything but had one of his shaky days & was lucky not to pay a heavy price when causally losing possession on the edge of his own box. Replaced at half time due to a “slight injury”. (Senderos 46)
Clichy - 6 - Still not setting the world on fire but getting more consistent.
Hleb - 6 - A quiet game today but very much a team player. (Walcott 71),
Fabregas - 7 - Ran the midfield with the help of Gilberto, some intelligent passing & tough tackling.
Gilberto - 9 - Pushing Cesc close for player of the season so far. A totally inspirational performance saw one superb last ditch tackle prevent a certain Watford goal & added yet another goal to his tally with our opener which he headed in from Toure's flick on.
Rosicky - 7 - A lively 79 minutes with one particular run & shot testing Foster in the Watford goal. (Julio Baptista 79)
Van Persie - 7 - Showed a little bit of magic with a great run to pick up Walcott's pass & a smart curling finish for our winner.
Adebayor - 8 - Coming into his own now he has won the confidence of the crowd. Doesn't just work hard but shows great skill & awareness.
Senderos - 6 - (46) We certainly looked a bit more solid in the second half with big Phil replacing Djourou.
Walcott - 6 - (71) A quiet 19 minutes but a glorious pass to find Van Persie to set up our winning goal.
Julio Baptista - 5 - (79) I don't think we are going to see the best out of this fella until springtime. Desperately needs a run in the team, perhaps we will see more of him for a longer spell in the two cup ties coming up against Liverpool.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Flamini.
