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Watford 1 Arsenal 3: Sanchez inspires Gunners' first win of the season

Alexis Sanchez had a hand in all three goals as Arsenal picked up their first Premier League win of the season with a 3-1 victory away to Watford.

Santi Cazorla scored a penalty after just nine minutes following Nordin Amrabat's clumsy foul on Sanchez, and the Chilean doubled his side's lead five minutes before the break with a scuffed finish at the far post.

There was nothing fortuitous about Arsenal's third, however, as Sanchez curled a delightful cross onto the head of Mesut Ozil, who headed home to mark his first start of the season in style.

Watford were given hope of a comeback early in the second half thanks to debutant Roberto Pereyra's goal, and Petr Cech pulled off a strong double save to keep out efforts from Jose Holebas and Odion Ighalo.

Ighalo hooked an overhead kick narrowly over the crossbar but it was all too little, too late for Watford, who have now lost seven out of seven Premier League matches against Arsene Wenger's side.

Amrabat caught the back of Sanchez's head with an elbow as he looked to meet Ozil's cross, and Cazorla fired straight down the middle of Heurelho Gomes' goal from the resulting penalty.

Arsenal assumed total control against a deflated Watford and almost doubled their lead on 23 minutes, with Gomes blocking Theo Walcott's far-post effort with his shins.

But Arsenal's number seven was not to be denied again five minutes before the break. Walcott crossed from the right and, after Sebastian Prodl inexplicably chose not to clear, Sanchez arrived at the far post to turn the ball over the line despite the Watford defender's best efforts.

Arsenal failed to clear their lines and, as the ball bounced off Laurent Koscielny, Pereyra pounced to shoot low left-footed past Cech's right hand from close range.

Ighalo's overhead kick flashed over the crossbar after some more uneasy Arsenal defending, but the Gunners held out to move onto four points from their first three games.

 

- Alexis Sanchez has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances versus Watford, while also assisting two goals in these matches.
- Only Norwich City (10) have given away more penalties in the Premier League since the start of 2015-16 than Watford (9).
- The Hornets have now used 21 different players in the Premier League this season, with 17 different nationalities represented.