With Alexandre Lacazette out of the side, the question was could Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe ease the burden of goals on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? In a world of fantasy football managers, there are those who have asked can all four play together, forming a super-attacking juggernaut?
With Lacazette resting up his ankle until at least the start of October, those questions had to be put on hold.
It was £72million summer signing Pepe partnering Aubameyang in attack at Watford and after the impression he left against Liverpool at Anfield, there were plenty in the away end expecting the Ivorian to spoil Quique Sanchez Flores’ return.
In the end his big flash point came in first half stoppage time when he went nose to nose with Watford defender Jose Holebas after taking issue with a robust challenge.
It was pure frustration from a player that knew he was capable of so much more. He trudged off at the break muttering to himself. It never really got any better for him.
When he reflects back on his first season in English football, September 15 won’t be first to spring to mind.
Emery should have given Pepe an earpiece for the amount of instructions he was directing solely to him.
It simply wasn’t natural the link-up in attack and as much as Emery tried, he could not physically manhandle his new star into the positions he wanted.
Watford were relentless, forcing Pepe into central areas where his pace was nullified and less of an asset.
He has already shown his determination to use his left, rather than his right, foot and the hosts had clearly done their homework.
vowblrtu
65
Arsenal is just Arsenal and let us not expect any thing from Arsenal because in today's game Arsenal proved itself been the worst club in premier league and Emery being the worst coach in football history and the fans are not cared in Arsenal. Fans in other clubs are listened and respected but the ones for Arsenal are just trash and nobody cares and players in Arsenal are praised when they don't perform and disliked when they do perform. Emery Out @Emery out@
⚽CR7FOREVER⚽
57
blame the coach and not players. how can who play from back when opponent are pressing so high upfront, how can who replace ozil or gui... with 2 school boys , if Wenger is having this same team and things could have been different, after spending so much of money Coach should think about title and not about top 4 , Liverpool invested heavily after 2017/18 and look at their team now , who can beat any team. #emeryOUT
Auguerooooooo
54
Lacazette is very important for Arsenal. He has a better Tactical presence than Auba and is a lethal finisher. He can hold the ball in tight situations. Pepe is a dribbler and a winger. He cannot do what Laca does. But surely can help his team in a different way.
okpokiovre
53
selling Iwobi was a regrettable mistake of which Arsenal paid the price today against Watford. the bench was so poor with all players below average and never reliable
vobcdklmyz
48
I think Pepe needs time to adapt but he'll come good. Emery's decisions cost us, iwobi would have done a better job