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.