Adlene Guedioura doesn’t do simple goals. “I don’t like them,” the Algerian says.

So as Troy Deeney rolled the ball back to the Algerian in the 63rd minute of yesterday’s FA Cup quarter final tie against Arsenal there was only one thing in the midfielder’s mind.

“I just had to run on to the ball and put full power on. I didn’t think about it too much. I had my chance and it was good.”

Good doesn’t truly do justice to the strike which flew past David Ospina at 86 miles an hour.

Quite simply, the Arsenal goalkeeper had no chance. It was a sensational goal.

Guedioura, who was making only his third start of the season, would last 77 minutes at the Emirates.

He produced a zealous display full of heart. There is no denying the affinity the 30-year-old has for Watford and that hasn’t been diminished despite his lack of minutes this season.

He watched the closing stages of the contest from the substitutes’ bench and admits the final minutes felt like an eternity.

“The last five were the longest ever,” he says. “They got their first goal and they almost got a second through (Danny) Welbeck.

"I don’t have too much hair but I was almost pulling it out. It was a great feeling at the final whistle.

“You can see the smiles on the players’ faces. Coming to Arsenal, at this perfect stadium, isn’t easy. But the fans were amazing today. To finish with a win and to go to the semi-final is amazing.”

The selection of Guedioura, who joined Watford permanently in the summer from Crystal Palace, proved a masterstroke by Flores.

The Spaniard surprised pretty much everyone by naming him in the starting XI but the midfielder had an inkling in the week that he would feature at the Emirates.

“You never know until the day of the game but you get a feeling,” Guedioura says.

“He (Flores) said to me it was my chance. He prepared me well for the game.

"We had a good week in training, everyone was really on it. He said he had a feeling I’d do well. He gave me a plan and that’s what I stuck to.”

Guedioura continues: “You always have to believe you are going to win. Even if you’re facing one of the big teams. You need this positivity in football.

“The manager gave us a plan. He has great experience and we had to follow it."

The draw for the semi-final will be made tonight. Everton, Crystal Palace and Manchester United or West Ham United await for the Golden Boys.

For Guedioura there is only one side he’d like to face. “I would say Palace because it would be good to see them again.”