Quique Sanchez Flores described Watford’s performance as “light” and “soft” and again warned it would be a “big, big mistake” if any of his charges have their minds on the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.

A repeat of the Hornets FA Cup heroics last month never looked on the cards once Alexis Sanchez had given the Gunners an early lead. Apart from a five to ten-minute spell before Alex Iwobi doubled Arsenal’s, Watford were firmly on the back foot for most of the first half and were perhaps fortunate not to be more than 2-0 behind at half-time.

Hector Bellerin made certain of the points with a third goal shortly after the restart and although the Hornets enjoyed their best period of the contest towards the end, Theo Walcott was able to add a late fourth.

“We are not happy of course because it’s the first time we’ve conceded four goals and our performance was a bit light, it was soft,” said the Hornets head coach. “We were not at the best level to challenge Arsenal but they deserved to win easily because they played really well, really fast and with great power. We are not in our best period of the season and they deserved to win.”

Like after the 2-1 home defeat against Stoke City in Watford’s last game before the international break, Flores was asked about the effect the forthcoming FA Cup semi-final may be having on his players.

“It’s important we don’t confuse the targets,” he said. “The semi-final of the FA Cup is a real situation we have in the future but we have to live in the present. And the present is in six days we have to play against Everton, this is our target. If players or the staff are thinking about what’s happening in three weeks we are making a big, big mistake. The most important is the next match, the most important is the Premier League.

“But when we say that, we are the same group, players and staff are in the same group. If we are making some mistakes, everyone is making these mistakes but now we need to get out of this situation. The semi-final is coming in three weeks, now it’s the league. It’s time to focus on the league and be competitive in the league.”

Asked if he could learn any lessons from the defeat and implement for next week’s game aagainst Everton, Flores said: “I try to be positive. At this time of the season we know every player and we know every plan we are doing. We know everything we have managed in the last eight months. Anything we need to learn that we haven’t learnt before is a big problem.

“It’s about showing again our style, our energy and our philosophy. Our philosophy is to fight a lot, always 90 minutes and trying to be positive and competitive and the mentality is very positive and if we are not in this way it’s very difficult because it’s the Premier League.”