Alexis Sanchez on form as Arsenal exploit Watford weaknesses in 3-1 defeat at Vicarage Road

For the second league game in a row, Watford failed to turn their good play into goals, and despite having the better of the chances, were left with nothing to show for it.

Santi Cazorla slotted home an opener from the penalty spot after Nordin Amrabat’s clumsy foul on Sanchez inside nine minutes, and despite Watford controlling much of the half, the Chilean added a second and Mezut Ozil a third in injury time before the break.

The hosts changed shape shortly after re-emerging for the second half and Roberto Pereyra – himself a half-time change – reduced the deficit 12 minutes into his debut, but it was the best the Hornets could muster despite their best efforts.

Boss Walter Mazzarri kept faith with the same midfield which took Chelsea all the way at Vicarage Road last weekend, with star signing Pereyra consigned to the bench alongside fellow new boy Daryl Janmaat.

A quiet start was brought to life by a routine move from the Gunners; a ball into the box looked half-likely to reach Sanchez, but Amrabat, without an iota of intent, barged the Chilean in the back with his eyes firmly on the ball.

It looked as though the Moroccan may have escaped when Referee Kevin Friend took a moment to give the penalty, but he rightly pointed to the spot after a moment of thought.

Santi Cazorla stepped up to stroke the ball down the middle beyond Heurelho Gomes, with Troy Deeney and Etienne Capoue still remonstrating with Friend come the restart.

Troy Deeney argues his case with Kevin Friend after Arsenal's opener. Picture: Action Images

The game was starved of another chance for a good quarter of an hour before Arsenal nearly extended their lead.

Cazorla made his way goalwards, and from a tight angle his cross-cum-shot rolled across the Hornets’ six-yard box.

Walcott looked set to fire home at the far post under pressure from Kabasele, but Gomes stood up to divert the shot away.

Sometimes, near misses like that spring games into life; and this was one such occasion.

Within seconds, Watford had raced away with more intent they had mustered in the rest of the opening 25 minutes.

Amrabat found his way past Monreal on the right, swung a fizzing ball in and Laurent Koscielny’s misjudged swing diverted it goalwards, and only a reaction save from Petr Cech saved the captain’s blushes.

Deeney then went close as the Hornets continued in the ascendency and were clearly buoyed by their improvement, playing on the front foot without creating a great deal, in a similar vain as they had against Chelsea.

They came closest with a well-struck Capoue corner, from which Kabasele rose well but headed a foot wide of the far post, which was admittedly well covered.

They were in turn limiting Arsenal’s attacks, but the visitors still looked dangerous every time their talented front-line clicked.

And the Gunners showcased their potential perfectly when a one-two between Ozil and Sanchez saw the latter through on goal, where he forced a low save from Gomes, and Cazorla saw his follow-up effort blocked.

Arsenal had attacked down their left throughout the half, but from a rare foray to the other flank, they doubled their lead five minutes before the break.

Walcott found himself in acres of space after peeling off Kabasele and delivered a sumptuous low, curling ball in which Sanchez prodded towards goal.

Kabasele made attempts, in vain, to keep the ball from crossing the line, but after a few seconds of confusion, Friend awarded the goal.

A third was harsh on Watford, but followed after more lax defending. Arsenal had tormented Amrabat defensively all afternoon, but he was unfortunate to be caught out by a ball over the top rebounding off his back as he tracked Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The England winger gleefully picked it up and spotted Sanchez on the overlap, before the Chilean, a magician with the ball throughout, crossed for Ozil to end the game as a contest with the simplest of headers.

Mezut Ozil celebrates scoring Arsenal's third in first-half injury time. Picture: Action Images

Pereyra had beeen perhaps a surprise omission from the starting line-up, but his introduction at the break was less so.

It was their second change, seven minutes into the half, which would make more of a difference, though, with Janmaat’s introduction signalling a move to four at the back which made the hosts look far more threatening.

And so it proved only five minutes later. The Dutchman made his way to the byline before finding in-form Capoue, whose effort was blocked, but not so for new boy Pereyra eight yards out from the rebound, and he had time to take a touch before bending the ball beyond Cech for a debut goal.

Half-chances at either end followed with Oxlade-Chamberlain firing over from 25 yards, before Holebas and Ighalo both threatened to restore the game as a contest but were well thwarted by Cech.

The Nigerian then went yet closer in acrobatic style, when Rob Holding’s poor header flashed across his own box and into his path, and he was inches away with a well-executed bicycle kick over the bar.

With the game in its dying embers Behrami volleyed wide and Sanchez forced a full-length save from Gomes, but Arsenal hung on to claim the win – and Watford were again left lamenting defensive lapses.

Watford: Gomes; Kabasele (Janmaat 52), Kaboul, Prodl; Amrabat (Success 77), Capoue, Behrami, Guedioura (Pereyra 46), Holebas; Deeney, Ighalo.

Not used: Pantilimon, Zuniga, Watson, Sinclair.

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal (Gibbs 74); Xhaka, Ozil (Wilshere 70), Cazorla; Chamberlain (Elneny 70), Sanchez, Walcott.

Not used: Ospina, Chambers, Coquelin, Giroud.