Watford and Super Eagles forward, Odion Ighalo, ended his goal drought as he scored in the 50th minute to start what would be a shock to FA Cup holders, Arsenal. The Gunners had looked the brighter with Olivier Giroud seeing his 9th minute strike ruled out for offside. Watford then doubled their lead in the 63rd minute thanks to an Adlene Guedioura shot.
Substitute Danny Welbeck reduced the arrears with two minutes to play and then struck the post in a breathless finale, but Wenger’s men could not avoid a first FA Cup defeat since Blackburn Rovers left north London with a shock win in February 2013.
The loss further puts the Gunners’ season in doubt as their chance of silverware this season gets slimmer each game. The North London outfit has been unfortunate on the injury front as top players Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta and Petr Cech are all out injured. With Leicester City enjoying an eight-point lead in the league and Arsenal looking way off the form that saw them tipped to win the tittle, all hope seems lost for the Arsene Wenger-tutored side.
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