Flores Talks Arsenal Defeat

Head coach Quique Sanchez Flores has said that he had to be proud of the performance of the players in the three nil defeat to Arsenal owing to the fact that for large parts of the game we more than competed with them.

Speaking to watfordfc.com following the game, the gaffer explained that he was slightly disappointed with the defending for the goals as he knows we can do better, but there were also huge positives he could take from the 90 minutes.

‘We had chances in the first half and, when you are playing well – and playing well against a top team like Arsenal – these are the moments you can really make a difference to a match. For one hour, we are playing really well. And then a big kick for the team when we receive a goal from Arsenal. We did very well for an hour. Next time, we must try to make this 90 minutes. It looked as though we were not expecting the action after Capoue goes to the ground. Arsenal scored and we went out of the match a bit at this moment.’

Adding.

‘Arsenal is a high quality team who can take advantage of these spaces. Okay, we could have defended better for ourselves but we the players have given everything and we have lost to a team which wants to win the Premier League.’

Skipper Troy Deeney was also interviewed after the game and he admitted there were a few lessons we could learn about life in the top flight from the match, and of course that’s what the players will be working on on the training ground now.

‘It was a harsh lesson in what the Premier League big boys are all about. We were good for 65 minutes, more than held our own and created a lot of chances, but one counter-attack and that`s the difference. All three of the goals were scrappy and it`s a bit harsh in that sense, but that`s the fine margins of the Premier League.’

Deeney was quick to praise the home support following the game as well, adding.

‘We`re used to attacking and it`s a bit naïve of us I suppose because we let another goal in instead of being solid for the next 10 minutes. We wanted to get back into things quickly, so it`s a lesson learned, but we take the positives from the first 65 minutes. Let`s be realistic, we`ve just come into the Premier League, we`re not expected to just go and beat Arsenal. We gave the fans something to cheer about and showed what we can do. The challenge for us now is to make that 65 minutes last 90 minutes against Stoke away.’