By kayode OGUNDARE
Nigerian striker Odion Jude Ighalo was voted the most outstanding player on the day as Watford defeated Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Odion Ighalo scored his first goal in 599 minutes to put the away side ahead early in the second half after Arsenal had spurned a series of good chances.
Adlene Guedioura then smashed home with the visitors’ second shot on target before substitute Danny Welbeck scored with two minutes left to set up a dramatic finish, before missing the chance to force a replay from an open goal.
Strike-partner Troy Deeney provided the assist, as he has for so many of Ighalo’s 17 goals, rising above both Calum Chambers and Per Mertesacker to flick on to the Nigerian, who spun away from Gabriel to fire home on the turn.
In naming Ighalo as it’s MOTM, the BBC said: “Ighalo re-found his goalscoring form when it mattered, and improved immensely on a poor first half with his confidence back.”
Before Sunday, Ighalo had not scored since January during the fourth-round win against Nottingham Forest but turned all that around with an energetic performance which troubled the Arsenal backline to no end.
Arsenal had a total of 20 shots as Watford defended their own goal (left), but only four of those hit the target. The Hornets meanwhile, had just two shots on target – and scored them both.
Following defeats by Swansea and Barcelona, this was Arsenal’s third consecutive loss at the Emirates – their worst home run since moving from Highbury in 2006.
It was also their first FA Cup defeat since February 2013 when they lost to Blackburn – 756 days and 16 matches ago.
The Gunners travel to Barcelona on Wednesday night with a 2-0 reverse in the Champions League round of 16 while Watford next play at home in the Premier League to Stoke next Saturday.
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