Wembley-bound: sensational Watford end title-holders Arsenal's reign after dumping them out of FA Cup
Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura strike to give Hornets 2-1 quarter-final victory at the Emirates with the Gunners now facing the prospect of a trophyless season
Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura struck as Watford ended Arsenal’s two-year reign as FA Cup holders with a brilliant 2-1 quarter-final victory at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Ighalo put Watford ahead in the 50th minute before Troy Deeney teed up Algeria winger Guedioura to slam a right-foot screamer into the top-right corner, with Danny Welbeck’s 88th-minute reply coming too late.
The most bragging rights I’ve got is my son is an Arsenal fan so he has to make the teas in the house today
Triumphant in the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015, Arsenal were beaten in the competition for the first time since a 1-0 fifth-round defeat by Blackburn Rovers in February 2013.
It left them facing the prospect of a trophyless season, with Arsene Wenger’s side – booed off at the final whistle – eight points off the pace in the English Premier League and 2-0 down to Barcelona ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 return leg at Camp Nou.
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“Me and Iggy [Odion Ighalo] have been doing that all season and we’ve been getting some stick from the press that we haven’t scored in three or four games, but there were a lot of unsung heroes out there for us today.