Watford matchwinner Tom Cleverley reveals Hornets ‘smelled blood’ in late comeback win against Arsenal
Late hero joins fellow Watford scorer Troy Deeney in taunting the Gunners - and Arsene Wenger’s side have now picked up just one point from four away games
TOM CLEVERLEY has revealed Watford “smelled blood” against Arsenal.
Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road meant Arsene Wenger’s side have picked up just one point from four away games in the Premier League this season.
Hornets striker Troy Deeney slammed Arsenal for not having any “cojones”.
And match-winner Cleverley said: “You smell a little bit of blood. I felt we were on the front foot and I gambled a little bit for the goal.
“If you were a bit more wary of a team maybe I wouldn’t have done.”
Deeney launched an astonishing TV attack on Arsenal after the game.
Boss Wenger was furious Watford were given a penalty when Richarlison went down — and Deeney scored from the spot.
But Deeney said: “There is a reason why Arsenal lost and it was not because of the penalty. It was about having cojones.
more arsenal stories
“Whenever I play Arsenal I go up and try to whack them and think, ‘Who wants it?’. But I went up with Mertesacker and didn’t have to jump. They all just backed off and I said, ‘Happy days’.
“If you will let me do my strength against you, you’ll have a tough afternoon. My equaliser was because I was big and strong.”
Arsenal legend Martin Keown admitted Deeney had a point.
Keown said on Match of the Day Extra: “In my day it would have been the other way around.
“We’d have said if he came off the bench, ‘Let’s let him have it a bit because he’s going to let us have it’. You have to have that about you.
“It seriously makes me look at the DNA of the Arsenal players and in the recruitment. Has that got to change?
“They need to have more steel and determination.
most read in football
“Maybe he looks at the Ozils and their attitude and thinks, ‘I can get on here and do something’.
“When your opponent is telling you your weaknesses, it’s damning.
“You are not strong enough and you have no balls.
“Wenger needs to listen and make the adjustment.”
Keep up to date with ALL the transfer news and gossip on our blog