FA CUP: Ighalo scores as Watford ruins Arsenal chances

Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, rediscovered his scoring form at the weekend as he inspired his club Watford to a 2-1 win over defending champion Arsenal.

This is even as the Gunners crashed out of the English FA Cup 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.

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.

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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 Premier League and 2-0 down to Barcelona ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League last 16 return leg at Camp Nou.

The status of that tie encouraged Wenger to field his strongest available line-up against Quique Sanchez Flores’s Watford, who are currently 14th in the Premier League.

 

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