Arsenal 1 Watford 2: Watch highlights as Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney strike early to shock Arsene Wenger at the Emirates

ARSENAL'S title hopes took a major hit on Tuesday night as noisy neighbours Watford turned up to spoil the party at the Emirates.

The Gunners were hoping to take some momentum into their crunch clash against leaders Chelsea this weekend.

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But a shock early double from Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney put Watford firmly in the hotseat after just 13 minutes, with the skipper later going to dedicate the win to the late Graham Taylor.

Arsenal were clearly stunned as they failed to find a way through Walter Mazzarri's stubborn defence.

But youngster Alex Iwobi gave the home side some hope when he pulled one back with half an hour remaining.

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But Arsenal's pressure failed to give way to an equaliser as Arsene Wenger watched on from the stands.

And Gunners fans will be hoping the team can now pick themselves up when they visit Stamford Bridge in the early kick off on Saturday.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS

• AARON RAMSEY limped off clutching his right calf just minutes after deflecting Etienne Capoue’s long-range effort past Petr Cech off the same part of his body.
• RAMSEY’s latest injury could not have come at a worse time for Arsenal. With Granit Xhaka suspended, Mohamed Elneny at the African Nations Cup and Santi Cazorla still sidelined, Francis Coquelin will be their only recognised central midfield player available for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
• THERE was one ray of sunshine for suspended Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. At least he stayed nice and dry in his comfy seat in the Emirates directors’ box.
• NACHO MONREAL was deservedly booked for diving when he went down in the Watford penalty area under the merest suggestion of contact from Craig Cathcart.
• IF Wenger really thinks that Gabriel has a future at right-back, it’s probably a good job that Arsenal didn’t sell Carl Jenkinson and Mathieu Debuchy during the transfer window.  The clumsy Brazilian was worse than awful.

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• WENGER claims he has never had better attacking options during his 20 years in charge yet his team still took 50 minutes to manage their first shot on target against a Watford team without a win in their previous seven League games.
• WITH their title challenge over for another year and Champions League elimination looming against Bayern Munich, maybe Arsenal should start resting their stars for Sutton United in the FA Cup.
• WATFORD confirmed that striker Odion Ighalo has completed a £20million move to Chinese club Changchun Yatai. Smart business by the club who turned down a £37.5million bid for the Nigerian striker from Shanghai SIPG six months ago.
• WALTER MAZZARRI has clearly been given a copy of the Tony Pulis book of tactics. The Watford boss started the evening with four centre-halfs in his defence. But they were all needed to resist the late Arsenal onslaught.
• THE visitors infuriated the notoriously grumpy Arsenal fans with their delaying tactics. Debutant M’Baye Niang took an eternity to walk off when he was substituted despite getting a hurry-up from ref Andre Marriner.

THE BIG PICTURE

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Arsenal next five fixtures

Chelsea (A): 4 Feb - Prem

Hull (H): 11 Feb - Prem

Bayern Munich (A): 15 Feb - CL

Sutton United (A): 18 Feb - FA

Liverpool (A): 4 Mar - Prem

Watford next five fixtures

Burnley (H): 4 Feb - Prem

Man Utd (A): 11 Feb - Prem

West Ham (H): 25 Feb - Prem

Southampton (H): 4 Mar - Prem

Chelsea (A): 13 Mar - Prem

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Arsenal: Cech 6, Gabriel 7, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Coquelin 6 (Perez 6), Ramsey 5 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 6), Iwobi 7, Ozil 7, Sanchez 6, Giroud 5 (Walcott 6)

Subs not used: Gibbs, Ospina, Bellerin, Maitland-Niles

Goal: Iwobi 58'

Booked: Gabriel, Monreal, Sanchez

Watford: Gomes 7, Cathcart 6, Kaboul 8, Prodl 7, Britos 6, Janmaat 7, Capoue 8, Behrami 7 (Doucoure 6), Cleverley 6, Niang 6 (Success 6), Deeney 7 (Okaka 5)

Subs not used: Mariappa, Watson, Mason, Arlauskis

Goals: Kaboul 10', Deeney 13'

Booked: Prodl, Cleverley, Okaka

STAR MAN: Younes Kaboul 8

SOCIAL SAYS

THEY SAID

Watford captain Troy Deeney: “We were much the better team in the first half and we took our chances when they came. A really good team performance.

“It is Graham Taylor’s funeral tomorrow so I think all the players and fans would like to dedicate that to him.”