Troy Deeney perfectly sums up what it's like to play against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal

GiveMeSport

scores

By Rob Swan

Published Oct 15, 2017

Deeney perfectly sums up what it’s like to face Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal

You have to feel sorry for Arsenal’s long-suffering fans.They feared nothing would change if Arsene Wenger decided to stay on beyond the summer and, following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away at Watford, it seems they’ve been proven right.After just eight matches played, the Gunners already find themselves nine points behind league-leaders Manchester City in sixth place, having lost three times already this season.Wenger’s side took the lead before half-time through Per Mertesacker, but two goals in the final 20 minutes from Troy Deeney and Tom Cleverley sealed all three points for the hosts.ArsenalFanTV’s star contributors all looked like broken men after the game. They’ve found themselves in this same position on far too many occasions over the past few years.

Deeney picks Arsenal apart after Watford victory

BT Sport broadcast the match and invited Deeney into the studio after the final whistle to give his thoughts on not just Watford, but Arsenal too.

And the straight-talking English centre-forward summed up how Premier League players feel when they go head-to-head against Wenger’s side.

"I've heard Wenger's already blaming [the penalty] as the reason for why they lost," Deeney began. "Well, I'm not going to be one to tell Mr Wenger about himself, but there's a reason that they lost and it wasn't because of one penalty.

"I have to watch what I say, but it's [having] a bit of cojones, is what I'll say. Whenever I play against Arsenal, I'll go up and think 'let me whack the first one and see who wants it.'

"I came on today and jumped up with [Per] Mertesacker - I didn't even have to jump, actually - I nodded it down, the crowd gets up: 'Yeah we've got somebody who can win it,' and they all just backed off.

"For me as a player, I just think 'happy days.' That's my strength -- if you're going to let me do my strength against you, you're going to have a tough afternoon.”

Martin Keown: My blood would be boiling hearing that

Hearing these words sickened Martin Keown, who was also on the BT Sport panel.

The former Arsenal centre-back, an old school no-nonsense defender in his day, said: “I hope the Arsenal players are listening because my blood would be boiling hearing that.

“The one thing I have to guarantee is that I’m up for a battle and I’m going to be confrontational. You’ve got to repel that kind of attitude from opposition because that’s what happens - and that’s how Watford got back into this game today.

“If that’s missing from the current group then Wenger has to seriously examine that.”

Deeney continues his Arsenal analysis

Deeney then added: "I just think personally there's an element of that being an equaliser for me. I know I'm not technically gifted like they are, not as quick, but if you want to fight with me, I'm gonna beat you all day.

"If you want to come into my world and do that, you can do that, but you've got to be at a level where your excellence of keeping the ball, being fast and getting in the right positions are all 10/10 because my equaliser is I'm big, strong, and I do all the ugly stuff you don't wanna do, and I'm going to make it horrible for you."