By Boris Mellor
December 28 2006

According to some reports it was more a matter of winning pretty, after all nine of Arsenal’s players wore gloves, that was reported with such contempt that I nearly got on the phone to Peter Tatchell.

After all it is code for not real men, fancy Dan foreigners, the pretty ones were nearly held to a draw by the manly play of Watford. If it was not for the brilliance of van Persie the fancy Dans would have been sent home with their tails between their legs.

In this instance the skill of van Persie is almost seen as being unfair, it doesn’t compare with the effort that Watford put into the game. Wenger often seems to think that the game should be awarded to the team that plays the most beautiful football, but that is not the English game Arsene. The prizes are awarded for effort, manliness and pluckiness.

Some saw it as winning ugly; grinding out a result, but this was hardly the conservative play of Chelsea. Arsenal’s midfield did not stifle Watford, nor, apart from Gilberto, did they shield the defence. Indeed Watford were given room to play, and inspite of the noise, blood and thunder they only made four shots on target. Meanwhile the fancy Dans had nine shots on target.

This was not one of Arsenal’s best performances, and in particular the defence was very shaky. The midfield stuttered as they often misplaced passes to avoid the tempo of advancing Watford players. The Hornet’s wing play gave Arsenal full backs a torrid time, and it was wing play that brought Watford a rapid equaliser.

But as uncomfortable as Arsenal were, at times, it was they who made, and wasted, the most chances. Every now and then the Gunners gave a glimpse of their slickest play, but then they would return to mediocrity. The Gunners defence was much improved after Senderos replaced Djourou for the second half. Nor was it just a matter of wasted chances, Foster had a great game in the Watford goal. Indeed it seemed as if it would be one of those nights when Arsenal would not be able to find the goal however well they struck.

Wenger is often accused, unfairly in my opinion, of not using substitutes wisely. But the bringing on of Walcott and Baptista worked extremely well. They both began to find the space that opened up as Watford tired. Firstly Baptista hit a tantalising shot that beat Foster, but went a foot wide. The writing was on the wall, and it was a wonderful pass by Walcott that carved the Watford defence wide open. Van Persie’s off ball running was well timed, he beat several defenders on the way into the box and he curled the ball way beyond Foster. With seven minutes to go Watford had nothing left in the tank. The match was over. It was only Watford’s second defeat at home all season, and the Gunners had scored nearly a quarter of all goals against them.

Was it winning ugly? Was it grinding out a result? It was more a case of a stuttering performance where Arsenal rediscovered their class when it really mattered, as Herbert Chapman put it "the team that scores the most goals wins".

But a tougher test awaits on Saturday, the frozen North, in your face football, and no Adebayor. Get out the gloves and thermal vests, but most importantly the shooting boots lads.

Team ratings: Lehmann 6, Clichy 6, Djourou 5 (Senderos 7) Toure 6, Hoyte 5, Rosicky 6, Gilberto 8, Fabregas 6, Hleb 5, Van Persie 8, Adebayor 7, (Walcott 7). Baptista only on for ten minutes.