Javi Gracia was left wondering how Watford didn’t score following their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal this afternoon.

Skkodran Mustafi, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan secured what turned out to be a comfortable and welcome three Premier League points for the Gunners, but the outcome might have been very different had Troy Deeney tucked away a second-half penalty which was saved by Petr Cech.

“I’m disappointed because I can’t believe we didn’t score a goal,” the Hornets head coach reflected. “We conceded an early goal and then the game changed.

“In the first half both sides created many chances. In the second half we played better, we had more control of the game, but after the second goal it was very difficult.

“We tried to score with a penalty, we missed and after that we know Arsenal on the counter attack are very dangerous.

“It was a very open game. I would prefer another way but it was like this and we’ll try to do better in the next game.”

The manner of Arsenal’s first two goals – from a free-kick and a poor attempt to play offside – were disappointing from a Hornets perspective and Gracia remarked: “We were defending well in the last game but today it was difficult for us with good players against us. We’ll try to do better next time.”

Watford switched to a 4-4-2 formation for this game from 4-2-3-1 and explaining the change, Gracia said: “We tried to defend with two lines of four, but to be ready on the counter attack with two players in front and to look for the spaces. Sometimes Arsenal create with their full-backs up.”