Three Things We Learned from Arsenal Women’s 5-1 FA Cup win against Watford 

Emily Fox is an outstanding player

I had to start with this one! As debuts go, this one was close to perfect. Having not watched the NWSL regularly, I haven’t watched her play much, but it was clear from the fact that she was a first draft pick out of college in the US in 2021 for the NWSL that she had a bright future.

Having made her way into the US Women’s National team’s starting eleven, her career progression has been excellent since then. Her style of play suits Arsenal perfectly.

She’s rapid, good on the ball, and can play both inside and outside as a full back who likes to get forward. She’s also an absolute athlete who never stops running for the full 90 minutes. She will obviously face tougher tests, but this was a great start.

What a signing. She also has a chant already which is class once again from our fans. 

Clean sheets seem to still be evading us 

It was a great performance, but not a clean sheet. We have only kept two clean sheets this season so far. Against the top teams, lapses in concentration could cost us and we have to concentrate for the full 90 minutes when playing out from the back.

We defended well, but playing out from the back comes with certain risks, and while I think it’s the right thing to do and we do it well, it can always be improved. Sometimes when you’re winning as comfortably as we were when we conceded (3-0), these things happen, and I don’t necessarily think that this will be an indicator of things to come, but it’s something that needs to be worked on and ironed out as it has happened before.   

The kids are alright! 

Three Arsenal loanees at Watford, Michelle Agyemang, Laila Harbert and Katie Reid, started this game from Watford after Jonas Eidevall made the decision to allow them to play against their parent club.

This was cited as being for their development, and I think it’s clear that they will have benefited from playing at a packed Meadow Park against such a top opposition.

Watford are at the bottom of the Championship, but this young trio played well and striker Agyemang has been tearing it up in the Championship at just 17, so she is definitely one to keep an eye on.

It was nice to see Leah Williamson taking them around to be acknowledged by the Arsenal fans at the end as well.

The future is bright.