Our league campaign has been a mess, but Arsenal at least managed to end a run of three straight Premier League defeats with a 3-0 win over Watford.
It doesn't paper over the cracks of what has gone before, but it was certainly a much-needed win and Arsene Wenger's 700th for the Gunners.
Arsenal started brightly and came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latched onto Mesut Ozil's through ball, but the striker's effort was turned away by Orestis Karnezis in the Watford goal.
The Gunners made no mistake after eight minutes when Shkodran Mustafi headed in Ozil's free-kick for Arsenal's 1000th home Premier League goal - we are only the second team to reach that landmark.
That goal also saw Ozil become the fastest player to reach 50 Premier League assists, which he achieved in just 141 games.
Watford had a great opportunity to level the scores after 12 minutes when Richarlison set up Abdoulaye Doucoure, but his deflected strike was well saved by Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech.
Arsenal continued to create chances with Mohamed Elneny passing through to Sead Kolasinac, but Aubameyang couldn't quite get enough on the full-back's low ball into the box.
Richarlison tried to get Watford back into the game, but his free-kick hit a post before Roberto Pereryra blasted the rebound over the crossbar.
Back came Arsenal and Ozil cleverly worked his way into the box, only for his shot to be kept out by the outstretched leg of Karnezis.
Watford tried, but failed, to find an equaliser before half-time as Richarlison's header was tipped behind for a corner by Cech.
The cushion of a second goal finally came for Arsenal after 59 minutes as Henrikh Mkhitaryan ran at the defence and played a through ball into Aubameyang, who took a touch to take it past Karnezis and score from close range.
The game very nearly turned on its head two minutes later as Watford were awarded a penalty after Ainsley Maitland-Niles was adjudged to have fouled Pereyra in the box.
Troy Deeney, who said Arsenal players must look at themselves and show 'cojones' after Watford's 2-1 win in October's reverse fixture, stepped up to take the penalty. Fortunately for Arsenal Cech was on hand to dive to his right and palm away Deeney's spot-kick - his first Arsenal penalty save.
Mustafi was forced off with a groin problem after 72 minutes and will have to be assessed before the extent of the damage is known.
Arsenal put the result beyond doubt 13 minutes from time when Rob Holding's excellent through ball found Ozil, whose cutback was saved by Karnezis, but fell to Aubameyang and he set up Mkhitaryan to fire home.
Substitute Danny Welbeck tried to add further gloss to the scoreline late on, but his effort was kept out by Karnezis.
Watford were unable to find a consolation goal meaning Cech kept his 200th clean sheet and becomes the first goalkeeper to achieve that feat in Premier League history.
A much-needed win to halt our poor run of league form, but eight points behind fifth-placed Chelsea and 12 off Liverpool in fourth simply isn't good enough.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Watford fan Paul Caygill believes the best team on the day won at the Emirates and is nervous about the club's next league game away at Liverpool.
"It was a strange game," said Caygill. "In the first 10 minutes we gave too much respect, although there was not too much wrong with the first goal, just a great header.
"Gradually we got a foothold in the game and missed a good few chances as well as Arsenal. When Karnezis, who I felt was our best player, denied Ozil on the half hour that was the game changer.
"I did feel the first 15 minutes of the second half was our best spell of the match, but we didn’t test Cech enough. The killer was the second goal, because it knocked us out of stride, until the penalty.
"That goes in, you could see the crowd getting very nervous. Deeney misses, which considering his comments back in October, is probably ironic.
"That killed the game really and a third was inevitable. Overall the best team on the day won, and we should still be safe, but I’m not feeling confident about Anfield on Saturday teatime on this evidence."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
With confidence low and things in a mess the recent wins against AC Milan and Watford are a big morale boost for the Gunners.
Even if this is the start of a good run of form it won't stop it from being a poor league campaign, but at least there has been more positives in the last two games in all competitions.
Focus must now quickly switch to the second leg of our Europa League round of 16 tie against AC Milan.
The job is only half done, but after a surprise 2-0 win in Italy the tie is firmly in our favour. I am taking nothing for granted as anything could happen, but I feel better about our chances than I thought I would have done at this stage after being handed a tough draw.
Our next league match will see us travel to Leicester, which will undoubtedly be a tough game, but we need to make sure we produce a decent performance.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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