Arsenal’s latest damaging defeat came against a well-organised Watford side using the traditional tactics that have caused the Gunners problems over the past decade. The away side concentrated on denying Arsenal space in the final third, then pounced through a set piece and a counterattack.

Quique Sánchez Flores’s approach was designed to frustrate Arsenal. Watford’s back four defended deep, denying the home side the opportunity to play through-balls in behind, while the midfield quartet was comprised of four central players who protected Watford’s centre-backs and made it difficult for Arsenal to play through the centre. Only Adlène Guedioura, to the right of the midfield, showed any inclination to push forward and support the forward duo.

Arsenal’s problems in midfield were not helped by Arsène Wenger’s enforced use of two holding players, Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny. While the duo performed well in an all-action, physical battle at White Hart Lane last weekend they were much less suited to this type of contest, where Arsenal had all the possession and required intricate, positive passes into the final third to penetrate an extremely well-organised opposition. Wenger could have done with the injured Aaron Ramsey, not to mention Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere or Mikel Arteta, all long-term absentees.

Amid inevitable discussion of Arsenal’s lack of leaders, fighting spirit and organisation – the standard Arsenal cliches – the sluggishness of their midfield passing has often been overlooked.

That was particularly obvious here. Against a side sitting back Arsenal needed someone to lift the tempo and dominate but it was only in the final 20 minutes, when chasing the game, that Arsenal knocked quick passes into the attackers.

For long periods they were forced to go wide, with the full-backs Kieran Gibbs and Calum Chambers regularly involved, especially in the first half. But Watford were happy to see the home side moving the ball through those zones. The away team’s full-backs tucked inside and assisted the centre-backs, always making the centre of the pitch their priority.

Afterwards, Flores spoke about how Watford had “disconnected” Arsenal’s best players, a perfect way of explaining their success for the first hour. The centre-forward Olivier Giroud usually so intelligent at combining with onrushing midfielders, did not complete a single pass within 30 yards of the opposition goal, while Mesut Özil was starved of space between the lines and continually dropped into deeper midfield positions, where he is less effective.

The most frequent recipient of his passes was Coquelin, which demonstrates that Arsenal were often going sideways.

Without natural wide players Watford’s counter-attacking was funnelled through the centre of the pitch where the partnership of Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney continues to impress. Although the goals have dried up for both recently this match highlighted their good relationship, with the duo often attempting quick one-twos to bypass Per Mertesacker and Gabriel. Watford’s most frequent passing combination, by far, was Deeney feeding Ighalo.

They linked effectively for the opener. Deeney flicked on Nathan Aké’s long throw into the path of Ighalo, who rolled Gabriel and fired into the net. Deeney consistently provides these crucial flicks – the Watford captain has won 179 aerial duels in the Premier League this season, more than any other player. He has set up Ighalo for six league goals this season, although it is this FA Cup assist which may prove to the most memorable.

Arsenal really started playing only after Guedioura’s thumping goal put Watford 2-0 ahead.

Wenger’s treble substitution worked well: Alex Iwobi showed some neat touches, Theo Walcott nearly raced on to Alexis Sánchez’s through-ball while Danny Welbeck scored to give Arsenal hope.

It is unfortunate that Welbeck’s stoppage-time miss from point-blank range might come to summarise Arsenal’s failure this season.

He has been Arsenal’s only positive over the past month and without his return their collapse would have been even more dramatic.