Sunday 28 August 2016 13:40, UK
Arsenal's first-half performance at Watford on Saturday has kick-started their season, according to goalkeeper Petr Cech.
The Gunners picked up their first win of the campaign as they defeated the Hornets 3-1 thanks to goals from Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in the opening 45 minutes at Vicarage Road.
Watford hit back after the break with club-record signing Roberto Pereyra coming off the bench to score, but Arsenal comfortably held on to claim the three points.
The victory followed an opening weekend 4-3 defeat at home to Liverpool and a goalless draw at champions Leicester and when asked if Arsenal's season was now under way, Cech replied: "In the first half certainly because we did so well.
"We scored three goals and we should have scored more goals. We could have scored in the second half and they were 3-0 down. They are a good Premier League side so they pushed for something to happen.
"In the end, the second half was tougher. They played well and changed their formation and put us under more pressure.
"We wanted to score more goals in the second half - not to give them a chance to come back. Unfortunately they managed to score a goal and the game then became more lively."
Cech, who won the Premier League four times during his time across London at Chelsea, knows it is a marathon and not a sprint as Arsenal look for their first title since 2004.
"We have 35 more games to play," he said. "Like everybody else, we are going to fight to win every game to be in the mix until the last kick. Last season it wasn't easy.
"You work every day to be ready for weekend and midweek games and all the games that come. We know we are not an exception.
"We want to win the title and we want to challenge at the top of the Premier League. There is no hiding from that. Everybody else will do the same, so we will try to do our best."
