Quique Sanchez Flores proud of Watford players despite defeat

Quique Sanchez Flores was happy with Watford's performance in the opening 60 minutes against Arsenal but believes Alexis Sanchez's first goal affected his side's mental concentration.

Sanchez's opener was swiftly followed by two more goals within 12 second-half minutes as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners at Vicarage Road on Saturday night.

Despite the scoreline, Sanchez Flores took the positives from the defeat as his Watford side matched Arsenal for the opening hour and carved out good opportunities for Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo.

"I thought we had great balance for one hour," Sanchez Flores told Sky Sports after the game. "We had our chances in the first half, we put a very big physical effort out there.

"We conceded the first goal as we were playing well in the second half, it was a mental kick for the game. We were down for the next 10 minutes, and that decided the game. They found space, and they found the solution.

"We couldn't defend as well, and we made a couple of mistakes.

"But I am very happy with the first hour."

Watford fell behind to Sanchez after a lightning counter-attack from the Gunners - a move that started following a Hornets' free-kick appeal on the edge of the Arsenal box for a challenge on Etienne Capoue.

"I don't know [if we deserved a free-kick]," continued Sanchez Flores.

"This is England, so there is a lot of contact, I don't like to protest anything. The most important thing is that we are able to keep this level of the first hour."