Watford’s Emirates FA Cup quarter final win over Arsenal was music to Quique Sanchez Flores’s ears.
Second-half strikes from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura put the Hornets 2-0 up and although Danny Welbeck pulled one back late on, Arsene Wenger’s men were unable to stage a comeback.
And Watford boss Flores said the pre-match atmosphere in the dressing room was “amazing, perfect.”
Arsenal 1-2 Watford
Emirates FA Cup
Quarter final
Sunday 13 March
Emirates Stadium
He said: “We are completely happy.
“The music in there may not to be so good for someone of my age but the players have given us the impetus for the last part of the league programme and The FA Cup Semi-Final.
“I am so happy for Guedioura. He scored one of best goals of the season. And Ighalo is tired, he ran such a lot but is happy he has scored again.
“It’s an important point of my career. Being in a semi-final is amazing for the fans, the players, the club.
“We defended well for 80 minutes but it was difficult in the last 10 because my players were tired.
“Playing Arsenal anything is possible. It’s hard under high pressure to keep the ball.”
Meanwhile, Wenger called on his side to “make the impossible possible” in Barcelona after his hopes of landing a third successive Emirates FA Cup collapsed.
The Gunners take on Lionel Messi and Co. at the Nou Camp on Wednesday looking to overturn a two-goal deficit.
Wenger took the loss to Watford on the chin, though.
The result wrecked Arsenal’s hopes of extending their run of 15 unbeaten FA Cup ties but he said: “Our run is over and it’s very sad because we didn’t deserve to lose.
“It’s difficult to understand why we didn’t score more goals and I must watch the match again.
“We’ve a difficult week ahead but we’ve shown before how we can respond to results like this. We go to Barcelona and want to make the impossible possible against a very strong side.
“It’s difficult week for us but it’s got nothing to do with confidence. We managed a draw at Tottenham with 10 men and won an FA Cup tie at Hull 4-0.
“[Watford] defended well and took their chances on the break in a typical FA Cup tie. Watford have great strength and a great attitude.”
