Arsenal outgun Watford

Watford appeal for offside as Henry celebrates

Watford 2-4 Arsenal

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Arsenal became the first team to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup as they recorded a comfortable win against Watford at Vicarage Road.

We want to win the FA Cup, especially after losing in the final last season

Arsene Wenger

Two goals in the first ten minutes, from Thierry Henry and then Fredrik Ljungberg, set them on their way.

Gifton Noel-Williams struck back for the Hornets - but Kanu's second-half header and Dennis Bergkamp's tap-in sealed the victory before Watford scored a late consolation.

Watford have now exited the FA Cup at the third round stage 10 times in 12 years, including the last five seasons in succession.

  Key moments

8 mins: Thierry Henry puts Arsenal ahead

10 mins: Fredrik Ljungberg doubles the Gunners' lead

13 mins: Noel-Williams halves Watford's deficit

63 mins: Kanu restores Arsenal's two-goal lead

85 mins: Dennis Bergkamp makes it four

90 mins: Marcus Gayle pulls one back for Watford

It is an unwelcome statistic, but Gianluca Vialli's side were at least spared further embarrassment, as Arsenal squandered a host of chances that would have given them a crushing victory.

Arsenal have been guilty of over-elaboration in front of goal this season.

And Robert Pires' shocking second-half miss typified their sometimes apparent lack of no-nonsense finishing.

With the goal gaping, the Frenchman took an unnecessary extra touch on the ball and the opportunity went begging.

Fisken is tackled by Van Bronckorst

Substitute Bergkamp showed how it should be done late on, passing Ashley Cole's centre into the net.

By then Arsenal had virtually secured passage to the next round, after Kanu finally accepted a chance to score his first goal since November and put his side 3-1 up.

He nodded in from Henry's cross, but wasted a number of other chances and could have claimed a hat-trick.

Watford had briefly rallied earlier to give themselves a glimmer of hope when Noel-Williams scored with an excellent header to halve their deficit.

There's a big gap between the Premiership and the First Division - you could see it today

Gianluca Vialli

At that time they were already facing an uphill task.

Henry had slotted home after rounding the keeper and Ljungberg netted 95 seconds later as the Gunners raced into a 2-0 lead.

In the closing moments of the match, Marcus Gayle made the scoreline look less convincing when he grabbed a second for Watford.

It earned a bit of respectability - but Watford have no complaints after being comprehensively outplayed and well-beaten.

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Watford: Chamberlain, Cox, Vega, Issa, Blondeau, Fisken (Helguson 79), Nielsen, Vernazza (Hand 90), Gayle, Smith, Noel-Williams.

Subs Not Used: Baardsen, Wooter, Doyley. Booked: Fisken.

Arsenal: Taylor, Luzhny, Keown, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, van Bronckhorst, Vieira, Pires, Kanu (Wiltord 82), Henry (Bergkamp 82).

Subs Not Used: Grimandi, Upson, Stack.

Attendance: 20,105

Referee: A Wiley