Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil star as Arsenal stroll past Watford

Arsenal kick-started their Premier League campaign in emphatic fashion, turning on the style to rout a lacklustre Watford 3-1 at Vicarage Road.

The impressive Santi Cazorla got the ball rolling with a ninth-minute penalty after Nordin Amrabat elbowed Alexis Sanchez in the box, and the latter doubled Arsenal’s lead when he turned home Theo Walcott’s cross.

Mesut Ozil, starting for the first time this season, made it three right on half time, heading home Sanchez’s cross with not a Watford defender in sight.

Watford improved after the break and pulled a goal back when substitute Roberto Pereyra slid home ten minutes into his debut. Petr Cech kept Watford out with a couple of smart saves but, in truth, it was a comfortable and much needed victory for Arsenal.

Arsenal’s first win lifts them to seventh in the table, one point behind north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Watford drop into the relegation zone at the start of what could be a tough fight for survival.

Return of Ozil and Cazorla make Gunners fire. How Arsenal missed Santi Cazorla towards the end of last season and with Mesut Ozil now regaining match fitness, Arsenal can now boast a fearsome midfield ready to test the best.

Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal). Created the opening penalty, scored the second and assisted the third. Fans may not gripe about him being a lone striker any more.

Watford: Gomes 6, Kabasele 6, Kaboul 6, Prodl 6, Amrabat 6, Behrami 6, Capoue 6, Guedioura 6, Holebas 6, Ighalo 7, Deeney 6. SUBS: Success 7, Janmaat 6, Pereyra 7.

Arsenal: Cech 7, Bellerin 6, Holding 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Cazorla 7, Xhaka 7, Walcott 6, Ozil 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Sanchez 8. SUBS: Gibbs 6, Wilshere 6, Elneny 6.

9’ – GOAL! Watford 0-1 Arsenal: A clumsy challenge from Amrabat on Sanchez concedes a penalty and Cazorla slots it down the middle.

25’ – SAVE CECH! Almost an own goal from Koscielny but Cech does well to parry clear.

40’ – GOAL! Watford 0-2 Arsenal: Sanchez turns in Walcott’s cross at the far post and it’s over the line before it’s hoofed clear.

45+1’ – GOAL! Watford 0-3 Arsenal: Woeful marking from Watford and it’s a free header for Ozil from Sanchez’s cross.

57’ – GOAL! Watford 1-3 Arsenal: It’s pinball in the Gunners box before Roberto Pereyra slides home ten minutes into his debut.

69’ – SAVE! Cech to the rescue again, saving Holebas’ drive and Ighalo’s follow up with his legs.

Arsenal become the second team, after Manchester United (798), to score 700 PL away goals. The Gunners’ first PL away goal was scored by Anders Limpar in the 2-0 win at Liverpool on 23 August 1992.

For the first time since 4 May 2015 at Hull, Arsenal have scored three goals in the first half of a PL away match.

Alexis Sánchez has scored in all three PL appearances against Watford (total three goals). He has only scored more PL goals versus Leicester City (4).

Santi Cazorla scores his first PL goal since 21 February 2015 (then at Crystal Palace). He has now converted seven of his eight penalties in the PL.

Twelve minutes after making his debut in the PL, Roberto Pereyra scores his very first goal for Watford.

Watford equal the club top flight record of conceding multiple goals in four consecutive home matches, set from November to December 1983 and equalled from November 1999 to January 2000.