Arsene Wenger bemoaned a "scandalous decision" to award Watford a penalty as Arsenal squandered a lead to lose 2-1 in injury time at Vicarage Road.

The Gunners led Per Mertesacker, but the Hornets were matched when Troy Deeney converted after Hector Bellerin was found guilty of foul play in Richarlison. Deeney's goal 19 minutes from time allowed Watford to qualify, with Tom Cleverley becoming the final seconds to send Watford fourth. "I would say it was not a penalty," said Arsenal manager Wenger. "It happened at some point in the game where it was absolutely important for Watford, without penalty, without goal."

Deeney made a scathing assessment of the comments of Wenger and the Gunners in general, and told BT Sport: "I heard that Wenger was already saying that the penalty was the reason they lost ... Well, I do not. I'm not going to Talk about that, but there is a reason why they lost and it was not because of a penalty.

"When I play against Arsenal, I get up and think" let me hit first and see who wants it ".

"I came today and I jumped with Mertesacker, I did not even have to jump, in fact, I nodded, the crowd got up, 'yes, we have someone who can win' - and everyone has to do it.

"For me, as a player, I only think of" happy days ", that's my strength: if you let me use my strength against you, you're going to have a difficult afternoon."

Hornets boss Marco Silva was not happy with any inference that striker Richarlison would have exaggerated to win the kick that helped tip the balance in favor of his team.

"I saw the penalty and I respect the referee's decision," he said. "I did not see any diving or simulation.

"He's not, he's right, he wins fouls like the best players in the world." "Richarlison has suffered more fouls in the Premier League this season, and people are starting to say he's diving.

Silva's team now scored in the 90th minute or more in three consecutive games, while the recovery of the second half sealed their first home win with an impressive start to the season.

Without agitated Alexis Sánchez, the Gunners had no advantage to take advantage of a series of opportunities, with substitute Mesut Özil, also qualified after his efforts to qualify for the World Cup in Germany in the week, guilty of a flagrant foul Back to the comfort of home for the ambitious Silva

When Silva arrived at Vicarage Road, his record in home games was a key force.

The Portuguese had won many admirers for the way he almost saved Hull City from relegation last season.

But seven games in his Premier League stay at Watford, he was on the road where his tough side made its mark. All of his victories had left Hertfordshire until Saturday, but the Portuguese optimist may have felt that his luck could change against an Arsenal team without the talisman Sanchez and fighting away from Emirates Stadium.

When your team continues to play to the end, you can even afford to be optimistic about a zone marking system that at one time seemed to do more harm than good. Arsenal threatened with every play like 5 feet 9 in Cleverley seemed to score 6 feet 6 in Mertesacker.

It allowed the visitors to open the marker and it remained a problem, but after that, Silva maintained his methods.

"It's not bad," he said. "It's my decision and we will continue that way, we have to do more, but we are strong locally."

After taking Watford to the Champions League seats at a fraction of the budgets elsewhere among the top four, few can argue.

Flaky Gunners still lacking nerve

While Wenger was complaining about the penalty, Arsenal fans might be more concerned about the evidence that his team is still defensive. Okay, they had to ask the veteran statesman Mertesacker, concerned about the injuries, to replace his compatriot, Shkodran Mustafi, but it was not just to blame.

For at least 45 minutes, at least the 33-year-old German was in charge at his first elite start since April 2016. But worrying for Arsenal in this competition, they faced only three shots on goal and received two punches. Panic was palpable in his re-jigged baseline when Watford increased the late pressure mark.

Wenger had prepared Jack Wilshire on the bench, but brought another defender, Rob Holding, to hold on. It was not enough.

This is not the first time his defense has been turned off under pressure, leaving Cleverley unbranded to break the last heartbreaker.

Injuries can not be helped. Organizing and keeping calm under pressure is something else.

Man of the Match - Heurelho Gomes (Watford)

Marco Watford manager: "I do not change what I said at the beginning of the season.

"We have one goal: to stay club in the Premier League, it's too early to change."

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "I think our level went down in the second half and we lost a lot of chances to kill the match.

"After that, with 1-1, there was no need to panic, I think in the second goal, we can only watch ourselves."

The best start of Atford: statistics

Watford had his best start in a high-profile season after eight games (15 pts), since his first season in 1982/83 with Graham Taylor (16 points).

Arsenal lost to a winner of more than 90 minutes in the Premier League for the first time since January 2012 (Bobby Zamora for Fulham).

Arsenal scored with the first shot in goal of the match.

Per Mertesacker scored his first Premier League goal in 1400 days since playing against Man City in December 2013. With the help of his penalty kick, Troy Deeney ended his longest drought in the Premier League (13 games).

Petr Cech could not save any of the last 18 penalties he faced in the Premier League, Chelsea's last save against Fulham in February 2011.

Deeney's goal was the first Arsenal for the best flight in 444 minutes of action.

Following?

Watford's extraordinary career faces one of his biggest challenges so far, as they head for Stamford Bridge to play against Chelsea next Saturday (12:30 BST).

Arsenal are in action for the Europa League on Thursday, when they travel to Serbia to face Belgrade's Red Star (18.00 BST).