Arsenal have developed a “winning mentality” under new manager Unai Emery, said defender Rob Holding after their seventh successive victory in all competitions.
Emery promised to return Arsenal to the European elite after they finished outside the Premier League top four in their final two seasons under predecessor Arsene Wenger.
A 2-0 victory over Watford at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, thanks to two goals in the last nine minutes, secured the Gunners’ fifth league win in a row.
They now sit fifth in the table, behind fourth-placed north London rivals Tottenham on goal difference.
Defender Holding, 23, told Arsenal’s website: “He said when he came in that he wanted to bring a winning mentality and I think you get that from wins and you go into each game confident.
“We’re physically fit and we know that we can go and get the result.”
Watford captain Troy Deeney criticised Arsenal’s lack of desire after their 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road last season.
But on Saturday he faced a more committed Arsenal, who prevented Watford from scoring in the league for the first time this season.
Alex Iwobi, introduced midway through the second half, was the catalyst behind Arsenal’s win.
The Nigerian’s driven low ball from the right resulted in Arsenal’s opener, inadvertently turned in by Watford’s Craig Cathcart.
Two minutes later Iwobi was involved in a one-two with Alexandre Lacazette, who delivered a low cross for Mesut Ozil to sidefoot home.
With the game goalless, Arsenal substitute keeper Bernd Leno made a great one-handed save to deny Deeney, while Isaac Success fired narrowly wide of the far post.
Arsenal players are eulogising about the Spaniard, they again look like a team capable of challenging for a top-four spot, while Ozil has rediscovered his scoring touch with three goals in four matches in all competitions.
Emery made two key tactical decisions against Watford, bringing on Iwobi for Aaron Ramsey and sticking by Lacazette in attack.
Ramsey, who looks to be heading for the exit, shook his head as he was replaced by Iwobi in the 63rd minute. The Wales international failed to influence the game, while Iwobi added pace to midfield to complement the speed of Arsenal’s front two on the break.
It was from two swift attacks that Arsenal broke the deadlock. Iwobi first sped down the left before delivering a cross that the unfortunate Cathcart converted under pressure from Lacazette.
Arsenal caught out Watford again moments later, Ozil capping a move that was typical of those created during the pomp of Wenger’s reign.
Before the goals, Lacazette was the biggest threat on the pitch, but he wasted two good chances – a one-on-one with keeper Ben Foster and a header over the bar from eight yards.
However, Emery stuck by Lacazette – a £46.5m signing in 2017 – and he played a big part in the two goals.
Petr Cech’s hamstring injury in first-half stoppage time led to the league debut for £19m summer signing Leno.
The 26-year-old German produced an exceptional low save to deny Deeney and also produced a great block to stop Andre Gray.
Leno might keep hold of the jersey after Emery suggested Cech will be out for two to three weeks.
Watford began the match with 13 points from their opening six games – and above Arsenal in the table for the first time since 1984.
The outcome could have been different had Deeney and Gray put away their chances.
Nigeria striker Success, who came on in the 72nd minute, also went close.
The 22-year-old, who scored in the League Cup defeat by Tottenham on Wednesday, had a goalbound shot blocked by Holding before his angled strike narrowly drifted past Leno’s far post.