Match ends, Watford 0, Arsenal 1.
Watford 0-1 Arsenal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pounces on Ben Foster howler
- From the section Premier League
A Ben Foster howler and a needless Troy Deeney red card helped Arsenal climb back into the Premier League top four with victory at Watford.
Goalkeeper Foster gifted the Gunners an opening goal after 10 minutes when he took too long on the ball after collecting a back pass, allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to charge down his clearance and deflect the ball in.
Just a minute later, Watford captain Deeney was sent off for throwing his forearm into the face of Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira in a late challenge.
Despite playing with 10 men for 80 minutes, Watford offered the far greater threat, hitting the bar through Adam Masina's powerful drive from distance in the second half, and forcing Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno into a number of excellent saves.
The German denied Craig Cathcart well with his feet shortly after Deeney's red card - and later in the first half dived at full stretch to tip away Etienne Capoue's goalbound free-kick.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles also produced a crucial block with 10 minutes remaining when he slid in to block Andre Gray's shot after the Watford striker had rounded Leno.
The visitors' only real chance came midway through the second half but Foster brilliantly spread himself to block Henrikh Mkhitaryan's volley from close range.
The Gunners were well below their best but the rare away win could prove crucial in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League.
They climb two places to fourth in the table, two points clear of Manchester United and ahead of Chelsea on goal difference.
More to follow
Line-ups
Watford
- 26Foster
- 2Janmaat
- 27Kabasele
- 15Cathcart
- 11MasinaSubstituted forSemaat 86'minutes
- 21FemeníaSubstituted forSuccessat 59'minutes
- 29CapoueBooked at 54mins
- 16Doucouré
- 19HughesBooked at 86mins
- 9DeeneyBooked at 11mins
- 18Gray
Substitutes
- 1Gomes
- 3Britos
- 6Mariappa
- 10Success
- 12Sema
- 14Chalobah
- 23Navarro
Arsenal
- 19Leno
- 20Mustafi
- 27MavropanosSubstituted forGuendouziat 59'minutes
- 6Koscielny
- 18Monreal
- 11TorreiraSubstituted forÖzilat 45'minutes
- 34Xhaka
- 7Mkhitaryan
- 8RamseySubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 68'minutes
- 17Iwobi
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 1Cech
- 4Elneny
- 9Lacazette
- 10Özil
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 29Guendouzi
- 31Kolasinac
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 20,480
Match Stats
Home TeamWatfordAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home34%
- Away66%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away19
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away6
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away8
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Watford 0, Arsenal 1.
Offside, Arsenal. Granit Xhaka tries a through ball, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside.
Offside, Arsenal. Alex Iwobi tries a through ball, but Mesut Özil is caught offside.
Attempt blocked. Will Hughes (Watford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Mesut Özil (Arsenal).
Christian Kabasele (Watford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Daryl Janmaat (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Ken Sema replaces Adam Masina.
Booking
Will Hughes (Watford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Attempt missed. Will Hughes (Watford) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Daryl Janmaat with a cross.
Foul by Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal).
Andre Gray (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Andre Gray (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Isaac Success with a headed pass.
Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal).
Isaac Success (Watford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt saved. Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.
Offside, Watford. Craig Cathcart tries a through ball, but Isaac Success is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from very close range is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nacho Monreal.
Offside, Arsenal. Matteo Guendouzi tries a through ball, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside.
Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Will Hughes (Watford).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Aaron Ramsey.
Offside, Arsenal. Mesut Özil tries a through ball, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is caught offside.
Adam Masina (Watford) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Attempt missed. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Adam Masina (Watford).
Substitution
Substitution, Watford. Isaac Success replaces Kiko Femenía.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Matteo Guendouzi replaces Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Attempt missed. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Arsenal) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Will Hughes.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ben Foster.
