MX23RW : Sunday, February 16 08:31:07| >> :120:29747:29747:
[monks data]
Attendance: 60,019
Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 7
Sep 29, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
Watford logo

2-0

Cathcart (81' og.), Ozil (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Arsenal strike late to see off Watford

Arsenal strike late to see off Watford
© Reuters
Arsenal net two goals in the final 10 minutes to register a 2-0 victory over Watford in Saturday's Premier League fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have recorded their fifth successive victory in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Watford in Saturday's clash at the Emirates Stadium.

The game remained goalless heading into the final 10 minutes, but a Craig Cathcart own goal and a confident finish from Mesut Ozil earned all three points for Unai Emery's side.

Arsenal now sit in fifth place in the table, while Watford are sixth after extending their winless run in the top flight to three matches.

Both teams went into the fixture with similar levels of confidence having enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, and it came as little surprise when the two sides sprayed the ball about with confidence in the early stages.

The first opportunity of the match went the way of Watford with Andre Gray heading the ball into the path of Will Hughes, but the midfielder could only volley wide of the post from 16 yards out.

Arsenal created a chance of their own shortly afterwards as Alexandre Lacazette dispossessed Cathcart before running clear on goal, but the Frenchman could only dink his one-on-one effort wide of Ben Foster's goal.

The two clubs continued to show intent in the final third, but chances were few and far between as the defences remained on top for much of the first half.

Arsenal had another opening towards the end of the first 45 minutes with Granit Xhaka picking up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but the Swiss's long-range strike was tipped away from goal by Foster.

Both teams went onto the offensive after the restart and Bernd Leno - on as a substitute due to a hamstring injury to Petr Cech - pulled off a brilliant save down to his left to prevent Troy Deeney's volley from finding the bottom corner.

Arsenal responded with a rapid counter-attack which ended with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang crossing for Lacazette who was waiting by the penalty spot, but the Frenchman headed wide of the far post from 12 yards.

The Gunners dominated the next stage of the game but by the start of the final quarter, Watford were beginning to trouble their hosts with Gray being denied by a smart block from Leno.

Substitute Isaac Success should have opened the scoring shortly afterwards when breaking clear of the Arsenal defence, but the forward's shot from 10 yards clipped the far post and went wide.

The game appeared to be heading towards a goalless draw but after the contest had entered the final 10 minutes, Arsenal struck twice in the space of three minutes.

The first came via the boot of Watford defender Cathcart, with the Northern Irishman diverting the ball inside the near post after Lacazette had failed to get on the end of Alex Iwobi's low cross.

The second arrived in similar circumstances with Lacazette breaking down the right flank before crossing for Ozil, who sent a confident first-time strike to the left of Foster from 10 yards out.

Watford attempted to find the consolation goal that their play probably deserved, but the Hornets were left to watch Arsenal see out a win which takes the Gunners above them in the top-flight standings.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Cech (Leno 45'); Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka; Ozil, Ramsey (Iwobi 63'), Aubameyang (Welbeck 77'); Lacazette

WATFORD (4-4-2): Foster; Navarro (Femenia 84'), Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas; Pereyra, Capoue, Doucoure, Hughes; Gray (Success 72'), Deeney

ID:337255: cacheID:337255:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5947:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring Arsenal's fourth goal against Vorskla Poltava in their Europa League tie on September 20, 2018
Read Next:
How Arsenal could line up against Everton
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal25158251222953
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest25145641291247
4Manchester CityMan City25135752351744
5Bournemouth25127644291543
6Chelsea25127647341343
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2512584233941
8Fulham2510963833539
9Aston Villa2510873538-338
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
11Brentford25104114342134
12Crystal Palace257992932-330
13Everton257992731-430
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2576122947-1827
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Ipswich TownIpswich2538142350-2717
19Leicester CityLeicester2545162555-3017
20Southampton2523201957-389


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!