The fourth official indicates an additional four minutes will be added at the end of the 90.
88'
Watford will be bitterly disappointed with this result as they were simply unable to keep up the intensity they showed in the first-half. A mad 10-minute spell may have cost Gracia any points at all – once again proving you cannot switch off, even for a second in the Premier League.
84'
Kiko Femenía enters the game and replaces Marc Navarro.
Gracia makes a change immediately after going down by two – with Kiko Femenia replacing Marc Navarro.
83'
M. Özil has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by A. Lacazette.
IT’S ALL OVER FOR WATFORD AS ARSENAL DOUBLE THE LEAD! It’s a simple passing move which opens the Watford defence as Iwobi finds Lacazette in the penalty area. The France striker immediately centres the ball across the face of goal for Mesut Ozil who finishes with ease and confidence! 2-0, and seemingly three points to the Gunners!
Alexandre Lacazette gets the assist, as his pass for Ozil is the key contribution.
81'
C. Cathcart is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
CATHCART WITH AN OWN GOAL! Arsenal lead in fortunate circumstances as Iwobi’s near-post cross for Lacazette takes a touch off of Craig Cathcart before wrong-footing Foster and hitting the back of his own net. 10 minutes left in the match and the Watford centre-back may have denied his side a very important point!
79'
A. Doucouré gets yellow.
Petulant by Doucoure who is called for a foul on Torreira, much to his disbelief. The midfielder then slams the ball to the floor in frustration which prompts the referee to pull out a card – yellow.
77'
D. Welbeck enters the game and replaces P. Aubameyang.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s match is over without a goal as Emery looks to get a goal with substitute Danny Welbeck.
76'
SUCCESS FAILS TO HIT THE NET! Nominative determinism is not to be on this occasion as the newly introduced striker gets into the penalty area and attempts to score with a far-post hit, but the ball doesn’t curl enough and the keeper remains untroubled.
74'
Mustafi gives away a silly foul just outside the penalty area, giving Watford a free-kick in a great position. Pereyra steps over it and allows Holebas to take, which he does with a wonderful ball to Cathcart who, on two separate occasions, tries to stab the ball past Leno in the Arsenal net – but the goalkeeper refuses to stand down and he ultimately makes the save.
Minute
Description
72'
I. Success enters the game and replaces A. Gray.
Andre Gray has run himself into the ground today, putting in a real shift for his side. He gets an early rest, to be replaced by the wonderfully named Isaac Success.
69'
Gray has an opportunity in alone against Leno but instead of attempting to round the keeper, the striker just fires a shot which is directed right at the centre of the goal. A poor effort that deserved a much better finish.
67'
Signs of tired legs as Capoue plays a lazy pass in midfield forward that looks more like an effort to clear his lines than the first in a series of attacking combinations. Arsenal take that giveaway and look to attack with Ozil curling a fantastic cross to the back post, but Monreal mistimes his sliding shot and Foster can take a goal-kick.
65'
Watford, sensing the Arsenal pressure are just enjoying a much-needed spell of possession – calming down the frenetic pace and looking to get a foothold in the match. A cross-field ball is intercepted by Aubameyang however and the striker bursts into the Watford half, looking to catch them out.
63'
A. Iwobi enters the game and replaces A. Ramsey.
Aaron Ramsey is removed just after the hour mark with Alex Iwobi entering to take his place.
62'
S. Mustafi gets yellow.
Shkodran Mustafi is shown a yellow card for a clumsy challenge.
Play is stopped as Etienne Capoue is down in his own penalty area nursing an apparent injury to his right leg. Hopefully, for his manager, he is okay to continue, but that means he won’t be in the box to defend an Arsenal corner.
The corner is taken but Hughes rises highest and does his defensive duties with an adequate clearance.
60'
This match is unfolding in a similar fashion to Arsenal’s last Premier League fixture – a 2-0 against Everton. A poor first half for the Gunners in which they probably should have been behind, but went into the interval 0-0 gave way to a better performance in the second in which they nick a couple of goals despite not looking at their best. The match remains at 0-0, but the home side are slowly but surely pushing ever-forward, getting into more and more attacking positions.
58'
Frustration mounts for Arsenal as Aubameyang plays a chipped pass forward for absolutely nobody. Either someone stopped their forward run or the sun is impairing his vision – but that is an odd decision from the striker.
57'
The linesman’s flag is up for offside on Aubameyang after a lovely bit of trademark Arsenal play featuring a number of quick interchanges and flicks over the defence. Aubameyang is called for the infringement as he plays a deft pass with his back-heel. Clearly the right call, but disappointing as that is lovely to watch.
55'
Holebas takes an in-swinging corner but Leno makes his presence felt with a booming punch. The ball comes out once again to Holebas, but his second effort is also rejected by the clenched fists of the goalkeeper. Arsenal take possession and go on a blistering counter-attack which is initiated by Torreira who finds Aubameyang. The Gabon international then sends a chip across the face of goal for Lacazette who somehow manages to mistime his jump – sending his header wide.
53'
LENO MAKES AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT! Pereyra takes a free-kick to the penalty spot where Deeney meets it with his instep, but Leno throws himself to his left-hand post and gets an outstretched palm to the shot to push it wide for a corner-kick. That’s a game-saving intervention from the new acquisition.
52'
Xhaka takes his corner to the six-yard box for Mustafi and Holding who both throw themselves at it. The last touch comes off the former – who sends a looping header over Foster’s goal and out for a goal-kick.
50'
Ozil puts his body behind a powerful cross to the back of the box which goes unmet by an Arsenal head. A waste of a good position by the midfield maestro who has not been influential today – or in his last Premier League match against Everton when he went almost anonymous.
48'
Doucoure sloppily gives away possession to Xhaka in midfield and Capoue is there to stop play with a foul on Ozil before he is able to move forward into an attacking position with it.
46'
Watford get the second half underway from the kick-off!
45' +4
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 WATFORD.
45' +3
B. Leno enters the game and replaces P. Čech.
Confirmation of the injury to Petr Cech and the substitution just before the half-time whistle. Bernd Leno is on to replace him for his Premier League debut.
45' +1
Cech is waiving his arm frantically to get the referee’s attention as the goalkeeper is calling to the bench for a substitution after going down while taking a goal-kick. It appears he has pulled his hamstring – which is extremely unfortunate as the minute of added time at the end of the 45 has already passed.
45'
L. Torreira gets yellow.
Lucas Torreira is shown a yellow card for a sliding tackle in midfield. He is a fantastic player, but an almost certainty to be booked.
43'
Hughes brings Xhaka down outside the penalty area and Arsenal take their free-kick quickly, though Xhaka’s pass to Bellerin is extremely poor. Holebas cuts across to intercept and immediately sprints into the Arsenal half, winning a throw-in. Watford have maintained their work rate all half, much to the Gunners’ frustration.
39'
Bellerin drives a powerful cross into the penalty area which misses the feet of both Aubameyang and Monreal. The delivery takes a touch before going behind giving Arsenal a corner-kick which is met immediately by the head of a Watford player who sends it out of his penalty area.
37'
After being allowed a moment to recover, Cech is back to his feet which is good to see. The keeper was extremely brave on that set-piece save and it seems the shot-stopper is in a great vein of form despite early troubles with Emery’s style of play.
35'
Mustafi gives away a silly foul after grabbing Gray and bringing him down just outside the penalty area. Pereyra leaves it for Holebas whose delivery is perfect, though Cech is able to make the save finally after a mad scramble in the six-yard box which has left the goalkeeper with a knock it seems.
33'
Arsenal are keeping possession of the ball in midfield but they aren’t doing anything with it. A potential chance to cross on the left-hand side is rejected by Monreal who decides to pass inside and continue the passing pattern. So far, Watford haven’t allowed them any opportunity for an incisive pass.
31'
T. Deeney gets yellow.
Deeney is called for a foul after a sliding challenge in midfield on Monreal. The Watford captain is cautioned for his tackle – despite appearing to win the ball first. It’s been a very physical match so far, but that is the first card produced by referee Anthony Taylor.
30'
Foster’s booming kick finds Hughes on the right-wing in space and the midfielder lays it off for Navarro whose cross is not of the required standard and Arsenal clear quickly and confidently.
28'
Xhaka takes a corner to the near post for Lacazette but Doucoure is all over the striker, defending him touch-tight. Watford clear their lines efficiently and win a throw in the Arsenal half.
26'
Unbelievable from debutante Navarro who gives Arsenal a throw-in deep in Watford territory after the Hornets right-back is called for a foul throw-in. That’s as sloppy a mistake as you can make in the professional game, and especially poor considering their position on the pitch.
24'
Arsenal defend a Watford short-corner routine and Ozil immediately sprays a wonderful pass from just outside his penalty area to Aubameyang whose run takes him towards Foster’s penalty area. The accuracy is absolutely spot-on from the Arsenal playmaker, but his power lets him down as he puts his service too far in front of the striker.
22'
Pereyra lifts a ball for Holebas who is forced to cross it in from the left-hand side with an awkward volley which Cech catches confidently at his near post. Watford are getting forward at every opportunity – though the goalkeeper has been equal to every test so far.
20'
Holebas’ corner to the near post is dealt with by Monreal who is stationed perfectly. Deeney is always lurking by the penalty spot so it is essential that his service is cut off immediately.
18'
Watford have impressed in the first-15 minutes of play. They are tenacious all over the pitch, pressing and harrying Xhaka and Torreira in midfield and limiting their time on the ball. The visitors look up for the challenge.
16'
HOW HAS HE MISSED?! A bad headed pass backwards in his own half to Cathcart from Doucoure puts the centre-back in an awkward situation and Lacazette nips in to steal possession. One versus one with the goalkeeper, the Arsenal forward who is in a great spell of form attempts to chip Foster – but he misses the net completely.
14'
Torreira goes sliding in on Hughes with a dangerous tackle, but the referee fails to produce a yellow card. The new arrival from Sampdoria is a brilliant midfielder, but his love of a tackle often puts him in difficult situations late in matches.
13'
Bellerin gets forward on the right-hand side and attempts to whip in a cross with his left foot, which is very obviously not his strong side. Navarro smartly lets it roll out for a goal-kick.
11'
Deeney heads down a cross-field pass for Hughes in the penalty area but his first-time volley is weak and wayward, giving Cech a goal-kick.
9'
Hughes pushes the ball forward for Doucoure after a change in possession but his touch is heavy and Arsenal can get their lines clear. Watford are certainly pushing Arsenal very hard in the midfield to win the ball back – with Deeney helping out and getting behind the ball.
7'
Lacazette gets in the penalty area and is tripped up by Kabasele but the striker refuses to go to ground and instead has an off-balance strike which doesn’t hit the target. Had he gone down, the referee might have been inclined to award a penalty – so it seems honesty may have cost his team a potential goal-scoring opportunity.
5'
Deeney drops deep and plays an incisive pass through the heart of Arsenal’s defence for Gray. The pass is hit with slightly too much power though and Cech rushes off his line to collect. The Arsenal goalkeeper put in a Man-of-the-Match performance last time out against Everton and it looks as though the same will be required once again.
3'
Holebas takes a corner to the far post but Cech is there to clear his lines with a flapping arm. Watford have a throw-in on the left side but the attack is quickly quelled after a Deeney foul on Cech.
1'
Arsenal get the match underway from the kick-off!
Hello and welcome to our LIVE Premier League commentary of the fixture between Arsenal and Watford from the Emirates Stadium in London!
In interesting symmetry, Watford’s start to life this year is eerily similar to their opening run last year. A start which saw them amass 12 points in their opening seven matches continued into a victory over Arsenal – which precipitated the collapse which saw the Hornets lose four of their next six fixtures. At this point in the 2018-19 campaign, Gracia's side have taken 13 points from their six games and now have a date with the Gunners.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, the team news has been confirmed! Let's start with the home side!
Watford Starting XI (4-4-2): Ben Foster; Marc Navarro, Craig Cathcart, Christian Kabasele, Jose Holebas; Will Hughes, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Etienne Capoue, Roberto Pereyra; Troy Deeney, Andre Gray.
Arsenal Substitutes: Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi, Matteo Guendouzi, Sead Kolasinac, Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Arsenal Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Nacho Monreal, Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi, Hector Bellerin; Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil; Alexandre Lacazette.
Watford Substitutes: Heurelho Gomes, Nathaniel Chalobah, Ken Sema, Adam Masina, Isaac Success, Adrian Mariappa, Kiko Femenia.
Gracia also makes a single change to the XI that started in their last Premier League fixture. At right-back, an injury to Daryl Janmaat means that Navarro will start.
Emery makes one change from the side that beat Everton 2-0 last Sunday. In defence, Holding will partner Mustafi – taking the place of Sokratis.
A win today would jump the Gunners above their opponents and potentially as high as fourth. Watford to their credit have had an absolutely blistering start for the second consecutive season though their form has tailed off slightly in recent weeks. A loss on penalties to Tottenham in the EFL Cup midweek was the third in a series of results which failed to bring Javi Gracia’s men back to the winning ways that saw them open their campaign with five straight triumphs.
Arsenal are in the full swing of things after a sticky start left them without a point after two matches. Since then, they’ve won four Premier League fixtures on the bounce and added to it with wins in both the Europa League and EFL Cup – leaving the Gunners sixth in the table before kick-off today.
Unai Emery’s side are firing on all cylinders in attack, scoring seven times in their last three Premier League fixtures. The pairing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette is proving quite effective, with the former netting thrice in his last two appearances – against Everton and Vorskla. It looks set to be a match focused on attack, as neither defence can be described as stingy.
Arsenal dominated possession but couldn’t turn any of their statistical dominance on the ball into goal-scoring opportunities. The home side did have the occasional chance, but Aubameyang and Lacazette were not able to convert their opportunities – the best of which saw the France striker in all alone only to miss his shot wide of the goal. Arsenal’s ponderous passing and lack of time on the ball for their creative players have led to a first-half stalemate.
To their credit, Watford have been very good in a difficult venue away from home. It is quite apparent that Gracia set his side out to press at every opportunity and force quick passes – limiting Ozil’s time to create opportunities at goal. The midfield of Doucoure and Capoue has been great in shielding the defence, with Hughes looking ever-dangerous on the ball. We still have all to play for in the second half, with the match perfectly poised. If Watford continue their inspired play and add a touch more quality in front of goal, it would not be unjust if they left the Emirates with the three points.
That concludes our commentary! We hope you enjoyed it and see you all again soon.
Arsenal will look to extend their winning run to eight games when they travel to Baku on Thursday to face Qarabag in the Europa League. Watford will look to rebound in one weeks’ time when they host Bournemouth at Vicarage Road.
Gracia must be proud of his team’s fight, but furious with the way the defence let the match slip at the last. Cathcart’s unfortunate own goal ruined an otherwise good night for him and despite all of Gray and Deeney’s attacking intent, they were not able to make the most of their opportunities. A draw may have been a fair result for a Hornets side who were thoroughly better in the first-45 minutes, but it was simply not to be.
In a mirror image of their last Premier League fixture, Arsenal emerged a different side after the interval, quickening the tempo and putting a lot more pressure on a Watford defence that was rarely tested in the first half. Frustrations grew at the Emirates but the intensity finally paid off after Alex Iwobi’s cross took a fortunate touch off of Craig Cathcart before being directed into the goal. Ozil’s lead-doubling finish three minutes later sealed the result for the Gunners who once again win despite seemingly not playing at their full potential – the mark of a good side.
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