Oliver Johnson here and I welcome you to a report on the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Watford at the Emirates. The hosts look to continue their good form going into this match and build on their nine match unbeaten run.
On the other hand, Claudio Ranieri’s Hornets would be able to climb to 14th if they are able to come out victorious after narrowly being beaten 1-0 by Southampton last weekend. Line-ups are now out and are as follows:
1 – And we’re off, after laying down the poppies and remembering the fallen the hosts get us underway in North London
4 – After some nice play from Arsenal there is a cheeky lob over the defence for Alex Lacazette who swings but misses.
7- GOAL DISALLOWED – nice play from Maitland-Niles allows Lacazette to attempt a lob on Foster however Saka is in an offside position when he puts it home.
9 – BOOKING – Josh King is carded for an elbow on Gabriel
15 – All Arsenal in the opening quarter of hour, with a shot from Sambi Lokonga rolling past the Watford post
20 – BOOKING – Lokonga goes in the book for a pull on Kucka’s shirt in order to stop a counter attack
29 – BOOKING – Takehiro Tomiyasi is carded for a cynical foul on Ismaila Sarr after a quick change of pace puts him past the Japanese
30 – BOOKING – Kucka is penalised for a from-behind challenge on Alex Lacazette
34 – PENALTY!!! – Danny Rose uses some variety of WWE to bring down Lacazette in the box after a miscued shot from AMN following a freekick.
35 – MISS!!! – Pierre Emerick Aubameyangs penalty effort is saved spectacularly by Foster and the game remains level.
40 – A rare foree forward for Watford as Lokonga loses out on the edge of the box however Kucka’s shot is deflected wide. The corner following is saved by Ramsdale.
44 – Watfords amount of cynical fouls are totting up here but their yellow cards do not reflect this. A few by Rose and one by Tufan go unpunished.
45+3 – END OF FIRST HALF – It begun looking absolutely all Arsenal however as the game went on Watford grew into it increasingly, with a few hints of goal threat littered throughout the final 20 or so.
47 – An instant up of tempo from Arsenal as a drive down the wing and cutback from saka is followed onto by Lokonga however the shot is saved by Foster. He’s having a blinder of a game.
52 – BOOKING – Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is shown a yellow card for a miscued sliding challenge on Kiko Feminia after a long chase.
56 – GOAL!!!!! 1 – 0 Arsenal! After some nice feet from Ben White on the edge of the Watford box, a deflected ball drops to Emile Smith Rowe’s feet and he calmly places it in the bottom right corner out of reach from Foster
62 – Ozan Tufan is replaced by Joao Pedro for Watford, the first substitution of the game by the visiting side.
69 – The first Arsenal substitution arises as Alex Lacazette leaves the field accompanied by rapturous applause as Martin Odegaard is brought on for the final 20 minutes.
72 – A Joao Pedro cross is met by the left foot of King and it is struck sweetly on the volley, but it is deflected away by Ben White.
73 – GOAL DISALLOWED – Odegaard shows some brilliant skill making an instant impact however his right footed shot is ever so slightly touched by Auba who was in an illegal position.
75 – Cucho Hernandez replaces Emmanuel Dennis for the Hornets.
80 – BOOKING – Gabriel is the first Arsenal defender to receive a yellow card after a high boot on Joao Pedro on the edge of the box.
85 – The past 5 minutes have been all Watford, after a shot blazed over by Smith Rowe it meant Watford were able to pen Arsenal back in their half for a good couple minutes.
89 – RED CARD! – A wild swing of the boot from Kucka makes contact with Nuno Tavares after a nice drive forward and he recieves his second yellow of the match. Watford down to 10 men.
90 + 1 – Another Rocket of an effort from Sambi Lokonga from the edge of the box leaves Foster frantically reacting just in time. He’s been unlucky not to get a goal today.
90 + 3 – Gabriel Martinelli replaces Bukayo Saka and Fletcher replaces Cathcart.
90 + 5 – Some gamesmanship creeping into this now with Odegaard and Maitland Niles using some tactical timewasting by holding it in the corner.
90 + 6 – FULL TIME – Arsenal 1 -0 Watford
