Emile Smith Rowe scored in a third successive Premier League game as Arsenal claimed victory over Watford in manager Mikel Arteta’s 100th match in charge.
The in-form Smith Rowe registered the 100th league goal of Arteta’s tenure with a low drive from outside the box after 56 minutes.
Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a first-half penalty saved by Ben Foster following a poor challenge by Danny Rose on Alexandre Lacazette – and the Hornets goalkeeper produced another fine stop to keep out Gabriel’s header shortly before half-time.
Watford were fired an early warning when Bukayo Saka had an eighth-minute finish ruled out for offside at Emirates Stadium.
The Hornets’ first attempt did not arrive until the 40th minute but Joshua King squandered the chance to earn a late point, shooting into the side-netting after pouncing on a mix-up between Aaron Ramsdale and Ben White.
The visitors’ afternoon was made worse as Juraj Kucka was dismissed for a second yellow card late on and defeat left Claudio Ranieri’s side 17th, two points above the relegation places.
It is a sixth victory in eight Premier League games for Arsenal, who move up to fifth – level on points with fourth-placed West Ham.
Arsenal continue to build momentum
At the end of a week in which three Premier League bosses have lost their jobs, Arsenal appear to be reaping the rewards for standing by Arteta following a disappointing start to the campaign.
An eighth-placed finish last term was followed by three successive defeats at the start of this season but the Gunners, unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions, have real momentum going into the international break.
Aubameyang endured a frustrating afternoon and should have put away the initial chance prior to Saka’s disallowed goal, before seeing his spot-kick saved after Rose had needlessly wiped out Lacazette.
Making his second league start of the season in the absence of the injured Thomas Partey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles effectively commanded the midfield alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga while Saka tormented left-back Rose throughout.
But it required a moment of quality from Smith Rowe to end Watford’s resistance and the England Under-21 international, omitted from Gareth Southgate’s latest senior squad, now has five goals in his last eight games in all competitions.
Aubameyang was ruled offside in getting a boot to Martin Odegaard’s goal-bound shot as the Gunners were unable to extend their advantage, however the hosts were rarely troubled at the back.
Kucka’s long-range effort after 85 minutes stood as Watford’s sole attempt on target – though Ranieri’s side felt aggrieved at Smith Rowe’s eventual winner which arrived after the Hornets put the ball out of play due to an injury.
Things do not get any easier for the Italian’s struggling side after the international break, with fixtures against Manchester United, Leicester City, Chelsea and Manchester City to come.
Player of the match
Smith RoweEmile Smith Rowe
Arsenal
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Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
8.09
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Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
7.55
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Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
7.36
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Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
7.25
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Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating
7.22
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
7.21
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Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
7.17
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Squad number15Player nameMaitland-NilesAverage rating
7.16
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Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating
7.15
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Squad number20Player nameNuno TavaresAverage rating
7.12
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Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating
6.97
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Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
6.83
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Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating
6.62
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Squad number14Player nameAubameyangAverage rating
5.32
Watford
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Squad number1Player nameFosterAverage rating
7.70
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Squad number23Player nameSarrAverage rating
5.36
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Squad number7Player nameKingAverage rating
5.11
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Squad number25Player nameDennisAverage rating
5.02
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Squad number15Player nameCathcartAverage rating
4.95
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Squad number13Player nameNkoulouAverage rating
4.94
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Squad number19Player nameSissokoAverage rating
4.93
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Squad number21Player nameKiko FemeníaAverage rating
4.92
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Squad number18Player nameTufanAverage rating
4.71
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Squad number33Player nameKuckaAverage rating
4.59
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Squad number10Player nameJoão PedroAverage rating
4.44
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Squad number29Player nameCucho HernándezAverage rating
4.31
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Squad number17Player nameFletcherAverage rating
4.21
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Squad number3Player nameRoseAverage rating
4.07
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 18TomiyasuBooked at 30mins
- 4White
- 6GabrielBooked at 80mins
- 20Varela Tavares
- 7SakaSubstituted forMartinelliat 90+3′minutes
- 23Sambi LokongaBooked at 20mins
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 10Smith RoweSubstituted forElnenyat 86′minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forØdegaardat 69′minutes
- 14AubameyangBooked at 52mins
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 3Tierney
- 8Ødegaard
- 16Holding
- 17Cédric Soares
- 19Pépé
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 35Martinelli
Watford
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Foster
- 21Femenía
- 15CathcartSubstituted forFletcherat 90+4′minutes
- 13Nkoulou
- 3Rose
- 19SissokoBooked at 54mins
- 23Sarr
- 33KuckaBooked at 89mins
- 18TufanSubstituted forJoão Pedroat 62′minutes
- 25DennisSubstituted forHernández Suárezat 74′minutes
- 7KingBooked at 10mins
Substitutes
- 2Ngakia
- 5Troost-Ekong
- 8Cleverley
- 10João Pedro
- 11Masina
- 17Fletcher
- 26Bachmann
- 29Hernández Suárez
- 31Sierralta
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
- Attendance:
- 59,833
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Arsenal 1, Watford 0.
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Second Half ends, Arsenal 1, Watford 0.
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Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
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Attempt blocked. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Elneny.
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Substitution, Watford. Ashley Fletcher replaces Craig Cathcart.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Gabriel Martinelli replaces Bukayo Saka.
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Offside, Watford. Joshua King tries a through ball, but Ismaila Sarr is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Mohamed Elneny.
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Attempt missed. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a cross following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Moussa Sissoko.
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Second yellow card to Juraj Kucka (Watford) for a bad foul.
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Nuno Tavares (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Emile Smith Rowe.
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Attempt missed. Joshua King (Watford) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Danny Rose.
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Attempt saved. Juraj Kucka (Watford) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicolas Nkoulou.
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Attempt blocked. Joshua King (Watford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Cucho Hernández with a cross.
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Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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