Arsenal 2-0 Watford
Watford’s start to the season has been one of the more eye-catching Premier League 2018 news stories of the first six weeks of the campaign.
That they went into this fixture higher in the table than Arsenal for the first time since 1984 told its own tale.
Of course, the Hornets were big underdogs with Premier League 2018 betting odds for this encounter, but there is the caveat to the home side that Watford had won on two of their past four visits to the Emirates in all competitions.
It was also worth reflecting that Watford had come into the match with a tally of 13 points after six matches – a club top-flight record – with Javi Gracia, an early-season favourite for the sack with many SBOBET followers, bucking the trend.
Highlights of the game
And so the Premier League 2018 scene was set for an encounter which could have gone either way.
Daryl Janmaat’s injury meant there was a change to the Watford starting XI for the first time this season in the league.
But there was a boost for the visitors with Christian Kabasele available after his red card in the League Cup defeat to Tottenham was rescinded on appeal.
Skipper Troy Deeney also had injections so he could play after suffering ankle ligament damage in the draw with Fulham.
Arsenal had an early claim for a penalty when Kabasele appeared to catch Alexandre Lacazette, but it was far from one-way: Will Hughes was inches away from a volley which flew narrowly past Petr Cech’s left-hand upright.
Lacazette disposed of Craig Cathcart, although he was unable to beat Ben Foster who then kept out a Granit Xhaka piledriver before Cech was at the centre of attention in the closing stages of the half.
The veteran shot-stopper had to leave the field with a hamstring injury and was replaced by new recruit Bernd Leno.
If it wasn’t for his quick reflexes nine minutes after the restart, the deadlock would have been broken. The £19 million signing pushed away a Deeney effort.
He then denied the tireless Andre Gray after a quick counter-attack saw him latch onto a Deeney through ball.
Arsenal had only failed to score in two of their last 36 games at the Emirates Stadium, on both occasions not managing to find the back of the net against Manchester City.
Yet Watford were keeping them at bay, mainly comfortably, and substitute Isaac Success twice caused flutters in the home rearguard.
Just when it looked like the Gunners would be frustrated, Arsenal pounced.
Nine minutes were remaining when the unfortunate Cathcart, under pressure from Lacazette, turned the ball past his own keeper after substitute Alex Iwobi surged down the right.
With Watford dazed, Arsenal pounced again in less than two minutes.
Mesut Ozil was the scorer this time, side-footing the ball home after Iwobi and Lacazette teamed up.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Watford who deserved better, but the Nigerian had made the difference.
Lacazette and Iwobi also went close in injury time as the buoyant home side finished the match in the ascendancy.
The game was won and so another small building block for their new boss Unai Emery to build on after last weekend’s success over Everton.
Arsenal have also leapfrogged Watford in the Premier League table and are up to fifth place.
Key statistics
Arsenal have now won nine of their 11 Premier League meetings against Watford.
There has been only one draw in 22 top-flight fixtures between the sides: 1-1 at Highbury 34 years ago.
After going seven matches without a clean sheet in all competitions, Arsenal have now kept back-to-back shut-outs.
This was also Arsenal’s seventh straight win in all competitions.
The Gunners have not lost a Saturday 3 pm kick-off at home in the league since a 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa in August 2013 (won 19, drawn two).
Watford have now lost 16 of their last 17 Premier League away games against the established top-six sides.
The Hornets are one short of 50 Premier League wins and 200 Premier League goals.
Arsenal’s two goals came with their only two shots on target.
Top of Form
What’s next?
It’s off to FK Qarabag in Azerbaijan in the Europa League next for the Gunners before a tasty-looking London derby at Fulham next Sunday.
Watford are next in action a week from today (October 6) at home to Bournemouth.
It is then the second international break with a fortnight’s absence of Premier League action.
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