Watford 2-3 Arsenal (Hernandez 11′, Sissoko 87′ | Odegaard, 5′, Saka 30′, Martinelli 52′)
Arsenal earned their fourth successive victory in the Premier League by picking up a valuable 3-2 victory against struggling Watford at Vicarage Road.
The ball was in the net three times in the opening 11 minutes as both sides made a lively start to the contest. Watford thought they had taken the lead after just 16 seconds only for the offside flag to rule out Emmanuel Dennis’ well-taken finish.
Arsenal, who played in an unusual all-red kit, went in front soon after when the impressive Martin Odegaard calmly found the bottom corner with a precise side-footed finish after being teed up by the equally excellent Bukayo Saka.
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Their lead lasted just six minutes as Watford drew level thanks to a sensational individual effort from Cucho Hernandez. The Colombian, named in the starting line-up due to the injury-enforced absences of Josh King and Ismaila Sarr, met Kiko Femenia’s cross with an acrobatic overhead kick that flew past Aaron Ramsdale.
The game boomeranged entertainingly from one end to the other and Thomas Partey came within a matter of inches of restoring Arsenal’s advantage with a curling effort that dipped just wide with Ben Foster rooted to the spot.
Next, it was Watford’s turn to try their luck when Dennis’ low shot was spilled by Aaron Ramsdale who just about recovered in time to claw the loose ball away from the onrushing Joao Pedro.
Just before the half-hour mark, Arsenal went back in front thanks to a superb Saka effort. The winger nicked the ball off the unsuspecting Tom Cleverley on the edge of Watford’s box, played a purposeful one-two with Alexandre Lacazette and then rifled a venomous finish into the top corner.
That goal and assist took Salah to 13 goal contributions (eight goals, five assists) in the Premier League this season, more than any other player aged 21 or under in the division. Gabriel Martinelli also features in the top five of that particular list and he got in on the act at the start of the second half.
It was another goal of the highest quality. Odegaard’s classy flick found Lacazette and his lay-off fell at the feet of Martinelli who lashed a first-time effort into the top corner from the edge of the box. Mikel Arteta played his part in it too by laying the ball up for Saka to take a quick throw-in and set the move in motion.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 6, 2022
Goal – Gabi Martinelli
???? Assist – Mikel Arteta #WATARS pic.twitter.com/3JPVjtfxMb
The goal, Martinelli’s fifth of the league campaign, also demonstrated Lacazette’s growing importance as a creator from the No 9 position as it was his seventh assist of the season, all of which have come in his last nine appearances.
Ramsdale, who had perhaps his most unconvincing performance in an Arsenal shirt, almost invited Watford back into the game with a poor kick out from his own box but made amends by saving from Cleverley.
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Watford
- Ben Foster 6
- Kiko Femenia 7
- Craig Cathcart 6
- Samir 6
- Hassane Kanara 7
- Tom Cleverley 5
- Imran Louza 7
- Moussa Sissoko 7
- Cucho Hernandez 8
- Emmanuel Dennis 6
- Joao Pedro 7
Substitutes:
- Edo Kayembe 6
- Francisco Sirralta 6
- Samuel Kalu N/A
Arsenal
- Aaron Ramsdale 6
- Cedric 6
- Ben White 6
- Gabriel 6
- Kieran Tierney 6
- Thomas Partey 7
- Granit Xhaka 6
- Bukayo Saka 9
- Martin Odegaard 9
- Gabriel Martinelli 7
- Alexandre Lacazette 8
Substitutes:
- Nicolas Pepe 6
- Eddie Nketiah 6
- Rob Holding N/A
Despite being much the better team, Arsenal offered Watford opportunities on the counter-attack and they were fortunate that Dennis failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity after being picked out by Femenia at the far post.
Eddie Nketiah, introduced in place of Lacazette late on, almost wrapped up the three points when his low shot smacked the base of the post.
But after failing to make their dominance count, Arsenal offered Watford a glimmer of hope late on when former Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko scored a rare goal three minutes from time after getting the better of Ben White inside the box.
Arteta brought on Rob Holding to try and see the game out and despite a late rally from Roy Hodgson’s side, the Gunners held on for what could prove to be a valuable three points in this season’s top-four race.
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