Post-Match Report

Match report: Arsenal 3-2 Watford

Aubameyang
Aubameyang

Watford -

Emirates Stadium
Premier League
Premier League
  Arsenal
      
                  P. Aubameyang (5 pen
                   33)
                   K. Tierney (24)
            
   crest
Arsenal
P. Aubameyang (5 pen
33)
K. Tierney (24)
3 2
  Watford
      
              T. Deeney (43 pen)
               D. Welbeck (66)
          
   crest
Watford
T. Deeney (43 pen) D. Welbeck (66)

By Josh James

WHAT HAPPENED

 

A Premier League season in which we had three different managers, a three-month spring hiatus and played the last 10 games behind closed doors, ended with us edging a five-goal thriller at Emirates Stadium, thereby condemning Watford to relegation.

 

We took the lead following our first attack of the game - after just 34 seconds. Alexandre Lacazette was barged in the back by Craig Dawson and although referee Mike Dean did not award the spot kick, he was forced to reverse his decision after VAR intervention. Aubameyang sent Ben Foster the wrong way to covert the penalty.

 

To their credit Watford, who started the day in the relegation zone, came roaring back, took advantage of the gaps in our midfield and made most of the running after the early concession. 

 

Emiliano Martinez made a smart stop to deny Roberto Pereyra but Watford were guilty of overplaying inside the area. Our back four was being tested regularly as Watford showed real attacking intent, so our second goal was certainly against the run of play.

 

Similar to the FA Cup semi-final against Man City, again the move started with some calm passing out of our own area - this time it ended with Aubameyang cutting it back for Kieran Tierney to guide home his first goal for the club.

 

Those two combined again to increase the lead - Tierney's throw in bounced inside the box and Aubameyang acrobatically fired home with an overhead kick.

 

The visitors had no choice but to keep attacking and pulled one back with a penalty of their own when David Luiz clipped Danny Welbeck. Troy Deeney thundered home.

 

Still Watford came after the break. Mikel Arteta reinforced the defence by bringing on Sead Kolasinac, abandoning the back four he had started the game with.

 

Danny Welbeck forced a smart save from Martinez after linking up with Deeney, but soon afterwards the former Arsenal man did have the ball in the net, beating Martinez to a low cross at the near post.

 

Martinez made a superb low reaction to save to stop Welbeck levelling with an improvised finish, before Eddie Nketiah set up Aubameyang on the break, but his shot was charged down.

 

We really hung on during a harum scarum last ten minutes or so, but Watford couldn't find the equaliser, and they slip out of the top flight, while we moved up two places to finish eighth.

 

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Click here for a play by play account of our final Premier League match of the 2019/20 campaign.

 

 

WHAT IT MEANS

We finished outside the top six of the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, but climbed two places on the final day to finish eighth.

Premier League table

Premier League table

 

WHAT'S NEXT

That's it for Premier League action until the 2020/21 season kicks off on September 12 – just 49 days' time. But before then there is the small matter of the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley, when we go hunting a record-extending 14th win. The game will kick off at 5.30pm UK time on Saturday, August 1.

 

 

 

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