1. VAR Points out the Obvious
Watford’s game plan is in tatters after just five minutes.
Our opponents today really need the win, so this early goal leaves it nicely
poised for an enjoyable 90 minutes if we can punish them on the break. For
Aubameyang to claim the Golden Boot, he needs to score a hat-trick without
reply from his rivals today.
Lacazette won a penalty after being clearly clattered in the
box. Aubameyang put the cross in and a Watford defender bulldozers into the
Frenchman as he waits to collect the ball. Typically, Mike Dean doesn’t want to
give it, and there’s not much of an appeal from the Arsenal players. VAR steps
in and awards the penalty, while Lacazette is still laying on the floor.
Aubameyang steps up, sends the keeper the wrong when and put the ball low into
the corner. A well-taken penalty.
2. First Arsenal Goal for The Club
Playing from the back is really effective when it works
because it leaves huge spaces across the pitch. When Emery arrived at Arsenal,
he tried to get us playing out from the back. It had some success with one or
two lovely sweeping goals from back to front, but after a lot of scary moments
and criticism, he backed down from the concept. Perhaps the beginning of the
end for the Spaniard.
The goalkeeper and defenders play keep ball for a few passes
before knocking it out to Xhaka. He strides forward into acres of space and
passes to Willcock, who bursts forward and plays the ball out to Pepe on the
right corner of the penalty box. The winger crosses into the far side of the
six-yard box for Aubameyany. He controls the ball and lays it back to Tierney.
The Scotsman slots the ball into the bottom far corner with his first touch.
3. A Route-One Formula
It’s good to have variety, and this goal proves it. No
tiki-taka, no pulling players out of position, just a long throw into the box.
He’s getting closer. It’s his second goal of the game, only 33 minutes in. The
hat trick and the golden boot are on. The game is stretched and playing right
into the striker’s hands. Flowing with confidence, Aubameyany shows off his
athleticism.
A goal and an assist already today, Tierney is becoming a
central figure for the Gunners. The Scotsman throws a high arching ball
straight into Aubameyang inside the six-yard box. The striker stamps the ball
into the ground. It bounces up into the air and he throws himself up and
overhead kicks the ball into the net.
4. The Villain Scores
Watford steal the ball from Arsenal just outside the 18-
yard box and are looking dangerous. They knock the ball through to Welbeck,
putting him in on goal. Luiz is a bit slow to react and dives in, missing the
ball and kicking the Watford man instead. They are correctly awarded a penalty.
It’s the fifth penalty the defender has given away this
season. Alarming. The cajones guys steps up to take the penalty. It would have
been absolutely perfect to see him miss a penalty today, but spoiling the day,
he scores. Martinez knows he’s going for power and gets close, but the Watford
man’s brute power sees the ball fly past the keeper.
5. That Pushy-Guy Welbeck
The team with something to play for eventually starts to
dominate the chances. The only thing that means anything to Arsenal is
Aubameyany’s bid for the golden boot, and even that is purely for the strikers
bragging rights. Welbeck gets a goal on his return to his former club, and
we’ll never know if the lack of celebration was due to playing his former club
or because his team were losing.
Watford take the ball down their right flank, play and
little one-two and put a low cross. Welbeck beats everyone to the ball and
clips it over the keeper. Replays show how the striker beats Luiz to the ball.
He shoves the Brazilian in the back in the build-up. It’s clear and obvious,
and it’s the reason he gets to the ball first. VAR?
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