Paul Doyle's match report
And Wenger’s reaction to the penalty decision …
And Wenger’s reaction to the penalty decision …
Watford are fourth in the Premier League after beating Arsenal at home for the first time since 1987. The introduction of Troy Deeney changed the match, though Arsenal will be royally hacked off at the dodgy penalty that allowed Watford to equalise. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
90+3 min The Watford staff and substitutes went absolutely mad when that goal went in. They might be the biggest celebrations on this ground since Troy Deeney’s epic goal against Leicester in 2013.
Watford have won it! Holebas choked a long-range shot that was deflected into the six-yard box. Deeney’s flick forced a brilliant save from Cech and then Capoue’s was blocked by Mertesacker, possibly with his arm. No matter because the ball rebounded perfectly for Cleverley to sweep it over the diving Cech and into the roof of the net.
Oh my goodness!
90+1 min There will be four minutes of added time. Deeney’s low drive is blocked by Mertesacker. Arsenal are hanging on for a point in a match they dominated.
90 min “England v Romania was Euro 2000 not 98,” says Tekin Sahan. “Get your fucking facts straight.”
Oh yeah. My bad.
89 min Monreal sprays an outstanding long pass to Bellerin, whose cross is headed behind for a corner. Xhaka’s inswinger is headed clear to Monreal, who smacks one into orbit from long distance.
87 min Carrillo, in a surprising amount of space on the edge of the area, gets the ball out of his feet smacks a wild drive over the bar. Watford have really dominated since the equaliser.
85 min Arsenal make their last change, with Rob Holding replacing Laurent Koscielny. Jack Wilshere was going to come on until they realised Koscielny was injured.
83 min Capoue hits the post! Deeney played an inviting pass back to him and he sidefooted a first-time shot from 20 yards that took a double deflection, wrongfooted Cech and hit the far post.
81 min Deeney has made an impact since coming on, harassing the Arsenal defenders constantly and scoring the equaliser. He’s such a likeable player.
80 min Watford make their last substitution, with Pereyra replaced by Etienne Capoue.
77 min At the moment Watford look the team most likely to score a winner. Mind you, so did England against Romania in 1998.
75 min Richarlison rattles a shot into the side netting at the near post from a tightish angle. Cech had it covered.
74 min That was Watford’s first shot on target. Arsenal have good reason to feel aggrieved.
A good penalty from Deeney, who sends Cech the wrong way to bring Watford level.
I don’t think that should have been a penalty. It was no different to the Welbeck/Holebas incident at the other end. Richarlison ran at Bellerin on the left side of the box, and when the two bumped shoulders Richarlison went flying. That looked like a dive.
Richarlison goes over after a challenge from Bellerin, and Watford have a controversial penalty.
70 min A superb break from Arsenal. Kolasinac plays it down the line to Iwobi, who charges infield and plays an angled pass to put Ozil clear on goal. He looked offside, wasn’t flagged, and hit a low shot that was well saved down to his left by Gomes. He should have scored.
70 min “Into how many Premier League first teams would Mertesacker and Giroud make their way, I wonder?” wonders Bill Hargreaves.
Giroud is an interesting case, because specialist subs are so underappreciated. He’s one of the best in the world.
68 min Olivier Giroud replaces Alexandre Lacazette for Arsenal.
64 min Kabasele is booked for something or other.
63 min That’s a fine save from Gomes. Ozil teased a gentle through pass for Iwobi, who zipped infield from the left and shaped an Henry-ish curler towards the far corner. Gomes plunged to his left to tip it round the post.
62 min A double change for Watford; Troy Deeney and Andre Carrillo replace Andre Gray and Adrian Mariappa, which means a switch to a back four.
60 min Holebas’s deep cross is is palmed behind for a corner by Cech. Before the corner can be taken, the luckless Danny Welbeck limps off to be replaced by Mesut Ozil.
58 min Welbeck goes over in the area after a challenge from Holebas. It was shoulder to shoulder and Neil Swarbrick waved play on.
57 min Arsenal look in control at the back, despite a marginally improved performance from Watford. There are opportunities for Arsenal on the counter-attack as well, though their final pass has been poor.
52 min That’s a bit better from Richarlison. He runs at Bellerin on the left, uses the overlapping Holebas by not using him and then curls a shot a few yards wide of the far post.
51 min Watford break four on four, only for Richarlison to blunder straight into Monreal’s tackle. Ach!
50 min After a numbingly tedious start to the second half, Arsenal win a corner on the left.
46 min Peep peep!