Watford caught out by Troy’s gift to Gunners
Deeney red card and Foster’s mad moment set up victory for Arsenal
TOSSING and turning on Sunday evening, Troy Deeney most probably had visions of whipping off his shirt under the lights against Arsenal.
Deeney, the bulldozer who has single-handedly ignited a running feud with these opponents, might have imagined a thunderous penalty or a thumping header.
Another chance to cut the pretentious down to size and remind the world why, in his estimable opinion, Arsenal lack ‘cojones’.
Yet since he first made that claim on the back of a winning goal last season, matters have conspired against Deeney. He missed a penalty at the Emirates Stadium in the return fixture and here came further poetic justice.
Deeney was indeed barechested by the 11th minute of this game but under circumstances nobody would have foreseen. As his team trailed to a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal scored a minute earlier, Deeney self-destructed and all but lost his side the contest.
Arsenal were passing the ball across their midfield when Lucas Torreira moved the ball on. Deeney ran across his path, left a nasty forearm on the side of his head and referee Craig Pawson swiftly pulled out the red card.
Deeney was aghast and feigned innocence. Yet the replays were damning. He quizzed the official, discussed it with Arsenal players and then tore off his shirt and headed for the tunnel, exchanging words with visiting back-room staff in the process. By half-time, he was fully clothed and observing events from the tunnel.
For Arsenal, it was always likely to take something remarkable to alter their dreadful away form and even with the spare man, Unai Emery’s team were indebted to the post, the bar and their goalkeeper’s reactions as they returned to the top four. Indeed, Arsenal’s greatest inspiration on the night came from Watford’s two most experienced men. Much like Deeney, Ben Foster has enjoyed an outstanding season but he lapsed dramatically to gift Arsenal what turned out to be the winner.
An Arsenal move fizzled out down the left side and Daryl Janmaat harmlessly sidefooted back to his goalkeeper. Foster could have swept the ball away first time with his weaker foot but instead shifted it on to his left.
Yet his touch was heavy, clumsy, and invited a sprint by Aubameyang. Foster tried to clear but the striker was by now too close, rebounding the ball in to the goal.
It was a desperate moment for the Watford goalkeeper but all did not appear lost. Watford had actually started the brighter and Arsenal are hardly infallible visitors. After all, they had not kept a Premier League away clean sheet all season before this and had won only five top-flight games on the road — all against bottom-half opponents.
Indeed, Emery’s team selection offered further promise for Watford. Sandwiched in between two Europa League ties against Napoli, Emery made changes. Konstantinos Mavropanos made his first start of the season in central defence and Shkodran Mustafi shifted to uncomfortable territory at right back.
Mavropanos made an uncertain start, missing a header altogether and then skewing out for a corner instead of a throw-in.
Yet then Deeney’s reckless streak intervened and the task grew harder. Watford briefly lost their heads. Abdoulaye Doucoure went in high on Torreira and should have been cautioned and Janmaat ought to have followed too. Instead, referee Pawson showed restraint to both.
To Watford’s credit, they created the first half’s best openings, although Alex Iwobi did force one save from Foster.
Watford continued to attack. When Granit Xhaka misjudged a header, Craig Cathcart’s instinctive strike cracked the post. Etienne Capoue’s free-kick sent Bernd Leno sprawling to his left to tip around the post. As for Deeney, he watched on solemnly from the back of the tunnel.
Emery sought greater control, introducing Mesut Ozil at the break and relieving Torreira. The German immediately brought composure. Iwobi’s clipped cross eluded Aubameyang but crept narrowly wide.
Iwobi then skated the length of the pitch on the counter-attack, dinking a perfect cross for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who struck first time on the volley but was superbly denied by Foster.
Emery intervened once more, hooking Mavropanos and altering his shape. Yet still they could not shake Watford off. Adam Masina arrowed a 30-yard strike against the bar and Andre Gray then miscontrolled when through on goal.
Arsenal grew edgy and the angst from the away end was amplified when supporters appeared to jeer the decision to replace Aaron Ramsey.
Yet despite their Wembley heroics in the FA Cup a week ago, there would be no Watford fightback this time.
WATFORD (5-3-2): Foster 4; Femenia 6 (Success 59min, 5), Janmaat 5.5, Kabasele 6, Cathcart 6, Masina 5.5 (Sema 86); Hughes 5.5, Doucoure 6, Capoue 6; Gray 6, Deeney 2. Subs not used: Gomes, Britos, Mariappa, Chalobah, Navarro. Booked: Capoue, Hughes. Sent off: Deeney. Manager: Javi Gracia 6. ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Leno 6.5; Mustafi 6, Mavropanos 5 (Guendouzi 59, 6), Koscielny 6, Monreal 6; Torreira 6.5 (Ozil 46, 6), Xhaka 6; Mkhitaryan 5.5, Ramsey 6.5 (MaitlandNiles 68, 6), IWOBI 7.5; Aubameyang 7. Subs not used: Cech, Elneny, Lacazette, Kolasinac. Scorer: Aubameyang 10. Booked: None. Manager: Unai Emery 7. Referee: Craig Pawson 6. Attendance: 20,480.