Arsenal win propels it into top four

LONDON: Arsenal boosted its hopes of a topfour finish in the English Premier League after a bizarre 10thminute goal by striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang gave it a 10 win at 10man Watford yesterday.

The result lifted the Gunners two places up to fourth on 66 points from 33 games, one behind thirdplaced Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal is ahead of fifthplaced Chelsea, which has played a game more, on goal difference. Watford stayed 10th with 46 points.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery was pleased with his team’s first away clean sheet of the season.

‘‘A clean sheet is very important,’’ he told the BBC. ‘‘It is going to give us a lot of information, this match.’’

The fastpaced clash took a decisive turn in a frantic oneminute spell early on, as Aubameyang found the back of the net in unlikely fashion before Watford striker Troy Deeney was shown a straight red card for elbowing Lucas Torreira.

The home side’s goalkeeper, Ben Foster, dwelled on Daryl Janmaat’s back pass for too long, allowing Aubameyang to close him down and block his attempted goalmouth clearance as the ball ricocheted into the back of the net.

Foster made no excuses for his howler.

‘‘I’ve said sorry to the lads,’’ he said. ‘‘I tried to drag it on to my left and pass it out but before I knew it Aubameyang was bloody on me. He is too quick. In hindsight you have to get rid [of the ball] as quick as you can, even if it goes into row Z.’’

Despite its numerical disadvantage, Watford kept pressing and was twice been denied by the woodwork as well as by some good saves from Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno.

The home side missed its best opportunity in the 80th minute when Arsenal substitute Ainsley MaitlandNiles slid in to block Andre Gray’s goalbound effort.

Aubameyang, Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also came close at the other end but Arsenal was forced to hang on in the closing stages with Watford throwing men forward.

Watford manager Javi Gracia praised his team for its fighting spirit in the face of adversity.

‘‘We did a lot of things to try to win, a big effort,’’ he said. ‘‘We didn’t get any points but we played well. It was a difficult game with 10 men.’’ — Reuters