LONDON: Arsenal closed in the Top Four Premier League after the second goal of Emile Smith-Rowe gave them a 1-0 home victory over Watford on Sunday at the League game manager and the responsible 100th Mikael Arteta Cup.
The results raised an Arsenal of one place to fifth at 20 points from 11 matches, behind West Human Rights who were fourth with a goal difference with a hammer at home to Liverpool which was placed at 1530 GMT.
Smith-Rowe scored the 100th Arsenal goal under Arteta when he was drilled with a low shot from 18 meters after striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had spent half the first punishment for the home team, who also had two goals ruled out for offside.
Smith-Rowe admitted Arsenal was full of confidence because they stretched their unbeaten leagues and the cup ran to 10 matches after a bad start of the season.
“I think we always believe in ourselves and each other, it’s just about coming together as a team and we are a family like that,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was a difficult game for us today.
Watford is a strong team and we are glad we got three points.” Bukayo Saka’s initial effort was not permitted and Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster strangled the 35th spot kick from Aubameyang before he also distanced the Gabriel header who was close to extraordinary deposits.
But Foster was helpless in the 56th minute when Arsenal defender Ben White surged forward after winning ownership in the midfield and climbed Smith-Rowe, who found the back of the net with the first shot.
Aubameyang exacerbated the poor performance of individuals when he robbed Martin Odegaard from the 73rd minute goal, highlighting the ball from the offside position with Foster has been defeated by the player under the substitute arrow.
Joshua King missed Watford’s solitary chance in the 86th minute when he hit a mosquito net from a tight angle after Arsenal’s warehouse guard Aaron Ramsdale missed a simple permit.
The visitors had Juraj Kucka left shortly afterwards for a second yellow card after he ignored Arsenal back again Nuno Tavares before Foster produced an extraordinary rescue to accommodate the ferocious Lokonga Albert shot.