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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Watford 1-2 Arsenal | Watford 1-2 Arsenal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Arsenal moved third in the Premiership thanks to a late Robin van Persie winner at a heartbroken Watford. | Arsenal moved third in the Premiership thanks to a late Robin van Persie winner at a heartbroken Watford. |
| Arsenal took the lead against the run of play when Gilberto Silva nodded in at the far post, but Watford hit back when Tommy Smith lashed in a shot. | |
| Watford tested a struggling Arsenal while having keeper Ben Foster to thank for keeping out shots from Emmanuel Adebayor and Justin Hoyte. | Watford tested a struggling Arsenal while having keeper Ben Foster to thank for keeping out shots from Emmanuel Adebayor and Justin Hoyte. |
| Arsenal pressed for a late winner and Van Persie obliged with a curling shot. | Arsenal pressed for a late winner and Van Persie obliged with a curling shot. |
| There had been enough endeavour and enterprise about Watford's start to suggest a goalscoring threat and Arsenal were quickly forced on to the backfoot. | |
| The Hornets looked especially menacing from set-pieces and Arsenal's young and inexperienced defence looked suspect if the home side could find the quality to take advantage. | The Hornets looked especially menacing from set-pieces and Arsenal's young and inexperienced defence looked suspect if the home side could find the quality to take advantage. |
| But, despite their early pressure, Watford had Foster to thank for keeping them level as he twice saved angled strikes from Van Persie after Arsenal counter-attacks. | But, despite their early pressure, Watford had Foster to thank for keeping them level as he twice saved angled strikes from Van Persie after Arsenal counter-attacks. |
| A similar Van Persie effort went agonisingly wide before Watford striker Ashley Young's eyes lit up as a clear sight of goal opened up in front of him. | |
| Smith's industry was a threat to Arsenal and he notched a goal for his efforts | Smith's industry was a threat to Arsenal and he notched a goal for his efforts |
| Young's shot was blocked by the last-ditch sliding tackle of Gilberto, who then raced up the other end to nod in at the far post after a corner was flicked on by Kolo Toure. | |
| Watford refused to buckle and continued to attac, a looped Young effort forcing Gunners keeper Jens Lehmann to scramble across his goal and palm the ball away. | |
| The resilience of the home side brought a deserved equaliser with Hameur Bouazza's surging run and deflected cross being powerfully lashed in by Smith. | |
| The Hornets were applauded off at half-time but almost let themselves down shortly after the interval. | The Hornets were applauded off at half-time but almost let themselves down shortly after the interval. |
| Tomas Rosicky left Watford right-back Adrian Mariappa trailing as he burst through on the Watford goal only to have his stabbed shot blocked by Foster. | Tomas Rosicky left Watford right-back Adrian Mariappa trailing as he burst through on the Watford goal only to have his stabbed shot blocked by Foster. |
| There were signs of panic from Arsenal as the game wore on, before the visitors finally started to exert some pressure with flashes of their familiar fluid football. | |
| 606: DEBATE Arsenal have been doing great recently thanks to one man - Gilberto Silva - he's on fire RU 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE Arsenal have been doing great recently thanks to one man - Gilberto Silva - he's on fire RU 606: Have your say |
| Foster again had to come to his side's rescue when he spread himself to keep out an Adebayor shot with his legs and then palmed away an angled Hoyte drive. | Foster again had to come to his side's rescue when he spread himself to keep out an Adebayor shot with his legs and then palmed away an angled Hoyte drive. |
| Arsenal scented a win and Julio Baptista and Adebayor shot just wide as the visitors produced a late surge. | Arsenal scented a win and Julio Baptista and Adebayor shot just wide as the visitors produced a late surge. |
| Watford struggled as Arsenal upped their game and eventually caved in when substitute Theo Walcott released Van Persie, who cut in from the right and curled a shot in at the far post for the winner. | |
| Watford: Foster, Mariappa, Shittu (Priskin 90), DeMerit, Stewart, Smith, Mahon, Bangura, McNamee (Henderson 77), Young, Bouazza (Francis 69).Subs Not Used: Lee, Doyley. | |
| Booked: Francis. | Booked: Francis. |
| Goals: Smith 23. | Goals: Smith 23. |
| Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou (Senderos 46), Clichy, Hleb (Walcott 71), Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky (Julio Baptista 79), Van Persie, Adebayor.Subs Not Used: Almunia, Flamini. | |
| Goals: Silva 19, Van Persie 83. | Goals: Silva 19, Van Persie 83. |
| Att: 19,750 | Att: 19,750 |
| Ref: M Dean (Wirral). | Ref: M Dean (Wirral). |