Summary

  • Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck

  • Watford XI: Gomes, Nyom, Prödl, Cathcart, Ake, Capoue, Watson, Suarez, Abdi, Deeney, Ighalo

Live Reporting

Shamoon Hafez

  1. goal

    GOAL - Arsenal 3-0 Watford

    Hector Bellerin (48 mins)

    When your luck's out, it really is out.

    This game is done and dusted now, just a matter of how many Arsenal will get.

    Alexis Sanchez wriggles clear in the box and his cross is headed away by Allan Nyom, straight to Hector Bellerin. The Spaniard takes it first time and his strike comes off Ben Watson and loops over Heurelho Gomes into the net.

    It's cruel on Watford, but Arsenal won't mind.

    Hector BellerinPA

  2. KICK-OFF

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Under way. Can Watford turn this game around?

  3. SUBSTITUTION

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Another change for Watford. Nordin Amrabat, an attacking-minded player, comes on in place of top goalscorer Odion Ighalo.

    What do you make of that one?

    Quique Sanchez Flores must be vexed.

  4. Pass perfection

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Look at how Arsenal played pass after pass before opening up Watford for their second goal, which Alex Iwobi scored.

    Alex Iwobi goalOpta

  5. HALF-TIME

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    I can deliver Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's team talk for him at half-time if he wants... "As you were, lads."

    Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores may be throwing some teacups in the away dressing room. They have been awful.

    Arsene WengerReuters

  6. Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Alex Iwobi sniffing another, but this time his sizzling strike is straight at Heurelho Gomes. Into added time in the first half.

    Alex IwobiGetty Images

  7. SHOWBOAT

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Arsenal 2-0 up and turning it on, this time Mesut Ozil with an audacious flick in the centre circle. Where was all this showboating when they collected just two wins in nine league games?

  8. Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Hector Bellerin, in his own half, takes two Watford players out of the game with a brilliant piece of skill, rolling his foot over the ball and twisting his body in one motion.

    They're making a mockery of the opposition now.

  9. SUBSTITUTION

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores is not happy.

    Off comes Etienne Capoue and Scotland man Ikechi Anya comes on.

  10. 'Iwobi reminds me of Ian Wright'

    Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Garth Crooks
    Former Spurs striker on Final Score

    Ian Wright, ArsenalPA

    "Iwobi is precocious. He's got a swagger about him which reminds me of Ian Wright as a young kid. You need to be bold as a young player, and Iwobi certainly is."

  11. goal

    GOAL - Arsenal 2-0 Watford

    Alex Iwobi (38 mins)

    Deserved.

    It's been all Arsenal and they double their advantage - and what a lovely goal it is.

    The Gunners slice Watford's defence open like a pack of salami, cutting through them with consummate ease.

    Francis Coquelin's no-look pass finds Alexis Sanchez, who gallops into the box unchallenged before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot.

    On the charge, Alex Iwobi sweeps home the finish and that may well be game over.

    Alex IwobiGetty Images
  12. ouch!

    Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Another Arsenal injury? Defender Gabriel has gone down in a heap and it's brought manager Arsene Wenger off his seat to survey the extent of the damage.

    The Brazilian goes off to the side of the pitch, has a swing of water and is OK to come back on.

    Time-wasting already? Surely not.

  13. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Half an hour played as possibly the easiest 30 minutes of Arsenal's season so far. 

    Watford tried to park the bus but it looks like they forgot to put the handbrake on.

  14. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Watford striker Odion Ighalo is flagged offside after getting on the end of a through ball.

    He wasn't though.

    It wouldn't have mattered because Ighalo failed to find the back of the net as David Ospina showed excellent pace to rush off his line and smother the danger.

    Just a note of caution for Arsenal, they're controlling this game but it's still finely poised.

    David OspinaReuters

  15. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Alex Iwobi is really terrorising Watford full-back Allan Nyom with his pace. That's a good outlet for Arsenal this afternoon.

    If they don't fancy that route, try Alexis Sanchez on the other flank. No? Give the ball to Mesut Ozil and he'll produce some magic.

    So many options for the Gunners, still only 1-0 up, though. As it stands, they are eight points behind leaders Leicester with seven games to go.

  16. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Alexis Sanchez steps up to curl the free-kick over the wall, it's heading for the bottom corner but Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes gets down low to his right to push the ball away.

    Good free-kick, good save, good all round. Well done.

  17. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    This time, Mohamed Elneny's shot from around 25 yards out is blocked. I make that Arsenal's seventh shot in the first half.

    Shortly after, Mesut Ozil is brought down by Allan Nyom and this is in Alexis Sanchez range, around 30 yards out...

    Mesut OzilPA

  18. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Arsenal peppering the Watford goal with shot after shot. This time midfielder Francis Coquelin's effort from the edge of the box is blocked.

    In the lead up to that, striker Danny Welbeck tried a cheeky back-heeled finish, but he's no Jamie Vardy and it doesn't come off.

    Francis CoquelinGetty Images

  19. Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Do the Arsenal fans know their side are winning? Complete silence inside the Emirates Stadium. Might as well have stayed at home.

    Meanwhile, Watford fashion their first chance of the afternoon and David Ospina has to get up off his sofa to do some work.

    Allan Nyom whips a ball in from the right towards Troy Deeney on the penalty spot, but the Watford skipper's header is weak and Ospina can gather without trouble.

    Hector BellerinGetty Images

  20. PENALTY APPEAL

    Arsenal 1-0 Watford

    Penalty shout!

    Watford defender Sebastian Prodl comes across and barges over Danny Welbeck on the edge of the box, but referee Anthony Taylor is unmoved.

    Could easily have been given.