Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette (right) missed a one-on-one chance in the first half
Arsenal scored twice in the last nine minutes to overcome in-form Watford and record their seventh straight win in all competitions.
With 10 minutes to go it appeared that the fourth-placed Hornets, with wins over Tottenham and Manchester United this season, would frustrate another Premier League giant.
But that was until the introduction of Alex Iwobi midway through the second half at Emirates Stadium.
The Nigerian's driven low ball from the right resulted in Arsenal's opener, inadvertently turned in by Watford's Craig Cathcart.
Two minutes later Iwobi was involved in a one-two with Alexandre Lacazette, who delivered a low cross for Mesut Ozil to sidefoot home.
With the game goalless, Arsenal substitute keeper Bernd Leno made a great one-handed save to deny Andre Gray, while Issac Success fired narrowly wide of the far post.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Arsenal
1CechSubstituted forLenoat 45+3'minutes
2Bellerín
20MustafiBooked at 62mins
16Holding
18Monreal
11TorreiraBooked at 45mins
34Xhaka
10Özil
8RamseySubstituted forIwobiat 63'minutes
14AubameyangSubstituted forWelbeckat 77'minutes
9Lacazette
Substitutes
7Mkhitaryan
12Lichtsteiner
17Iwobi
19Leno
23Welbeck
29Guendouzi
31Kolasinac
Watford
26Foster
23NavarroSubstituted forFemeníaat 84'minutes
15Cathcart
27Kabasele
25Holebas
16DoucouréBooked at 79mins
29Capoue
19Hughes
37Pereyra
18GraySubstituted forSuccessat 72'minutes
9DeeneyBooked at 31mins
Substitutes
1Gomes
6Mariappa
10Success
11Masina
12Sema
14Chalobah
21Femenía
Referee:
Anthony Taylor
Attendance:
60,019
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamWatford
Possession
Home64%
Away36%
Shots
Home9
Away13
Shots on Target
Home2
Away4
Corners
Home6
Away6
Fouls
Home11
Away17
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Arsenal 2, Watford 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Watford 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Isaac Success (Watford).
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a headed pass.
Posted at 90'+3'
Attempt blocked. Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danny Welbeck.
Posted at 90'
Attempt missed. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by José Holebas with a cross.
Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Roberto Pereyra (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Posted at 86'
Foul by Lucas Torreira (Arsenal).
Posted at 86'
Roberto Pereyra (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Watford. Kiko Femenía replaces Marc Navarro.
Goal!Posted at 83'
Goal! Arsenal 2, Watford 0. Mesut Özil (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alexandre Lacazette.
Posted at 83'
Attempt missed. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Will Hughes.
Goal!Posted at 81'
Own Goal by Craig Cathcart, Watford. Arsenal 1, Watford 0.
Posted at 80'
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Craig Cathcart (Watford).
BookingPosted at 79'
Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 78'
Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 78'
Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Watford).
Posted at 78'
Offside, Watford. Abdoulaye Doucouré tries a through ball, but Isaac Success is caught offside.
Posted at 77'
Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 77'
Foul by Troy Deeney (Watford).
SubstitutionPosted at 77'
Substitution, Arsenal. Danny Welbeck replaces Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Posted at 76'
Hand ball by Alex Iwobi (Arsenal).
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Isaac Success (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Troy Deeney.
Posted at 74'
Attempt saved. Craig Cathcart (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 73'
Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal).
Posted at 73'
Isaac Success (Watford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 72'
Attempt blocked. Isaac Success (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Troy Deeney.
SubstitutionPosted at 72'
Substitution, Watford. Isaac Success replaces Andre Gray.
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Roberto Pereyra (Watford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Abdoulaye Doucouré.
Posted at 68'
Attempt saved. Andre Gray (Watford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Troy Deeney with a through ball.
Posted at 67'
Attempt missed. Nacho Monreal (Arsenal) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Granit Xhaka.
Posted at 66'
Offside, Watford. Abdoulaye Doucouré tries a through ball, but Andre Gray is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 63'
Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Iwobi replaces Aaron Ramsey.
BookingPosted at 62'
Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 62'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 60'
Delay in match Etienne Capoue (Watford) because of an injury.
Posted at 60'
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by José Holebas.
Posted at 58'
Offside, Watford. José Holebas tries a through ball, but Andre Gray is caught offside.
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Source: bbc.com