Arsenal Leapfrog Man Utd triumphs over Watford

Arsenal moved closer to the top four in the Premier League with a 1-0 home win over Watford yesterday, thanks to a second-half goal from Emile Smith-Rowe in manager Mikael Arteta’s 100th league and cup game in charge.

Arsenal moved up to fifth place with 20 points from 11 games, two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who lost to West Ham last night. The Hammers are now third in the table, with the same 23 points as second-placed Manchester City.

Arsenal’s 100th league goal under Arteta came from Smith-Rowe, who drilled in a low shot from 18 metres after striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a first-half penalty for the hosts, who also had two goals ruled out for offside.

Bukayo Saka’s early effort was disallowed, and Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster smothered Aubameyang’s 35th-minute penalty kick before making a superb reflex save on a close-range Gabriel header.

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Foster, however, was helpless in the 56th minute when Arsenal defender Ben White surged forward after winning possession in midfield and teed up Smith-Rowe, who scored with a first-time shot.

Aubameyang had a goal disallowed in the 73rd minute, and Joshua King wasted Watford’s lone chance in the 86th, before the visitors had Juraj Kucka sent off for a second yellow card after fouling Arsenal’s left back Nuno Tavares.