Premier League live blog: Watford 2-1 Arsenal

Watford 2-1 Arsenal

Watford: Gomes, Femenia, Mariappa (off 63), Britos, Holebas, Doucoure, Kabasele, Pereyra (off 81), Cleverley, Richarlison, Gray (off 62)
Subs: Janmaat, Deeney (on 62), Wague, Watson, Carrillo (on 63), Capoue (on 81), Karnezis
Bookings: Kabasele (64)
Goals: Deeney (71), Cleverley (90+2)

Arsenal: Cech, Koscielny (off 85), Mertesacker, Monreal, Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Welbeck (off 61), Lacazette (off 68)
Subs: Wilshere, Ozil (on 61), Giroud (on 68), Ospina, Walcott, Holding (on 85), Coquelin
Goals: Mertesacker (39)

Blog replay

FULL-TIME: Watford 2-1 Arsenal

And that's that. A fairly straightforward game to review: Arsenal not good, but good enough to lead with Watford lacking ideas. Then the game turns, as Ozil misses a chance before Richarlison earns his side a penalty - a questionable one, yes - which Deeney converts. From there it's all Watford and they deserve their late winner. Arsenal just not good enough, even if their manager will focus on a debatable penalty.

90+4: Arsenal come forward one last time but makeshift striker Mertesacker can only flick it behind for a goal kick - and that should be that.

90+3: Perhaps a final chance for Arsenal as Ozil picks out Giroud, but his header is easy for Gomes to collect.

90+2: GOAL! Watford 2-1 Arsenal! Cleverley

Turnaround complete, and it had been coming. A Holebas shot is deflected, Cech is down to save but can't get to his feet quickly enough as Mertesacker's block falls to Cleverley, who calmly fires into the roof of the net. What a comeback.

90+2: More pressure from the hosts as Monreal bends down to head clear. It's all Watford, the only risk to them a quick counter but Arsenal cannot get the ball.

90+1: It is four added. Monreal clears under pressure from Capoue before Holding has to hook clear.

90: Final minute of normal time. Expected around four added as Watford earn a throw deep inside their own half.

89: An Arsenal attack, a rare one, earns them a corner as Bellerin's cross is headed behind. Britos heads it clear to Monreal, who shoots from 30 yards in a sign of how desperate things are for the visitors. Fair play to Watford - they've been excellent since the break.

88: It must be said, this has been poor from Arsenal. The BT Sport pundits laid into Watford at half-time as though they'd been abysmal, but that really wasn't the case - they just hadn't created much. And neither have the visitors. They'd have won had Ozil converted one of just two good chances this half but are lacking ideas here.

87: Iwobi gives the ball away to Carrillo as the Hornets swarm all over Arsenal in midfield. Carrillo is soon back on it after exchanging passes down the left and his rasping shot briefly looks dangerous, only to keep on rising over the bar.

86: All Watford here and they're specially keen to fire balls into the box as often as possible, Monreal just about clearing the latest.

85: Wilshere was coming on, but now it's Holding. Erm. Koscielny is off so that must be an injury.

84: Watford 8/1, Arsenal 3/1, draw odds-on. Has to be the hosts if you do want to back either side to steal this.

83: Wilshere is being readied, but Iwobi is the man coming off. More pace removed from the pitch. OFF THE POST! Capoue nearly makes an immediate impact, his deflected shot wrong-footing Cech but spinning into the outside of the post and away.

82: Both these sides are good at late goals, just so you know. Nine minutes and change to go.

81: Watford make their final change, Capoue replacing Pereyra.

80: It's brilliant from Monreal to win the ball and release Ozil, but unfortunate for Arsenal that Monreal is the one to receive the ball in the box having rushed forward as part of a three-way attack completed by Kolasinac. No Welbeck, no Lacazette, and a severe lack of pace for Arsenal now. The only player on the pitch you'd fancy to take a chance is Giroud. Surely a change soon.

78: Giroud yet to contribute, except to get the ball stuck under his feet with Iwobi waiting for a pass.

77: Watford are winning everything in midfield at the moment, but Richarlison is again guilty of taking just too long on the ball as Ozil takes over before earning his side a free-kick.

76: We are set up for a fabulous finish here. I wonder whether Wenger might bring on some pace with Walcott, or even ask Wilshere to come on and conjure something. Watford have their tails up and there's no settling for a draw as Richarlison fouls Koscielny 20 yards from the Arsenal goal.

75: Not going to quote myself, but I did say Arsenal would likely try their best to help Watford find a chance to score. That was their sole shot on target. Probably a harsh penalty, yes, but Bellerin ultimately stuck a foot in and didn't win the ball and that's always an issue in your own penalty area.

Anyway, grumbling aside Watford have been rewarded for a much improved display since the break as Richarlison hits the side netting from 15 yards.

74: Kolasinac should do better as Arsenal burst clear, delaying his cross far too long and ultimately giving the ball away.

73: That came around 30 seconds after Gomes saved to keep his side in the game.

72: GOAL! Deeney! Watford 1-1 Arsenal

Deeney ends his longest-ever Premier League drought by sending Cech the wrong way. On BT Sport, Graham Poll says it is 'definitely not a penalty' but it's not quite so simple. It looked like Bellerin didn't get there and he didn't. It's just, he didn't really get the man, either. #OneOfThose

71: PENALTY WATFORD. Richarlison runs into the box, Bellerin puts a foot in, their knees sort of touch and the Brazilian goes down - as just about every player in world football would. Soft. Very soft. Deeney to take it.

70: Should be 2-0. Arsenal do break, quickly, and Iwobi's pass is perfect. Ozil opens up his body, no more than 18 yards out and with time to pick his spot, but Gomes reads it well and is down to block.

70: Arsenal are placing quite some faith in their ability to defend properly for 20 minutes or so, although part of this plan will involve a breakaway goal of course. For now they're dealing with crosses well but they're coming thick and fast and it only takes one.

69: Xhaka clears the corner and then a follow-up cross, both at the near post. Watford switch to the right where Carrillo wins a throw. From there, a deep ball causes some alarm in the Arsenal area with yellow shirts everywhere, but Bellerin is on hand to prod the ball away.

68: Corner Watford out of nothing, as a long throw works its way to Mertesacker who clears behind. First, Arsenal will make their change, Giroud replacing Lacazette.

67: Deliberate handball from Ozil, who grabs it as he goes down under pressure. Bravo, referee. Always fun to see those given as Arsenal prepare to bring on Giroud.

66: Richarlison again the livewire for Watford but he runs out of space and the ball goes out for an Arsenal goal kick, which Cech punts long.

64: Mertesacker almost gets in again as Arsenal earn another corner following Kabasele's clearance. Deeney then does his job in defence with the second one before an over-hit pass goes out, allowing Watford to clear from a goal kick.

63: Almost 2-0 Arsenal as Ozil picks open the Watford defence with his first touch, releasing Iwobi whose shot would've found the corner but for Gomes's hand. Corner.

Opta stat meanwhile:

• Troy Deeney is without a goal in his last 13 league games, his longest goal-drought ever in the Premier League and his worst in league football since October 2011 (32 in total).

63: Changes for Watford, Deeney for a disgruntled Gray and Carrillo for Mariappa. They're going to switch to four across the back.

62: Holebas with the corner and it's well cleared by Koscielny from the six-yard line. He then bursts down the right but is penalised for a foul on Kolasinac, which has a couple of the Arsenal players incensed. Didn't look to be much in that to be honest, a little robust perhaps.

60: It doesn't look good for Welbeck and Ozil is being prepared, while Watford are also soon to make changes. Welbeck is indeed off, Ozil on, and it looks like he pulled a hamstring when shuffled off the ball a couple of minutes ago.

59: Cech is alert to the danger as Doucoure looks to get on the end of a back-post cross. He palms it behind for a Watford corner but it'll have to wait, with Welbeck down injured.

58: Penalty cries from the odd travelling fan but that's simply superb defending from Holebas, who leans in on Welbeck and forces the Arsenal man into a clumsy touch which allows Gomes to rush from goal and collect.

57: Lacazette accepts a short pass from Iwobi and looks to guide it through to Welbeck, who has already halted his run and can't get to it.

56: The hard-working Lacazette is deep inside his own half to win the ball back for Arsenal, but then gives it away to Cleverley. Kolasinac does well to prevent a reverse pass from releasing Femenia.

55: Clever ball from Cleverley which forces an acrobatic clearance from Mertesacker. Noise at last inside Vicarage Road and rightly so - Watford have much more intent about them. They do, however, look vulnerable to the counter.

54: This is much better from Watford as Gray charges down the right-hand channel, where Welbeck does particularly well to steal in front of his opponent and clear the danger. Arsenal break, but that's another poor final ball, this time from Lacazette. Big chance wasted with two on two.

53: Holebas gallops down the left to provide a decoy for Richarlison, who turns inside, Bellerin wrong-footed, before bending one three or four yards wide of Cech's goal. Should've done better after some fine work to open up the opportunity.

52: Richarlison is guilty of being greedy when Watford had men over as Monreal blocks his path. Arsenal move forward fairly swiftly but the quiet Kolasinac can't divert a header towards Lacazette.

51: Poor delivery but Arsenal have an even better chance having quickly won the ball back, but again we see what they're lacking today as Xhaka's pass is poor. Were that ball at the feet of Ozil, Arsenal would surely have been testing Gomes and probably beating him.

50: Kabasele is in the right place to head clear with Iwobi looking to get onto a return ball from Lacazette. On the other side of the pitch, Femenia thinks he's pushed by Welbeck as he knocks the ball behind but it's an Arsenal corner.

49: Monreal is forced to clear under pressure but a warning for Watford as Bellerin almost gets in behind on the break. Not sure flinging men forward this early is a wise move for the home side.

48: Watford go side to side before a much better long ball towards Holebas briefly appears to have opened up Arsenal. Gray, however, is penalised for offside and/or holding onto Mertesacker. Presumably the latter.

46: Amazing what difference a goal made to the half-time analysis, with the BT Sport team laying into Watford, who had kept Arsenal from looking like scoring for 38 minutes. Granted, they didn't do much in attack but that all felt a little harsh to me and they're very much in this game as we resume.

HT: So, not a classic by any means and Arsenal haven't done much bar score, from a corner, which their returning captain headed home powerfully. Watford haven't looked like scoring but I'm sure their visitors will offer them a chance or two after the break.

Click here for all the half-time odds.

45+3: It's wasted as Xhaka's ball is weak and far too low. Watford sense an opportunity to break, but Pereyra's ball forces Richarlison wide. He does manage to cross but it's fairly comfortable for Cech. And that's half-time.

45+2: One final chance for Arsenal to double their lead as Lacazette draws Mariappa into a foul around 25, maybe 30 yards out. The Frenchman is down for some time but should be fine.

45+1: Bellerin goes through the back of his man to hand Watford a chance to punt one forward, which Gomes does only to hand the ball to his opposite number, Cech. Three added, one of which is down.

45: Koscielny is fouled by Richarlison as we edge towards half-time. Might be a couple added after that early stoppage which saw the Brazilian taped up.

43: Gomes gets down well to save a 20-yard curler from Xhaka, before Bellerin then fires just wide, goalkeeper nowhere, on his left foot. So close to 2-0 as Watford bounce off the ropes.

41: Important that Watford keep this at 1-0 or better as we approach the break as Arsenal smell blood, Lacazette almost making his way past two or three men before losing control of the ball.

39: GOAL! Mertesacker! Watford 0-1 Arsenal

The Arsenal skipper powers home a header to put Arsenal ahead. The ball was perfect and Cleverley is the man marking Mertesacker, which is plainly bonkers. Gomes has no chance. It's his first goal for close to four years in the Premier League. Bravo.

39: If you didn't know the teams and watched the opening 39 or 40 minutes, you'd say this is going to end 0-0, or 1-0 either way at most. But it's Watford and it's Arsenal and I will not yet rule out a 4-4 draw. Corner Arsenal.

38: Xhaka fires one to the feet of Lacazette whose wall-pass attempt comes off his boot at just the wrong angle, asking too much of Welbeck. Out of nowhere, Arsenal are looking like a half-decent side as Richarlison's headed attempt from deep trickles harmlessly wide.

37: Arsenal's best spell by far and Elneny conjures a great idea, which is not matched by his execution as he passes straight to Gomes.

36: Arsenal again, this time down the right where Iwobi turns on a Euro (yeah, a Euro) but is frustrated to find a lack of options, ultimately deciding to curl one kindly into the arms of Gomes.

35: Genuine quality at last as Arsenal break and Lacazette evades a poor tackle to shimmy into the area, where under pressure he lobs one towards Welbeck. Holebas does superbly well to dive in front of the Arsenal man, who would surely have scored had he been allowed to unleash a shot.

34: "I quite like Iwobi, but that wasn't very good." Thanks for clearing that up, DJ.

33: Iwobi's ball to Bellerin is poor in the extreme - in fact, a colleague is giggling about his ineptitude.

32: Xhaka again picks out Bellerin but it's telling that Watford allow it. This time, though, there is some spark from the Gunners as Lacazette comes deep to swap passes with Iwobi, before findign Welbeck who can't quite find space to shoot.

31: Arsenal's one avenue appears to be the diagonal ball to Bellerin, but he's isolated again and gives the ball away trying to conjure something of nothing.

30: Some head tennis - one of my least favourite football terms but it's been a long week - slows things down a little and allows us to reflect on a largely uninspiring 30 minutes.

29: Holebas heads clear a diagonal ball to put Richarlison away down the left. He's so direct, darting inside and towards the penalty spot, but Bellerin is there to cover. The Spaniard then tees up Elneny to fire over the bar from 30 yards on the counter. Still, his only Arsenal goal is away at Barcelona.

28: Some possession at last for the visitors but it's easy for Watford to contain. They're moving the ball slowly, side to side, and don't have that injection which Ramsay provides. Wenger said earlier this week that Wilshere isn't ready to start a Premier League game. He might have to be ready to finish one.

27: Excellent anticipation from Gomes as he gallops 40 yards out of his goal to get there before Bellerin, who had just turned on the afterburners. He then wins a throw midway inside the Watford half off Richarlison.

26: Arsenal's bench looks strong today but it'll trouble Wenger that he's already thinking that, which I bet he is. The Gunners are out to 5/6 here and that's still too short. They've offered little since a fairly encouraging first five or so minutes.

25: Lacazette nods one down towards Welbeck but Holebas is there to intervene.

24: Richarlison can't quite get on the end of an excellent cross from Femenia, with Koscielny doing well to block his path. That battle an intriguing one in a game which is yet to really unwind.

23: It's all Watford at the moment and Arsenal haven't yet carved out a genuine chance.

22: Pereyra spins sharply but his through ball is poor and Mertesacker intercepts. That was a chance for the home side, with three options none of whom their man could pick out. Another cheap foul on halfway, this time Xhaka on Cleverley.

21: Holebas stands one up this time but Arsenal can deal with that easily enough. Watford are prepared to go back to front, though. Silva has clearly made them more comfortable on the ball even if there have been a couple of instances of aimless long passes.

20: Slightly subdued atmosphere at Vicarage Road but Watford are coming into things a little more now, benefiting again from a silly foul by Monreal, once more on Pereyra. In fact I think we've been transported back in time to the identical earlier foul.

19: Holebas finds Doucoure near the corner flag and he bundles his way into the box, before putting his foot through the ball and straight onto the head of Pereyra. Unsurprisingly he can't react in time and the ball skids off his forehead and out for a goal kick. That could've gone anywhere and Bellerin must do more to prevent the cross.

18: You just sense a lack of creativity in the Arsenal midfield with no Ramsay, no Ozil. Elneny is busy but struggling to have an impact and most attacks are coming through Xhaka, who is less cultured than his left-footedness would have you believe.

17: Monreal fouls Pereyra on halfway, clumsily it must be said, but Richarlison then gives the ball away cheaply as Arsenal come forward once more.

16: Arsenal are settling into things now, probing down both flanks, but Watford seem fairly happy to allow them to do so and are more concerned with packing the midfield.

15: Silva looks annoyed after an aimless long ball gifts possession to Arsenal and they should do better, Lacazette rushing to cross when he had space to power towards the box. Watford clear through Femenia but it's another ball over the top which doesn't really threaten.

14: A similar move sees Watford force their first opening, as Richarlison steals a yard on Koscielny then fires one towards Gray, who fouls Xhaka for having the temerity to get to the ball first.

13: Lovely ball from Xhaka to find Kolasinac behind the Watford defence. He volleys across goal but Mariappa is perfectly-positioned to get there before the lurking Lacazette.

12: First real threat from Arsenal as they work space for Bellerin, whose powerful cross is inches above Lacazette's head around 10 yards from goal.

11: Richarlison springs to life after a nicely-cushioned through-ball from Gray, but it's the speedy Koscielny covering for Arsenal and he nips in ahead of the bandaged Brazilian.

10: Play resumes with a drop ball, uncontested, as Watford give it back to Arsenal.

9: Looks like it could be a wrist issue for the 20-year-old, one of the stars of the season so far in my book. The physio is taping him up. Gladly, he looks a well-waxed man and it should be a pain-free removal job later on. Relief all-round.

8: Richarlison is down and in some pain after an attempted tackle on Iwobi, who may have just caught him when skipping away from the Brazilian. Didn't look to be much in it but perhaps the Arsenal man's foot landed in the wrong place. Meanwhile, Lacazette is trying on some new shoes.

7: Brief alarm for Arsenal as Mertesacker lets the ball run through to Cech, unaware seemingly that Gray is lurking. The goalkeeper does clear however and Arsenal are soon on the attack, Lacazette's cross cleared at the near post.

6: Bellerin just cuts out a through-ball aimed at Richarlison as the game begins to open up, both sides keen to step forward as early as possible.

5: Cleverley busy early but gives it away cheaply again before Xhaka returns the favour. Koscielny stoops to head clear a cross and Arsenal break, but Kolasinac can't control a simple ball from Iwobi.

4: It's one of the more physically imposing Arsenal sides but they elect to go short. Already it's evident how well-shaped Watford are. It's a question of whether Arsenal are able to pull that shape apart.

3: Nice spell of possession for Arsenal but it's all sideways and Watford win it back through sheer work-rate. Cleverley then looks to have an opportunity to shoot but goes instead for a short pass which is misdirected. Arsenal free-kick now on halfway after a foul on Welbeck.

2: Welbeck does really well to nip in and win possession for Arsenal, but Lacazette's attempted return pass is over-hit and all the way through to former Spurs goalkeeper Gomes.

1: Watford get us under way on an unseasonably mild evening north of London. Immediately they go long and Mertesacker is on hand to clear his lines.

1729: We shall be under way shortly...

1727: Every game is a big game in the Premier League, but if there is a winner here, said side will be in the top four after Chelsea lost and both Burnley and Liverpool drew.

Arsenal would be just a point behind Spurs with a win and six adrift of Man City. Their prospects of finishing ahead of City are slightly more than zero currently but keeping tabs on Spurs must be considered important.

For Watford, a win would have them halfway to 30 points through just eight games.

1720: Savage disgusted that Arsenal haven't named their strongest available side. Evidently thinks a manager should pick the best 11 individuals every week, which is a silly idea he's of course free to pursue. I've yet to hear an interesting sentence from his ample mouth, to be honest.

Ten minutes until kick-off.

1718: So, Arsenal are 'due' some goals away from home in the Premier League, and Watford are in fact winless at home having been thumped 6-0 by Man City a month ago and been on their travels since.

It points towards the visitors, but Watford have something about them and have responded really well to that Man City-shaped mauling. I think this will be close. Arsenal to win by one at 11/4 gets my token vote but it's no bet for me.

If you are looking for some value and want to side with the hosts, the impressive Richarlison is 10/1 to score first.

1715: Have a dose of Opta for dinner...

• In their last meeting, back in January at the Emirates, Watford earned their first league win against Arsenal since April 1988 and ended a run of seven straight league defeats against them.
• Arsene Wenger has won eight of his 10 matches versus Watford in all competitions as Arsenal manager (L2).
• Watford have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 10 matches against Arsenal in all competitions – they last kept a shutout vs the Gunners in April 1988 (1-0) when Tony Coton was in between the sticks for the Hornets.
• Arsenal haven’t failed to score in their opening four away league games of a season since 1936-37 – the last time the Gunners failed to score in four consecutive away league games in the same season was in December 1992 under George Graham.
• Watford have made their best-ever start to a Premier League season after seven games (12 points). Indeed, the Hornets have only won more points at this stage of a top-flight season once before, back in 1982-83 under Graham Taylor (15 points).
• Since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, Arsenal have scored more headed goals in the Premier League than any other side (34), with Olivier Giroud netting 14 of them (41%).
• Watford are winless in their opening three home league games this season (D2 L1) – they’ve only failed to win their first four home games in six previous seasons, most recently in 2011-12 in the Championship.
• Petr Cech has kept four consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since February 2015. The Czech glovesman last enjoyed a longer run of top-flight shut-outs between April and August 2010 (six in total).

1700: Hello everybody and thanks to my colleague Andy Schooler for giving you a betting line and team news. I'm Ben Coley and you've got me for company for the day's final Premier League game.

Miss any of the earlier action? Click here to recap my blog of the 3pm games. While you do that, a quick change of shirt for me and we'll go again from 1715.

Oh, I'll leave you with this to celebrate Mertesacker's return to the Arsenal line-up.

1645: Sky Bet's match odds have Arsenal odds-on for the victory at 4/6. A home win is 4/1 with the draw on offer at 16/5.

Among the pre-match Price Boosts is Lacazette to score two or more at 11/2 (from 7/2) and Watford's Richarlison to score the opening goal (10/1 from 9/1).

Click here for all the latest match odds, including Price Boosts.

1640: The teams are in and there's no Sanchez for Arsenal following his recent international exertions with Chile, who failed to qualify for the World Cup in the week. Full line-ups are shown above.