Arsenal 2 Watford 0: Mesut Ozil seals late win for Unai Emery's Gunners

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James Benge29 September 2018

Arsenal left it late to secure a fifth Premier League win in a row as a Craig Cathcart own goal and a Mesut Ozil strike earned them a hard fought 2-0 win over Watford at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had been pushed hard by Watford throughout a first half when Lacazette had been their most consistent threat, chipping wide when one-on-one with Ben Foster and being denied a penalty after he stayed on his feet when he had been challenged by Christian Kabasele.

Petr Cech was withdrawn before half-time with a hamstring injury and his replacement Bernd Leno kept Arsenal in the game, saving superbly from Troy Deeney at close range.

Arsenal still had to ride a wave of Watford pressure before the final 10 minutes, when Cathcart turned in Iwobi’s fine cross at the near post ahead of Lacazette. The French striker then combined with Ozil to tee up the German playmaker moments later.

Alexandre Lacazette wanted an early Arsenal penalty with referee Anthony Taylor unmoved and minutes later the forward spurned a golden opportunity, beating Cathcart to the ball but then sending a deft chip wide of Ben Foster's goal.

Granit Xhaka forced Foster into his first meaningful action of the afternoon, arrowing in a shot from the edge of the box which the Watford goalkeeper turned behind.

Cech injured himself on the stroke of half-time pulling up after taking a goal-kick and being replaced by Bernd Leno - the summer signing making his Premier League debut.

The German goalkeeper had an instant impact, getting down low to tip Deeney's effort wide following a set-piece from the visitors.

Arsenal were not playing fluent football and, when they did threaten, they proved wasteful in front of goal.

Lucas Torreira, booked in the first half for a late challenge on Deeney, played in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang whose cross was headed wide by Lacazette.

Watford could sense an opportunity to capitalise on a fairly poor performance from their hosts, Roberto Pereyra attempting a finish from an acute angle but sending it wide after Leno had done well to race off his line and stop an Andre Gray effort.

Rob Holding, making his first Premier League start of the season, had to be brave to block a strike from Hornets substitute Isaac Success just moments after he had replaced Gray.

Success came even closer shortly afterwards, latching onto a perfectly-weighted Deeney pass but seeing his effort clip the post.

Emery's side weathered the storm and took the lead in fortuitous circumstances as Cathcart turned an Iwobi cross past Foster at his near-post while trying to prevent Lacazette scoring.

The second goal followed soon after as Ozil, moved into the centre after the ineffectual Ramsey had been substituted, tucked home from Lacazette's centre.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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