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Arsenal climbed into the Champions League places with an entertaining victory over lowly Watford in a game with five quality goals.
The Hornets, who remain in the relegation zone, thought they had taken the lead within the first 20 seconds as Emmanuel Dennis slotted home but he was offside.
Martin Odegaard put Arsenal ahead not long afterwards after flicking the ball into the path of Bukayo Saka and then running into the centre to slot in Saka’s cross.
Watford levelled with the best individual goal of the game, Cucho Hernandez’s acrobatic flying volley from Kiko Femenia’s cross.
The visitors restored their lead when Saka won the ball off Tom Cleverley and found Alexandre Lacazette, who rolled the ball back into Saka’s path to fire into the top corner.
England star Saka was involved again in the third goal as his quick throw-in set up a move with Lacazette laying the ball off to Gabriel Martinelli to finish.
They looked as if they were cruising, and Eddie Nketiah hit the post, before Moussa Sissoko controlled the ball on his chest and beat Ben White before slotting in.
That set up a tense finale but Watford did not manage a clear-cut chance to equalise.
Arsenal move above Manchester United into fourth spot for a couple of hours at least, with United facing Manchester City in the derby.
Watford, who blow hot and cold too often, remain three points off safety.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Watford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Foster
- 21Femenía
- 15Cathcart
- 22Samir
- 14Kamara
- 19Sissoko
- 6LouzaSubstituted forKayembeat 64′minutes
- 8CleverleySubstituted forKaluat 89′minutes
- 29HernándezBooked at 90mins
- 25Dennis
- 10João Pedro
Substitutes
- 4Etebo
- 11Masina
- 12Sema
- 26Bachmann
- 27Kabasele
- 28Kalu
- 31Sierralta
- 33Kucka
- 39Kayembe
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 32Ramsdale
- 17Cédric SoaresBooked at 58mins
- 4White
- 6Gabriel
- 3Tierney
- 5Partey
- 34Xhaka
- 7Saka
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forHoldingat 90′minutes
- 35MartinelliSubstituted forPépéat 73′minutes
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forNketiahat 80′minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 16Holding
- 19Pépé
- 20Tavares
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 25Elneny
- 30Nketiah
- 69Swanson
- 82Hutchinson
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 21,142
Live Text
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Match ends, Watford 2, Arsenal 3.
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Second Half ends, Watford 2, Arsenal 3.
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Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Moussa Sissoko (Watford).
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Cucho Hernández (Watford) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt saved. Samuel Kalu (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko.
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
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Moussa Sissoko (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Rob Holding replaces Martin Ødegaard.
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Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
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Samir (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Watford. Samuel Kalu replaces Tom Cleverley.
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Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
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Edo Kayembe (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
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Hassane Kamara (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Goal! Watford 2, Arsenal 3. Moussa Sissoko (Watford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cucho Hernández.
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Attempt blocked. Emmanuel Dennis (Watford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Moussa Sissoko with a headed pass.
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Foul by Thomas Partey (Arsenal).
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