LONDON • Arsenal manager Unai Emery admitted he was unhappy with his side's performance, despite a bizarre 10th-minute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal giving them a 1-0 win at Watford which boosted their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League.
The result on Monday lifted the Gunners two places up to fourth on 66 points from 33 games, one behind third-placed Tottenham.
Arsenal are ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea, who have played a game more, on goal difference. Watford stayed 10th with 46 points.
"We were competitive today but in the circumstances we can control the match better. We didn't make it easy to score the second goal. We did not control the ball in the attacking third," Emery said.
"We didn't control the match like I wanted. The team was anxious... The most important for us is to score the second goal, which we didn't do."
The Spaniard was, however, pleased with his team's first away clean sheet of the season.
"A clean sheet is very important," he told the BBC.
"It is going to give us a lot of information, this match. Our analysis will give us confidence."
1st
Away clean sheet of the season for Arsenal.
The fast-paced clash took a decisive turn in a frantic one-minute spell early on, as Aubameyang found the back of the net in unlikely fashion before Watford striker Troy Deeney was shown a straight red for elbowing Lucas Torreira.
The home side's goalkeeper Ben Foster dwelled on Daryl Janmaat's back pass for too long, allowing Aubameyang to close him down and block his attempted goalmouth clearance as the ball ricocheted into the back of the net.
Foster made no excuses for his howler. "I've said sorry to the lads," he said. "I tried to drag it on to my left and pass it out but before I knew it Aubameyang was bloody on me. He is too quick.
"In hindsight you have to get rid (of the ball) as quick as you can, even if it goes into row Z."
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Watford kept pressing and missed a string of chances to draw level, having twice been denied by the woodwork as well as by some good saves from Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Watford manager Marco Silva praised his team for their fighting spirit in the face of adversity.
"We did a lot of things to try to win, a big effort," he said.
"We didn't get any points but we played well. It was a difficult game with 10 men... maybe a yellow card but (a) red card, I don't understand why the referee did it."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Early life. Di María was born on 14 February 1988 in Rosario, Argentina, as one of three children of Miguel and Diana, and grew up in Perdriel.As an infant, he was unusually active, and on recommendation of a doctor was signed up for football at age three.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores first competitive goal for Norwegian club Raufoss with overhead-kick winner Ikhsan Fandi (centre) cheering with his teammates after his first competitive goal for
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
Newport County goalkeeper Joe Day cuts short FA Cup celebrations to attend birth of twins His wife Lizzie had gone into labour before the match. A huge congratulations to 'Keeper Joe Day
Newport County goalkeeper's wife goes into labour after
A clinical Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0 away in an intense Copa del Rey semi-final, second leg on Wednesday as a Luis Suarez double helped them secure a 4-1 aggregate victory and a spot in the
R Madrid 0 - 3 Barcelona - Match Report & Highlights
Football: EPL bottom team Huddersfield condemn racist abuse of Philip Billing on social media LONDON (AFP) - Huddersfield Town have condemned the racist abuse of midfielder Philip Billing, with the English Premier League strugglers saying they have reported the incident to the police.
EPL news: Philip Billing racial abuse, racism in football
Five great Champions League comebacks. a penalty during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match FC Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain FC at the Camp Nou stadium in
Great football comebacks to inspire Liverpool in Champions
I think the contract is expired and I'm now under contract with Manchester United," Solskjaer told Norwegian podcast Fotballklubben. "I think we need a new contract there [at Molde]."
Solskjaer confirms his contract in Norway has expired
Football: Eriksen's late goal secures precious win for
Qualifying into the Champions League and Europa League from one of the top five leagues in Europe requires teams that lie in the top six. However, according to UEFA, these rules have some
Manchester City shows title credentials in derby win at Man
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Player Ratings as Kante strike scrapes three points The home side weren't far away from edging a point for themselves N'Golo Kante celebrates after netting the game
Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea: N'Golo Kante's goal sees off poor
Football: Arsenal's Ramsey set to cash in with Juventus move
Sport's News. We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
Neymar denies raping woman in Paris luxury hotel, dad calls it extortion PARIS • Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar yesterday denied raping a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Paris hotel, with his father claiming he was the victim of blackmail.
Neymar denies claims he raped a woman in Paris hotel saying
When Manchester City and Liverpool take to the field on the final day of the season tomorrow, it will be the eighth time in the Premier League era that the race for the title has gone down to the
Final-day hurrahs, Football News & Top Stories - The Straits
0 comments:
Post a Comment