Arsenal analysis: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ends away drought as Gunners enjoy Troy Deeney revenge

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James Olley15 April 2019

Arsenal reclaimed fourth spot in the Premier League and improved their dismal away form as they recorded a narrow 1-0 over Watford on Monday night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang profited from a dismal Ben Foster error to score the only goal of the evening - his 18th in the top-flight this season - at Vicarage Road, shortly before Hornets captain Troy Deeney received a straight red card for elbowing Lucas Torreira.

While Arsenal leapfrogged Manchester United and Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification, mid-table FA Cup finalists Watford missed out on the chance to jump above Everton, Wolves and Leicester into seventh.

James Olley assesses the key talking points for Arsenal...

Arsenal back into the top four with precious away win

This was more uncomfortable than it really should have been given the gift of the opening goal and a man advantage for 79 minutes, but Arsenal held on for a vital win which sees them climb back into the Premier League’s top four above Chelsea on goal difference.

It was also the Gunners' first away win of any description since February 9 and their maiden victory on the road against a team currently in the top half of the table.

The result mattered far more than the performance and this should provide a timely confidence boost given Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Napoli and the fact three of their remaining five league games are away from the Emirates Stadium.

Aubameyang ends away drought

Head over heels: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his 18th goal of the season against Watford 
Getty Images

Aubameyang netted his 18th league goal of the season but his first since Boxing Day away from home. It was surely his most fortuitous strike yet but nevertheless reward for his endeavour, closing down Watford goalkeeper Foster, who delayed his clearance sufficiently to thrash the ball against the Arsenal striker and back into his own net.

Much has been made of Arsenal’s poor defending on the road since the turn of the year but a late flurry from Aubameyang in their final few matches would be a welcome boost.

Arsenal enjoy Deeney revenge

Troy Deeney was furious after being sent off just 11 minutes into the match
REUTERS

Deeney was in the midst of testing Arsenal’s “cojones” once again, after making those now infamous post-match comments in the corresponding fixture last season, when closing down Torreira during a spell of sterile Arsenal possession.

What followed was a challenge which probably had the aim of merely letting the Uruguayan know he was on the pitch but instead his forearm connected with Torreira’s face and, suddenly, Watford were a goal and a man down.

Deeney furiously protested his innocence – even appearing to exchange words with Arsenal head coach Unai Emery as he walked off – but his error of judgement merely handed the visitors an initiative they gleefully grasped.

Mavropanos makes rare outing

Konstantinos Mavropanos looked nervy for Arsenal on his first senior start since May 2018 
AFP/Getty Images

Sokratis Papastathopoulos’ domestic suspension forced Emery into at least one change tonight but it was still a surprise to see Konstantinos Mavropanos make his first start in almost a year.

The 21-year-old last featured on May 9 against Leicester, where he was sent off 15 minutes into a 3-1 defeat and he made an equally nervy start here as Arsenal looked shaky at the back, regardless of their numerical superiority following Deeney’s 11th-minute dismissal.

Emery had seen enough after 59 minutes, replacing Mavropanos with Matteo Guendouzi and changing from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-2-1 – Mesut Ozil was introduced at the break for Torreira – in an effort to help Arsenal see the game out.

That switch lasted just nine minutes however as Emery then reverted to a back four with the introduction of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who made a superb last-ditch block to keep out Andre Gray’s late effort.

Somehow, they held on for their first away league clean sheet of the season.

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