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
She explains the two types of workplace respect, how to communicate them, and what happens when you don't foster both. Or is this a place right now where people feel if they share their best
The 4 Kinds of Professional Respect: Which Ones Have to Be
Football: Liverpool ease past Bayern 3-1 to reach Champions
Watford's Andre Gray celebrates at the end of the match against Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road in Watford, March 16, 2019. ― Reuters pic. LONDON, March 16 ― Andre Gray came off the bench to fire Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with the late winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace today.
PDF Super-sub Andre Gray sends Watford into FA Cup semis
Agree he should be sacked but he won't be. Player power has been a problem at Chelsea for years, all the players have been replaced many times over so it must be in the culture of the place. Won't change as Ambramovich has shown over and over again that the players are more important and have more power than the manager.
Football news - Son set for Spurs as Hatem wonder strike
The Toffees will come into clash with much confidence after winning their last league clash 2-0 against Chelsea as they look to end the Hammers' six home win streak.
West Ham 0-2 Everton REPORT: Bernard and Zouma secure
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala Date created : 16/02/2019 - 17:35 Relatives and friends are pictured through a screen during the wake of late Argentine football
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to
Claude Puel has spoken of his "honour" at being given the opportunity to manage Leicester following his sacking at the weekend. The 57-year-old Frenchman's 16-month reign came to an end after
Sacked Puel says an 'honour' to manage Leicester - World
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/02/25/sacked-puel-says-an-honour-to-manage-leicester/
London (AFP) - Claude Puel has spoken of his "honour" at being given the opportunity to manage Leicester following his sacking at the weekend. The 57-year-old Frenchman's 16-month reign came to an end after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, Leicester's sixth defeat in seven matches.
Claude Puel: Sacked Leicester boss says it was his 'honour
Wu Lei makes history for China in La Liga Posted on March 2, 2019 by yasir kaneria in Sports Wu, who was named the Chinese Super League's player of the year in November, joined Espanyol in January and was making his fifth appearance for the club at their RCDE Stadium.
Wu Lei makes history for China PR in La Liga - the-afc.com
Jurgen Klopp has vowed that Liverpool will remain positive as they battle for the Premier League title despite a wobble that has enabled Manchester City to seize the initiative. Liverpool's destiny is no longer in their own hands after a goalless draw in Sunday's Merseyside derby allowed Pep
With Silva, Portugal no more just the Ronaldo show, Football
A lot of work to do. Defensively, I like that we won the ball higher up the pitch at times. But we still look like we can't keep up with the opposition when we have to defend in our half. And the passing out the back was not very good. Cech is not cut out for this level anymore. And Bellerin continues to look below average.
Arsenal transfer news: 'Gunners, Crystal Palace and Leicester
0 comments:
Post a Comment