Foster howler hands Arsenal victory as Deeney sees red

A game that was destined to be decided by a single moment of individual brilliance or a mistake ended up being just that as Watford were defeated by Arsenal at Vicarage Road. Arsenal's away form has been a big worry for them all season, with recent defeats leaving fears in North London that the top 4 will not be made. 

The opening ten minutes was actually dominated by Watford, with Arsenal's defence looking particularly shaky in the opening moments. In fact Watford were in control right up until the calamitous error by Ben Foster, who took far too much time on the ball and Aubameyang followed up and rebounded the ball into the bottom left corner.

Just seconds after that shocking mistake, Troy Deeney was sent off for striking the head of Lucas Torreira who was looking to pass the ball inside his own half. It seemed a very harsh red card by referee Craig Pawson, but it was also a very clumsy lead by Deeney, and perhaps a little bit naive of the Englishman to lead in in that manner. 

From then on Arsenal dominated possession, but it was almost exclusively inside their own half and Watford were not really threatened again in the first half.

The second half was a very open one with many chances for both sides, Henrikh Mkhitaryan had an incredible chance on 56 minutes but managed to not put a volley from 6 yards out into the back of the net, whilst Adam Masina had an outstanding shot hit the cross bar from 30 yards out that would have been a contender for goal of the season had it sailed in.

Watford had a few more chances too, Andre Gray spurned a couple, with his first touch letting him down on both occassions, whilst Arsenal had chance after chance in the second half, in what was a very open, end-to-end encounter. 

In the end, Arsenal did enough to hold on, and will move up to 4th in the table. They have 66 points now, Tottenham have 67 in 3rd place, with Chelsea in 5th on 66 points but with a lower goal difference and Manchester United sitting in 6th on 64 points. Watford remain in 10th, but if they win their game in hand, they will be 7th, with the race for the Europa League spot well and truly on.