Aubameyang Brace Not Enough As Arsenal Settle For Point At Watford

15th September 2019 - by Arsenal FC

With Alex Lacazette ruled out until the start of October, the Gabon international will be expected to shoulder much of the goalscoring burden

Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (R) controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on September 15, 2019. PHOTO | AFP

SUMMARY

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice but Arsenal FC were left kicking themselves after letting a two-goal lead slip to leave Watford with just a point
The hosts had had the better of the early knockings, and Arsenal were indebted to Bernd Leno for a fine save to deny Tom Cleverley before Jose Holebas sliced a shot over when well placed.
The Gunners made Watford pay in ruthless fashion when, minutes later, Dani Ceballos won the ball off Will Hughes, and Sead Kolasinac raced upfield with real intent before finding Aubameyang in the area

WATFORD, United Kingdom- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice but Arsenal FC were left kicking themselves after letting a two-goal lead slip to leave Watford with just a point.

With Alex Lacazette ruled out until the start of October, the Gabon international will be expected to shoulder much of the goalscoring burden – and after a quiet opening, he suddenly burst into life midway through the first half.

The hosts had had the better of the early knockings, and Arsenal were indebted to Bernd Leno for a fine save to deny Tom Cleverley before Jose Holebas sliced a shot over when well placed.

The Gunners made Watford pay in ruthless fashion when, minutes later, Dani Ceballos won the ball off Will Hughes, and Sead Kolasinac raced upfield with real intent before finding Aubameyang in the area.

There was still much to do, but the striker span away from Jose Holebas brilliantly before firing into the bottom corner. It was absolutely clinical.

Arsenal extended their advantage just after the half-hour mark when Mesut Ozil played the pass of the match to split the Watford defence and find Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the right, and he was able to pick out Aubameyang for his second of the afternoon.

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If the first half was relatively comfortable, the second half was anything but after the hosts took advantage of a Sokratis error as Tom Cleverley fired in from inside the area.

Suddenly the mood inside Vicarage Road changed as the home fans raised the volume, and Arsenal were now facing a very different challenge.

Ismaila Sarr soon dragged a shot wide when well placed, before fellow substitute Roberto Pereyra sent a backheel just wide of the far post as the hosts upped the pressure.

Emery’s side was up against it, and finally the pressure told when David Luiz tripped Roberto Pereyra just inside the area, and the Argentine slotted home the resulting penalty.

Gerard Deulofeu curled one inches wide of the far post with seven minutes remaining, before Cleverley saw a goalbound shot deflected over as the tension inside the ground rose further.

But there was to be no late twist – and Arsenal had to settle for a disappointing draw.