Arsenal’s First Clean Sheet in the 2018-19 Premier League Away Game

DBasia.news –  Arsenal re-entered the Champions League zone after winning a narrow 1-0 victory against Watford at Vicarage Road, Week 34 of the Premier League, Tuesday (16/4) early morning Western Indonesian Time.

Arsenal, who still have one game postponed, are ranked fourth in the standings with 66 points, the same as Chelsea in fifth place and two points adrift of Manchester United in sixth place in the hunt for the Champions League zone.

The only goal in the match was created by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker moved quickly when Ben Foster received a backpass and tried to kick the ball. Aubameyang blocked the ball and deflected it into Watford’s goal.

The match was also marked by a red card received by Troy Deeney on the 46th minute for being considered elbowing Lucas Torreira. Despite playing with 10 players, the Hornets were still able to force Bernd Leno to make three saves from Craig Cathcart, Abdoulaye Doucoure, and Andre Gray’s opportunities.

The 1-0 position successfully maintained by Arsenal until the game broke up. Not only getting three points, Unai Emery’s Arsenal also for the first time in this season of the Premier League recorded a clean sheet away match.

“Arsenal have recorded a clean sheet away match for the first time under Unai Emery. They have to fight 10 players (Watford) to be able to do it,” said @quawka.

Leno needed 50 more saves when Arsenal played away from the Emirates Stadium to make the clean sheet record.  The German goalkeeper managed to do it in his 13th appearance on the away match.

Aubameyang also ended his goal fast in the away match since his last time scoring on Boxing Day, against Brighton & Hove Albion which ended in a 1-1 draw. It was Aubameyang’s 18th goal in the Premier League this season.

Nevertheless, Arsenal were supposed to be wasting opportunities in the game because they also should have been able to score more than one goal through the 19 attempted kicks they have created, plus possession of 67 percent. Not to mention the superiority of the players they have.

Emery remains satisfied with the results because Watford really troubles his team despite playing with 10 players.  Moreover, Watford played in front of their fans at Vicarage Road.

“Yes (satisfied with the final results). Three points I think are the most important things achieved today, but also I think we are working well with our structure, defending against the hull ball, and dead ball situations,” Emery said on the club’s official website.

“In some offensive moments, we had the opportunity to score the second goal but we didn’t. We had to endure in the last minute, very close to all players to anticipate the ball.”

In the next match Arsenal will visit the San Paolo, the headquarters of Napoli, in the Europa League quarter-final second leg on Friday (19/4) early morning, before entertaining Crystal Palace in Week 35 of the Premier League on Sunday (21/4) at 22.00 Western Indonesian Time.