Late Lucas Torreira heroics help Arsenal past Huddersfield
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ByEurosport
Updated 08/12/2018 at 17:33 GMT
Premier League, Emirates Stadium - Arsenal 1 (Torreira 83) Huddersfield Town 0
Lucas Torreira celebrates scoring for Arsenal against Huddersfield
Image credit: Getty Images
Lucas Torreira scored with a spectacular scissor-kick as Arsenal claimed an unconvincing 1-0 home win over Huddersfield to move into the top three.
Unai Emery's side produced a disjointed performance, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang well below his sparkling best for much of the match.
The Gabon captain was partnered with Alexandre Lacazette who also had an afternoon to forget, missing a golden opportunity before he was hooked off at half-time.
Huddersfield came with a gameplan and their combative display proved effective, with Arsenal growing frustrated in a bruising encounter.
With time ticking down, however, Torreira came up with a late empathic winner in the 83rd-minute when he netted with an acrobatic volley to win the game for Unai Emery's side and extend their unbeaten run to 21 games.
The win temporarily moves Arsenal third, with Tottenham and Chelsea yet to play this weekend. Huddersfield drop into the relegation zone following Burnley's win over Brighton.
TALKING POINT - More second-half joy for Arsenal
An amazing 21 games unbeaten now for Emery's side, but what is equally remarkable is that the Gunners have yet to hold a lead at half-time during the Spaniard's reign. Arsenal have now scored an incredible 26 second-half league goals this season, more than any other team. If anything, it proves that Emery's charges are now among the fittest teams in the league; they wear their opponents down and eventually their patience pays off. This is a game Arsenal may have drawn last season.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Lucas Torreira (Arsenal)
Quickly growing as an Emirates hero, the Uruguayan has proved over the last few days that there much more to his game than just breaking up and disrupting play. Growing in stature every week.
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Lucas Torreira scores for Arsenal against Huddersfield
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Leno 6, Bellerin 6, Sokratis 7, Mustafi 6, Kolasinac 6, Lichtsteiner 4, Torreira 8, Xhaka 7, Guendouzi 8, Lacazette 4, Aubameyang 6. Subs: Mkhitaryan 7, Iwobi 6, Monreal 6.
Huddersfield: Lossl 7, Smith 6, Zanka 5, Kongolo 6, Schindler 5, Lowe 6, Hogg 6, Williams 6, Mooy 5, Pritchard 5, Depoitre 5. Subs: Bacuna 5, Hadergjonaj 5, Durm 5.
KEY MOMENTS
28' - MISS! It's a sitter. Aubameyang is in the form of his life, but how does he not score here? Xhaka delivers a pin-point cross into the penalty area, but the former Dortmund forward inexplicably side-foots it over from a matter of yards out!
30' - ANOTHER MISS! This time it's Lacazette who is guilty of spurning a sitter. Guendouzi sets the Frenchman up on a plate with a squared pass, he only has the goalkeeper to beat but he slips at the crucial moment and balloons his effort into row-Z.
42' - GOAL CHALKED OFF! Lacazette has the ball in the back of the net, but it's not going to count. Aubameyang flicks on the header, Lacazette is an offside position, but Zanka intercepts and then plays a woeful pass-back short to his goalkeeper. Lacazette pounces, rounds the goalkeeper and converts, but his celebrations are cut short as the linesman had his flag raised the moment he touched the ball. Arsenal will feel that was a separate phase of play and that the goal ought to have counted.
45' - FANTASTIC SAVE! A save of the season contender, perhaps, from Lossl. He has to be at full stretch to tip over Torreira's goalbound effort from 25 yards. It was a great effort and a great save to match.
83' - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Huddersfield: It's been a long, long wait but Arsenal finally break the deadlock! Guendouzi fires a delightful cross for Aubameyang who controls beautifully at the back post. He feeds it to Torreira who finishes with an emphatic bicycle-kick from point-blank range. A lovely goal.
KEY STATS
- This game saw fewer shots on target (2) than any Premier League game since October 28th 2017 (Watford v Stoke - also 2).
- Arsenal are now 21 games unbeaten in all competitions (W16 D5 L0; their longest run without defeat since November 2007 (28 unbeaten).
- Arsenal haven't led any of their 16 Premier League games at half-time (drawing 11, losing four) but they have scored the most second half goals in the competition with 26.
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