Watford relegated from Premier League after fightback at Arsenal falls short

Watford’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, bringing their five-year top-flight stay to an end.

The Hornets, who sacked manager Nigel Pearson last week, came into their final game of the season knowing they would need to better Bournemouth’s result away to Everton and Aston Villa’s result away to West Ham to survive, but failed to claim the result they required despite a late fightback in north London.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty just 34 seconds in when a VAR review was used to adjudge Craig Dawson had fouled Alexander Lacazette in the box. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stepped up to convert from 12 yards out.

Kieran Tierney scored his first Arsenal goal to double the hosts’ advantage, side footing a tame finish into the far corner of the Watford net before the Scot turned provider to set up Aubameyang for a spectacular, scissor-kick third.

Troy Deeney gave Watford a lifeline by converting a penalty kick following a foul by David Luiz on Danny Welbeck in the box, with the former Gunner also finding the net himself in the second half. The Hornets gave themselves too much to do, though, suffering relegation along with Bournemouth and Norwich City.

Only those in the Watford dressing room and boardroom truly know the reasons behind the decision to sack Pearson with just two games of the season left to play. Whatever those reasons, the sacking didn’t pay off. The Hornets slipped into the bottom three and couldn’t fight their way out despite a spirited second half at the Emirates Stadium. The post-mortem of what went wrong will be painful.

2019/20 was a difficult season for Arsenal on the whole, but Aubameyang can look back on another successful campaign, taking his Premier League tally for the season to 22 goals with a brace in this match. There are real signs of an understanding developing between Aubameyang and Tierney down the left side, with this game a demonstration of what they bring to the table. Arsenal will now surely do all they can to keep Aubameyang at the club over the summer.

Arsenal - Martinez 7, Maitland-Niles 6, Luiz 5, Holding 5, Tierney 8, Xhaka 7, Willock 6, Ceballos 5, Pepe 6, Lacazette 6, Aubameyang 8. Subs - Kolasinac 5, Torreira 5, Nelson 4, Nketiah 4.

Watford - Foster 7, Femenia 5, Kabasele 5, Dawson 4, Masina 4, Doucoure 5, Hughes 7, Sarr 7, Pereyra 6, Welbeck 7, Deeney 7. Subs - Mariappa 5, Cleverley 4, Chalobah 5, Pedro 6.

4’ PENALTY KICK TO ARSENAL! Dean points to the spot and the home side will have the chance to take an early lead from the spot! Dawson knew that was coming.

5’ GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Watford: Aubameyang steps up to take the penalty kick and has no trouble in firing home his effort, sending Foster the wrong way. The Watford goalkeeper had no chance of stopping that. What a dreadful start to this match for the Hornets!

24’ GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Watford: That could be game over and Watford's hopes of avoiding the drop! Tierney scores his first goal as an Arsenal player, with his scuffed shot picking up a deflection and ending up in the back of the net! Is there any way back for the Hornets?

33’ GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Watford: Game over. There's surely no way back for Watford now. Aubameyang controlled a long throw and then, with his back to goal, fired home a scissor kick. What a finish from the Arsenal striker, but the defending from Watford was dreadful.

43’ PENALTY KICK TO WATFORD! Luiz is late with his tackle on Welbeck and the referee points to the spot!

43’ GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Watford: They couldn't, could they? Deeney steps up to the 12-yard mark and smashes home his penalty! He didn't care much about where it went, as long as it was on target and now Watford have given themselves a lifeline in this match!

66’ GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Norwich: Hello! HELLO! Watford are alive and kicking here! Welbeck gets in between the two Arsenal centre backs to meet the low cross into the six yard box and the former Gunners striker finishes from close range! Game well and truly on!

74’ WELBECK.... DENIED! Wow! What a moment that would have been! Sarr bursts into the penalty box and cuts it back for Welbeck. It was slightly behind Welbeck, he flicks it towards goal, but Martinez makes an astonishing diving save!

Danny Welbeck became the fourth player to score a goal at the Emirates Stadium for three different club sides after Eduardo Da Silva, Dimitar Berbatov and Younes Kaboul.

David Luiz conceded five penalties in the Premier League this season, the most conceded by any player in a single season.

Kieran Tierney became the first Scottish player to score for Arsenal since Scott Marshall in 1996.