Arsenal are one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League after they saw off stubborn Watford at the weekend to take their winning run to three games in the competition.

Watford arrived at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with a two-point cushion over the relegation zone and they were keen to frustrate London rivals Arsenal in the bid to leave with one point at least. Arsenalcame into the game on the back of a three-match winning run in all competitions and a two-match winning run in Premier League terms.

Hosts Arsenal could not break the resolve of the Hornets until the second half when Emile Smith-Rowe scored to give the Gunners all three points. Gabonese striker Pierre-EmerickAubameyang started the Watford game as the lone Arsenal striker and his team would have won the Premier League encounter comfortably if he was switched on in front of the Hornets goal. Pierre-EmerickAubameyang was uncharacteristically off-colour and that made the game a cagey affair.

Pierre-EmerickAubameyang has scored in each of his last four games at home in the league this season and he was given the chance to make it five games in a row when Watford left-back Danny Rose fouled Alexandre Lacazette in the box in the first half. Aubameyang fluffed his lines as he was unable to score from the spot thanks to Ben Foster in the Watford goal. Foster saved his penalty to ensure that the two teams went into the break on level terms. Earlier, a poor touch denied Pierre-EmerickAubameyang a sixth minute goal and he thought fellow attacker Bukayo Saka had spared his blushes before the goal was chalked off for offside.

Aubameyang denied Arsenal substitute Martin Odegaard the chance to wrap up the win in the second half with a second goal after he touched his shot on its way to the back of the net from an offside position. Odegaard would have doubled the lead given to the Gunners by England midfielder Smith-Rowe eleven minutes into the second half. The winner from Smith-Rowe took his tally for the season to four goals in the Premier League and five goals in all competitions. With the 1-0 win over Watford, Arsenal are now on a four-game winning run in all competitions plus a ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions. It must be pointed out that eight of those games are in the Premier League.