Dennis' goal inside 17 seconds disallowed, Kalu debuts as Watford lose 5-goal thriller to Arsenal

Published: March 06, 2022

Arsenal have moved into the UEFA Champions League places with a 3-2 win over Watford at Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon.

Defeat for the Hornets means they remain in the bottom three with nineteen points from 27 games.

Emmanuel Dennis was named in the starting lineup as expected and there was a first squad involvement under Roy Hodgson for Oghenekaro Etebo while fit-again Samuel Kalu started on the bench.

Super Eagles assistant captain William Troost-Ekong missed out on the matchday squad due to a muscle issue.

Dennis thought he had scored his fastest goal in English football when he found the net inside seventeen seconds but his celebration was cut short by an offside flag.

Within five minutes, Arsenal took the lead through their Norwegian star Martin ødegaard as he applied the finishing touch to a team move but the pick of the goals was clearly Cucho Hernandez's superb overhead kick that got Watford back on level terms, with Dennis involved in the build-up to the brilliant strike in the 11th minute.

Another well worked Arsenal move saw onetime Nigerian Federation target Bukayo Saka restore the Gunners advantage on the half hour mark.

Gabriel Martinelli made it 3-1 with a stunning goal in the 52nd minute.

Dennis had an opportunity to reduce the arrears but mistimed his kick at the back post after Femenía's brilliant cross from the right in the 72nd minute.

Moussa Sissoko pegged one back in the 87th minute to set up a nervy ending.

Signed from Bordeaux on January 26, Kalu made his long overdue debut for Watford when he came off the bench to replace Tom Cleverley in the 89th minute.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : watfordfc.com

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