MX23RW : Friday, March 29 05:37:38| >> :120:17634:17634:
[monks data]
Attendance: 20,480
Watford logo
Premier League | Gameweek 34
Apr 15, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-1)

Javi Gracia left confused over Troy Deeney's red card against Arsenal

Gracia left confused over Deeney's red card
© Reuters
'I don't agree, but I respect the referee's decision,' said the Spaniard.

Watford head coach Javi Gracia was left perplexed by the decision to send off Troy Deeney during the early stages of his side's Premier League defeat to Arsenal.

The Hornets saw their skipper dismissed with 11 minutes on the clock during the 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road after referee Craig Pawson liaised with his assistant before brandishing the red card following a challenge on Lucas Torreira – with replays suggesting his forearm struck the midfielder in the face.

Arsenal had taken the lead less than two minutes earlier as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pounced on Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, who was dallying in possession, to score the only goal as the Gunners picked up a rare away win to return to the top four.

Watford's Troy Deeney (second left) speaks to Arsenal's Granit Xhaka
Watford's Troy Deeney (second left) speaks to Arsenal's Granit Xhaka (John Walton/PA)

But it was Deeney's red card which left Gracia scratching his head as his players then still dominated the game despite Arsenal's numerical advantage.

"I don't agree, but I respect the referee's decision," said the Spaniard.

"It is maybe a yellow card, but red card? I don't understand why the referee did it.

"I prefer not to speak only about that. He (Deeney) hasn't got to explain anything to me, I could see the play and I could see the contact with his arm but never with his elbow.

"What can I say? I don't understand the decision but we respect it. We tried to look for the resolution.

Javi Gracia was bewildered
Javi Gracia was bewildered (Steven Paston/PA)

"There is a contact but it is not with his elbow, it is with his arm or hand, I don't know which part exactly.

"I never saw an aggressive movement. I don't understand why the referee took that decision."

Watford would go on to strike the woodwork twice as Gracia's FA Cup finalists still outshone their visitors even with Deeney back in the dressing room.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has been batting away questions over the club's poor away form in recent weeks.

He takes his side to Italy for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final clash with Napoli on Wednesday having picked up just a sixth away league win over the season – and their first since winning at rock bottom Huddersfield on February 9.

Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates
Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (right) celebrates (John Walton/PA)

"The three points is, I think, the most important thing today," he said.

"But also, I think we worked well being consistent in our structure, defending their long balls and set-pieces.

"Here they are a very strong team at doing that. After, with the ball I wanted to do better, I wanted to control better with the possession of the ball and with one player more on the pitch.

"We needed to defend in the last minutes, very close with everybody to their good action in the long balls, and the second action to be good in defensive moments."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Mark Mann-Bryans, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'd69fa0a0-c38a-49f3-8085-50f1bb272f5c');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Watford boss Gracia baffled by Troy Deeney\u2019s red card in Arsenal defeat'});

ID:356401: cacheID:356401:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9680:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Unai Emery in charge of Arsenal on March 14, 2019
Read Next:
Unai Emery called Javi Gracia for advice on Arsenal job
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!