Villa climb out of relegation zone with 1-0 win over Arsenal; Sterling finds brace in Watford rout
Dean Smith urged Aston Villa to finish the job after they climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone as Trezeguet clinched a priceless 1-0 win against Arsenal on Tuesday. Smith’s side have their survival fate in their own hands after the Egypt winger’s first-half strike at Villa Park.
Watford’s 4-0 thrashing against Manchester City earlier on Tuesday had opened the door for Villa to escape the bottom three.
And Villa seized their chance with a first home Premier League win over Arsenal in 18 attempts dating back to 1998. Villa are now fourth bottom and have moved ahead of third-bottom Watford on goal difference, with Smith’s men on -26 compared to the Hornets’ -27.
They head to West Ham for their final game of the season on Sunday, while Watford visit Arsenal and second-bottom Bournemouth, three points from safety, travel to Everton. There are a multitude of permutations that could decide relegation, but Villa will be safe if they can better Watford’s result on what is certain to be a dramatic finale. If Villa and Watford both win, goal difference or goals scored will decide who goes down.
“It is a big boost, that’s for sure. We knew we had to get that win to catch Watford and now we have got the season in our own hands,” Smith said. “That’s all you can ask going into the last game. It was a great performance and an even better result against a good team who just beat two of the best teams in Europe.
“We have taken the season to the last day. Watford can go and win at Arsenal so we have to make sure we win at West Ham.”
Having secured an FA Cup final place by beating Manchester City on Saturday, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta made six changes and Arsenal looked a shadow of the team who impressed at Wembley.
Arsenal cannot finish higher than eighth and must win the FA Cup final against Chelsea to qualify for next season’s Europa League.
‘crazy low’ on confidence
Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster admitted the Hornets’ confidence is “crazy low” as they slipped into the relegation zone with one game of the Premier League season to go after being thrashed 4-0 at home by Manchester City.
A change of management did little good after Watford became the first Premier League team to sack three managers in a season when Nigel Pearson departed on Sunday, as City bounced back from their weekend disappointment of losing an FA Cup semi-final to Arsenal.
Raheem Sterling scored twice in the first half before Phil Foden and Aymeric Laporte rounded off a comprehensive City win as Pep Guardiola’s men won a fourth straight league game for the first time this season. The margin of defeat could send Watford down come the final day of the season on Sunday as they dropped into the bottom three on goal difference after Aston Villa’s win.
“I don’t think we helped ourselves, I don’t think we did enough to do anything but what the result suggested to be honest,” said Foster, who helped keep the score down with a string of saves. “The confidence is so crazy, crazy low.”
