Things went from bad to worse for Watford on Monday night, as captain Troy Deeney was sent off just minutes after Arsenal took an early lead. It was a nightmare start for the hosts, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pounced on a Ben Foster error to break the deadlock after just nine minutes. SEE MORE: Video: Foster horror blunder as Aubameyang pounces to give Arsenal lead Shortly after, Deeney received his marching orders from the referee after seemingly catching Lucas Torreira with an elbow, as seen in the video below. It looks rather innocuous on first glance, but the replays would suggest that the Watford ace may well have left his elbow out and certainly caught his rival. Either way, Craig Pawson deemed it worthy of a straight red card, and so Arsenal will fancy their chances of securing a crucial win as they continue to battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season to secure Champions League qualification. Troy Deeney sent off for elbow to the face of Torreira. What a fool. #WATARS pic.twitter.com/2nHbO0MKmg — Futbol Replays (@Futbol_Replays) April 15, 2019 ???? And of course malicious elbow is a red card. @T_Deeney is dumb as f*ck. Cost Watford a game. pic.twitter.com/M8hZCv705V — Jan (@ArsenalPoland) April 15, 2019<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Sign up to FREE email alerts from Football London - Arsenal Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Troy Deeney has a history with Arsenal and it's safe to say when he was sent off this evening at Vicarage Road, supporters of the Gunners had absolutely no sympathy. Deeney caught Lucas Torreira with a stray elbow and was subsequently sent off in the first half of Arsenal's tight 1-0 win at Watford, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang providing the decisive goal earlier in the game. Arsenal moved up to fourth in the Premier League thanks to the victory but the main talking point during and after the match was Deeney. That was always going to be the case considering Deeney's previous run-ins with Arsenal. The striker claimed in 2017 that Arsenal had 'no cojones' during the back end of Arsene Wenger's tenure. Fast-forward to Monday Night Football and there is no wonder that the reaction to Deeney's red card against Arsenal was something to behold. (Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images) Deeney was trending high on Twitter long after leaving the field and Arsenal fans simply couldn't stop laughing. Whilst a close game at Watford certainly made for a nervy finish, Arsenal fans who travelled to the match were all laughing their way home this evening as the social media reaction below highlights. Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android. Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.<doc-sep>Javi Gracia insists Troy Deeney's elbow did not merit a red card against Arsenal in Watford's 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road. Deeney was shown a straight red one minute by referee Craig Pawson after Arsenal took the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who converted by blocking a Ben Foster clearance. The narrow defeat means Watford are a point off seventh place in 10th. Gracia feels Deeney's challenge did not deserve a straight dismissal which means the club captain will miss games against Huddersfield, Southampton and Wolves. "I respect the referee's decision, but I don't agree [about Deeney's red card]," he told Sky Sports. "In my opinion it is a yellow card but never a red. I can't explain what the referee saw to make that decision. "It was an important one. I prefer to speak about my players who today deserve the recognition. We don't get points but we had a good performance and we keep playing with the same ambition and desire." Foster also spoke to Sky Sports' Patrick Davison post-match and he apologised for his blunder. 2:14 Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster apologised to his team-mates after being caught by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Arsenal's only goal at Vicarage Road He said: "I'm just gutted and I've said sorry to the lads and I'm sorry to the fans. I should have Cruyff-turned him to be honest but it's not really my style. "Daryl has played it back to me I've tried to drag it onto my left and then hit it out wide. But before I know it he was on me. "He's fast - he's absolutely rapid. I was talking to (Bernd) Leno walking off and he said 'it's not your fault, he's too quick'."<doc-sep>
Watford skipper Troy Deeney was shown red against Arsenal after being adjudged to have elbowed Lucas Torreira. Live stream the 2019 Hyundai A-League on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > The striker ran past Torreira and looked to have hit the midfielder in the face, though replays revealed his elbow did not make contact and it is unclear whether it was on purpose. MATCH REPORT: BIZARRE BLUNDER, RECKLESS RED GIFTS ARSENAL EDGE IN TOP FOUR BATTLE As Deeney was red-carded the Watford captain threw his shirt in disgust as he left his team one player down trailing 1-0 at home to the Gunners. The English forward then clashed with Arsenal manager Unai Emery as the pair exchanged words. READ MORE PREMIER LEAGUE: THE 5 DAYS THAT WILL DECIDE THE TITLE RACE ‘ABSOLUTELY BOSS’: THE SURPRISE KEY TO REDS’ TITLE SURGE REVEALED: WHY $520K-A-WEEK UTD STAR’S RETURN IS NO CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION Lucas Torreira was on the receiving end of a stray elbow. Source: Getty Images After the sending off, fans on Twitter were divided with the decision - with some agreeing it was a red, while others saw the dismissal was harsh. One said: “He knew exactly what he was doing.” Another said: “So soft.....players don’t care anymore they go down so easily.” One commented: “Correct call lads... deliberate strike onto head/face with hand/arm, goes under violent conduct, and force wasn’t negligible so red card offence.” Another commented: “This is why the premier league needs VAR Never a red card.” Ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 live: “The Arsenal players might be suggesting that Troy Deeney lacks brain cells tonight because that was sheer stupidity. A deserved red card.” Aubameyang first-half goal was enough for Emery’s men to take all three points away from Watford. The win means Arsenal knock London rivals Chelsea out of the top four and continue their quest for Champions League football next season. This story originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.