Arsenal put 14 shots on goal against Huddersfield Town on Saturday at the Emirates. The only two that actually hit the target came from the Gunners’ diminutive defensive midfielder. And it was an incredible Lucas Torreira goal vs Huddersfield that saved Arsenal from dropping points for the second time this week in a 1-0 victory.
Unai Emery opted to start strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette up front together but the Gunners really never had much cohesion in attack. Arsenal’s only first-half shot on target was a blistering long-range effort from Torreira, which Jonas Lössl barely palmed away for a corner.
Arsenal thought it had gone in front through Lacazette in the first half, but the assistant referee ruled Lacazette offside on a pass from a Huddersfield defender, which was a bit baffling to the thousands in the Emirates.
Arsenal also had two penalty shouts turned away by being shown yellow cards for simulation.
Finally, it came down to the smallest man on the pitch to find the winner.
In the 83rd minute, Matteo Guendouzi lobbed the ball into the box where Aubameyang stuck with it to lob a cross into the middle of the park where Torreira was left all alone. Maybe he was too small to see, but the goal was massive.
WHAT. A. GOAL. @Arsenal take a late lead! pic.twitter.com/6XU0csnZee
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 8, 2018
Emery loved it.
Emery’s reaction to Torreira’s goal is just the best. pic.twitter.com/RFDAhHB30d
— Pádraig (@afcpadraig) December 8, 2018
As did these fans.
.@Arsenal fans went WILD after that late @LTorreira34 goal! pic.twitter.com/RlYGdvIdhd
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 8, 2018
The Lucas Torreira goal vs Huddersfield at least momentarily moved the Gunners back above Tottenham and Chelsea into third place.