Arsenal edge past Swansea at The Emirates

(Video Highlights can be found at the bottom of the article)


Arsenal put in a laboured performance to win 1-0 against a committed Swansea side this afternoon. 


Arsenal started the game brightly as good movement from the Gunner's attacking arsenal allowed Ramsey to get a shot off after 55 seconds. Unfortunately he was unable to convert a difficult chance as it sailed over the bar. Arsenal continued their early pressure when they gained a free kick from 25 yards after Arteta was fouled. Again, despite the luxury of having two set piece experts in Arteta and Van Persie, the ball failed to find the back of the net.

Walcott needed medical assistance after 5 minutes and, taking into account his almost invisible display, hindsight suggests he probably should of exaggerated his injury and came off. Walcott is a very good player but pretty average when played out of position on the wings. Performances like this show exactly why.

Soon after Szczesny pulled of a brilliant save as a Graham header looked destined for the bottom corner of the net, although huge Pole had other ideas as he got down to palm the ball away.

In a match that had started as an attack vs defence exercise, Arsenal had their first clear cut chance 14mins in when Walcott had a shot cleared off the line from Caulker. It only seemed a matter of time before an Arsenal goal.

Swansea began to recover from a slow start to fire a 26th minute free kick over the bar. They continued to threaten 10 minutes later when a cross was drilled menacingly across the area. One touch and Arsenal would of found themselves a goal down despite their early dominance.

The Welsh side ontinued to crank up the pressure when Mertesacker was forced to throw his huge frame across to block a shot from just within the area.
However it was during the period of the first half when Arsenal looked least likely to score when they did.

A cock up from the Swansea keeper allowed Arshavin to slide the ball into an empty net from a tight angle

Swansea were determined not to let the goal get to them as the second half kicked off when Szczesny was forced to tip a Sinclair free kick onto the bar eight minutes into the second half.

In a relatively uneventful second half, Wenger tried to inject new life into the game by handing Israeli captain
his Arsenal debut in the place of Russian captain Arshavin.

Over the next 20 minutes Coquelin and Chamakh followed as Arsenal looked to close out the game. Swansea worked hard but only had a late Graham miss to show for it as the home side secured the three points.

It was hardly vintage stuff from Arsenal today, but after one of the poorest and demoralising openings to the season in recent memory it will more than do. Catching the two Manchester based juggernauts may be a tall order for this current Arsenal side,  but Liverpool may well be looking over their shoulders nervously as Arsenal close the gap to three while still looking like they are in second gear.

Man of the match: Gunnersaurus 8/10 


Moment of the Match: Arshavin goal. More specifically, his celebration

szólj hozzá: A1-0S