Swansea v Arsenal review – Defeat after leading tells the same old story

Arsenal were given a boost for this Premier League away game with Swansea City before the game had even kicked off. Because the home side had lost one of their first choice centre backs as well as both of their pacy wide men Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge, while the Gunners had just one change from Tuesday and that was Flamini for the injured Arteta.

Even so, Arsene Wenger set his Arsenal side up to be a bit cautious and beware of the quick counter attack. So both teams were fairly tentative at the start, passing the ball around well without creating too much. But it was the home side that started to come out of their shells aftyer about 20 minutes and they started to cause us problems, winning a string of corners and getting crosses in from the flanks.

SWansea wanted a penalty after Chambers was a bit clumsy banging in to the back of Bony but it would have been harsh. But Arsenal did respond and started to get threaten more ourselves, with Ramsey’s fierce shot being deflected a bit unluckily. But the danger of getting fowards was clear as we nearly conceded on the counter with both full backs caught up the pitch.

Welbeck nearly broke the deadlock just before the break after some intricate play around the box by Cazorla and Alexis but former Gunner Fabianski was well positioned to block his shot. And then Ramsey put a volley just wide. And Mertesacker had a free header from a corner on the stroke of halftime but was well off target.

Apart from that though, we had not created much and for once had enjoyed less possession. Maybe playing Alexis and Welbeck almost as a front two left us a bit light in midfield. But we started the second half as we had ended the first, a bit more on the front foot.

But with an hour gone and still no goal, the onus was on the Gunners. With rain sheeting down, Cazorla’s low drive was a good idea but again Fabianski was up to it. And the weather made a slick passing game harder and direct running more dangerous. So it seemed to be crying out for Walcott.

It was our pace that got the opener, Chamberlain picking the ball up and driving foward, finding Welbeck on the right who showed great awareness to cut back and find Alexis who smashed it in. Great goal. But Swansea made a good fightback and pressed forward and pressed us hard, forcing a few mistakes in possession.

One of those led to the breakaway that Gibbs stopped with a foul and from the free kick Sigurdsson produced a stunning equaliser with 15 minutes to go. THere is not much you can do when someone scores a cracker but it was us giving the ball away that put us in that position.

And just as we have done all season, Arsenal’s defence went missing and allowed Montero to cross and Gomis to score again from a free header. On came Walcott and Wilshere with 10 minutes left, but was it too late? Swansea frustrated us and apart from Walcott failing to control a great ball from Wilshere we did not look like scoring.

It was our season so far in miniature and if Wenger does not get us defending better, there are plenty more disappointing days like this ahead.