You would have thought that Arsenal would have been feeling confident after beating Chelsea in midweek, and with Swansea being right down the had a of the League, but it didn’t look like that in the first 15 minutes. Swansea had far more of the ball than Arsenal and looked much more dangerous, and in the 15th minute they had a very close penalty claim, which would normally be given against Arsenal lol.
But it was denied and Arsenal went straight down the other end and had a shout of their own, but there was no way that Lee Mason could give that one so quickly after denying Swansea. A quarter of the way through the game, Arsenal had much more possession as usual but hadn’t tested Fabianski once, while Swansea have had 3 good chances. On 26 minutes they cut through the Arsenal defence again but Elneny (who seems to be a defender today!) cuts it out, and from the corner Mawson smashed a shot that went just wide of Cech’s post.
Then we straight down the other end and Iwobi gets our best chance of the game but Fabianski denied him at the post. but finally on the half hour, a lovely cross from Mesut Ozil finds that man again Nacho Monreal at the far post and he slots it past our old reserve keeper. Arsenal take the lead, probably against the run of play.
Swansea put their heads down and and within five mins drew level when our defence was split open again and left Clucas one-on-one with Cech, and suddenly the Swans were back in the game. 1-1 – typical Arsenal! The game is looking a bit too open for my liking…
The rain continues to pour down and there are likely to be more errors in this gam, but can we just get to half-time without conceding? Arsenal seemed to be trying to be more precise with their passing and hold on to the ball longer, but the first time they give it away Fer runs through to Cech’s goal but his shot was a bit weak to get past our big Number One.
Swansea defended in numbers but are always looking for a quick break, but close to the end of the first half Xhaka tried one of his trademark long shots but was well over the bar, so it goes in half-time at 1-1 and it is still all to play for. Arsenal had 70% possession in the first half, but Swansea had 7 attempts to Arsenal’s 5. No change there then!
The second half starts with Swansea happy to relax in numbers in defence and are closing down wherever the ball is with an Arenal player, and Arsenal are caped in the opponents half but with little penetration. But when Swansea get out of their half they are going straight for the jugular. h 30 minutes left Arsenal are trying to find room in the packed Swansea area but Ozil just gets off a weak shot, while Mkhitaryan is warming up at last. Maybe he could find a way through…
He comes on to replace Elneny, who has actually been one of our best players but could be tiring and has been booked. But what a start he gets as within the next minute Arsenal go behind when Cech completely mishits an easy clearance and it goes straight to Ayew just a few metres out and even Iwobi couldn-t miss from there! Arsenal are looking like having another nightmare on the road, and can you believe that is the first time the Swans have scored two goals this season!
Arsenal needed to step up the tempo and its a shame our first chance went to Iwobi who shoots far over the bar. Wenger must be getting worried as he has Giroud warming up. But we can-t sacrifice a defender with Swansea looking so dangerous on the break…
Swansea are looking much more confident and get a great place for a free kick when Bellerin gets a silly booking, and when it came into the box Cech looked to be flapping again. The defence is incredibly nervous and Dyer is given a golden chance to make it 3/1 but just shoots a tiny bit wide. I hope they regret that but we need a bit of magic from our forwards very soon…
Arsenal are trying though and Mhki gets his first chance for Arsenal but he didn-t have any power on a perfect cross from Ozil, but was offside anyway. So with 15 minutes to go Wenger brings on Giroud in desperation and removes Iwobi at last. Can he save us one last time before leaving tomorrow, possibly ?and we would probably be happy with a point right at that moment.
Swansea are tired and digging in in their final quarter while Arsenal try to find a way through the forest of players, but time ticks away and and the Swans keeping their shape, which seems to work very well.
On 8 minutes to go Ramsey gets a free header as the pressure builds but it is just a tiny bit high for him, but there were little gaps appearing in the bus. But Swansea break again, and another awful clearance from Monreal this time, allows Ayew a chance to power into the box and Clucas somehow pokes it in and makes it 3-1. Arsenal have surely run out of time and we have more proof that Arsenal can’t play away from the Emirates. Oh and our defenders are looking ike the Keystone Kops this season…
You couldn’t make it up, and with Tottenham and Man City coming up in the next four weeks, we can probably see any chance of the Top Four receding rapidly into the distance unless Aubameyang can perform miracles…
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