Considering their position in the table, Paul Clement’s Swansea side looked confident and stylish at the start of yesterday’s game against Arsenal, and for the first half an hour they looked like they could take something from the game, until Olivier Giroud got his customary goal a game to give the Gunners a half-time lead.
Arsene Wenger acknowledged that things didn’t really go Swansea’s way with Alex Iwobi’s two shots being deflected past Fabianski in our opponents goal, and it was a refreshing change from hearing him say that Arsenal were unlucky. He honestly told Arsenal.com after the match: “We had some problems to get going but I put that down to the fact that Swansea played very well in the first half. They were well-organised, they put unbelievable work in and certainly the second half we took over and they couldn’t follow the pace that we put into the game any more. We were relentless until the end and much sharper in the transitions and more accurate and quicker in our passing. That made a big difference.
“But overall, for them, I must say we were a bit fortunate with two goals and in their position of course it’s mentally difficult. But they should take some encouragement from their performance today because they have shown in the first half that they have quality, and when you are down there, of course it’s a vicious circle because you lack confidence. When you lack confidence you need a win and when you lose a game it’s even more difficult. I still feel they have enough quality to get out of it.”
On yesterday’s first half showing I would have to agree with Arsene, but the Swans’ second half collapse means they have now conceded 49 goals in just 21 League games. Perhaps Paul Clement should be looking at getting a couple of defenders in before the end of the month?
But it was a much needed win for Arsenal after Tottenham’s earlier runaway win, and we have moved up to 3rd place ahead of today’s games. We did what we had to do, and we now have another full weeks rest before next weeks home game against Burnley.
Onwards and Upwards!