It could have been so different if some of our early play had seen the Swans taken the early lead with Angel Rangel guilty of missing the best chance of the game in the first half after a typically slick Swans move that started at the back and ripped through Arsenal like the proverbial knife through butter.
But that was probably about the high point of the game with the Swans rarely threatening the visitors goal after that moment and finding themselves under sustained periods of pressure – many of them bought about through their own sloppiness in giving the ball away too easily.
It would be difficiult to build any form of case that would suggest that anyone other than the best team on the day won but it took two late goals – including one in stoppage time – to give Arsenal the win that they so craved that has moved them – for now at least – within 2 points of the Top four finish that they want.
Leon Britton and Nathan Dyer were both back in the starting line up with Wayne Routledge and Luke Moore dropping to the banch as the Swans looked for a stronger midfield trio in Britton, De Guzman and Ki to combat the obvious threat that they would receive from Arsenal.
And it started well enough as the Swans looked to enforce their passing game on Arsenal who were once seen as the pass masters in the Premier League. In truth if you look at the match stats the Swans attempted and completed more passes than their opponents (545 from 619 compared to 384 from 454) but the reality seemed to be that of those 74 mis placed passes most were in the Swans on third and seemed to place us back immediately under pressure.
Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain smacked the bar with Vorm well beaten during the first half as Arsenal looked for the breakthrough and the previously mentioned Rangel chance were the best chances of the first 45 minutes and it was no real surprise when the half ended goalless as both keepers were relatively quiet during that period with the game flowing well with very little room for stoppage or the need of a referee whistle.
However, towards the end of the first half the signs had been there that Arsenal were getting the upper hand and that theme continued in the second half with large amounts of the play in the Swans half backed out by overall match stats of 57% possession for the Swans but less than 38% of this being a territorial advantage.
The Swans goal was coming under increasing pressure and some late ditch challenges were keeping in intact as Michael Laudrup made changes to his personnel but to little influence on the game with the Swans very much on the backfoot during this period.
The goal when it arrived was sloppy but then again it was one of those games that it couldn’t have been anything else. The Swans looked to have enough numbers to clear the danger but a low shot found it’s way through three defenders and past Vorm to give Arsenal the lead to the delight of the vocal travelling support.
You felt – or was that hoped – that this may spur the Swans into a fightback which could at least see a pulsating last 20 minutes but it really wasn’t to be as Arsenal had the stronghold that they wanted and despite our best endeavours there was never a chance that we were to equalise in the game.
The second goal was a breakout from a Swans attack which saw Arsenal break two on one and as Girohu advanced on Vorm he struck home low beyond the keeper to double the visitors lead.
Only Everton and Norwich had escaped the Liberty with maximum points this season but Arsenal about to record their first win on the ground at their third attempt.
By no stretch of the imagination was this the Swans at their best indeed it wasn’t even close to it but we still have every chance of ensuring that our current 9th place is the lowest we finish this season but we do need to step up a little with Spurs, Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd all to come in our last 8 games. Disappointing afternoon but we move onwards and back again in two weeks when Arsenal’s North London rivals are in Town.
