Wenger – Swansea Showed Quality

The Swans were dominant in the first half of the game and certainly should have found themselves ahead by the time the first goal was scored by Olivier Giroud early in the second half for the Gunners.

That was not enough to see the visitors take the game by the scruff of the neck but the second goal changed that when the referee adjudged that there had been no foul on Fabianski despite it looking like one that is given every weekend of the season.

Speaking after the game, the Arsenal boss said “It is always a difficult game, we were a bit edgy [in the first half] but in fairness Swansea showed quality again today.

“They are maybe going through a spell where they have less confidence but they are a good side. In the first half, it was difficult but in the second half we upped our purpose, our tempo and had more purpose in our passing, with pace in our combinations.

“Once we scored the first goal we were the dominant team and won the game normally.

“We had a difficult first half but we came through it. I rested eight players on Wednesday and gave them a little breather this week, and it took us a little while to get into the tempo of the game.

“I am pleased because we could keep a clean sheet during the difficult moments of the game and you are never in a hurry to take too many risks going forward. Once we scored the first goal it was a completely different game.”

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