Key Events So Far
- Walcott hits the bar
- Fer misses great chance to equalise!
- Theo Walcott hits the post!
- XHAKA HAS BEEN SENT OFF! It's Barrow who causes them problem...
- SWANSEA ARE BACK IN IT AGAIN! Barrow takes his time to slide...
- BIRTHDAY BULLET! Ozil marks his 28th year on Earth with an o...
- Half-time: Arsenal 2-1 Swansea City
- CHANCE! Cech saves from Amat
- SWANSEA ARE BACK IN IT! Xhaka gifted the visitors that chanc...
- TWO FOR THEO! Atrocious defending from Swansea. A corner dro...
- ARSENAL SQUEEZE IT IN! Ozil scooped a ball to the back post ...
- Arsenal's Mustafi hits the bar!
5. Welcome to English football, Bob Bradley
The great thing about Swansea was that they refused to buckle during times when Arsenal were so on top.
Bradley’s team stayed strong, kept fighting and even though they lack some quality they are clearly up for the fight.
Maybe Bradley can be a good appointment for Swansea.
4. Theo Walcott not the same man we saw for England
Walcott had two disappointing games for England and yet had scored twice within the opening 33 minutes for Arsenal. That obviously begs the question… Why can’t he do that for England?
It is utterly bizarre but surely raises more questions about England than the player. Why can’t England get the best out of a player in good form? Why does England seem to be such a burden?
Either way, Walcott perhaps provides a fascinating snapshot as to what is wrong with England. They can do it for their clubs but not for their country. Maybe that’s a fault with England rather than the players.
3. Wenger will never find a cure to the Arsenal virus
Arsene Wenger said at his press conference that negativity spreads through fans like a virus.
Wenger said: ”I must say that the negativity comes very quickly,” said the Frenchman, 66. “It is a virus that travels very quickly and goes away very slowly.”
Sure enough, even when Swansea made it 2-1, the Arsenal fans got nervous. When it went to 3-2 and Granit Xhaka was sent off, it almost became unbeatable.
Only when Arsenal were clinging on did some fans rally again but the negativity among some supporters.
2. Granit Xhaka needs to learn some discipline
This was an awful day for Arsenal’s £34million midfielder.
First his mistake - being caught on the ball - gifted Swansea a goal thanks to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s brilliant finish.
Then Xhaka’s rash challenge on Modou Barrow saw him sent off.
Despite being Swiss captain, Xhaka needs to calm down and learn where to play and when to clear.
1. Swansea are Arsenal’s bogey team
Swansea have taken seven points from their three previous visits to the Emirates.
Maybe that explains the nerves and worry every time Swansea dragged themselves back into the contest.
Swansea refused to buckle and they always haunt Arsenal.
Arsenal 3-2 Swansea City: 5 things we learned
Arsenal gave Bob Bradley a brutal welcome to the Premier League.
Theo Walcott scored twice in the first half as he pounced on mistakes by Jordi Amat and Jack Cork to fire Arsenal into a comfortable lead.
But former USA coach Bradley, in charge of his first game since taking charge atSwansea, must have thought his team were back in it after an awful mistake by Granit Xhaka presented Gylfi Sigurdsson with a chance which he finished brilliantly after 38 minutes.
Arsenal looked a little nervous until Mesut Ozil restored their two goal lead with a brilliant goal after 57 minutes as he volleyed home Alexis Sanchez’s cross.
But Arsenal pressed the self destruct button when first substitute Gonzalez Borja Boston scored from Modou Barrow’s cross to put Swansea right back in it after 66 minutes.
Then Xhaka’s afternoon went from bad to worse when he was sent off in the 70th minute for a cynical foul on Barrow to leave Arsenal clinging on with ten men.
Here are 5 things John Cross learned at The Emirates.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-2 Swansea City
What a game. Arsenal stormed into a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a brace from Theo Walcott, but Gylfi Sigurdsson capitalised on a mistake from Granit Xhaka to pull one back for Swansea City before the half-time whistle.
The Gunners pulled away after the break with Ozil scoring a brilliant third. A rush of blood from Xhaka saw him head for an early shower, giving Swansea a glimmer of hope - and they took it. Substitute Borja Baston converted a cross from Barrow to make it 3-2.
In a frantic final 20 minutes both teams missed chances to score and Arsenal held on to win all three points.
Welcome to the Premier League Bob Bradley.
Walcott hits the bar
This is end-to-end stuff.
Swansea City’s Fede Fernandez heads straight at Petr Cech, before Arsenal go up the other end and Bellerin is denied by Fabianski.
Moments later Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain laid the ball into the path of Theo Walcott who should have scored a hat-trick, but he managed to clip the top of the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Time to take a breath.
FULL TIME! A whirlwind end to this game as Arsenal manage to tiptoe over the line to pick up their sixth straight win. At 3-1 the Gunners were cruising, but Borja's goal and Xhaka's red card made things very interesting. Defeat for Bob Bradley in his first Swansea game, which has given him a lot to chew on tonight. That's all from us, thanks for tuning in!
WALCOTT REALLY SHOULD HAVE HIS HAT-TRICK! Oxlade-Chamberlain's power takes him past his man and he's got the option of a shot or a pass. He chooses the latter, but Walcott smacks his finish onto the crossbar!
Deep into stoppage time now and Arsenal have passed up a great chance to wrap this up as Bellerin scampers to the near post past his marker, but can't prod his finish past Fabianski!
Overall Possession Ratio
- ArsenalKey color for Arsenal
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession
CECH SAVES AGAIN! After a probing piece of play from Swansea, Rangel swings in a cross to the back post where Fernandez rises to get his head on the ball, but there's not enough direction to seriously trouble the keeper!
Fer misses great chance to equalise!
This is tense. Leroy Fey rises above this grounded marker and heads straight at Petr Cech.
The Dutchman should have done more with that chance - he didn’t have anyone challenging him for the ball.
He’s the man Swansea would have wanted in that position and he’ll be disappointed he didn’t do more with that.
Every single player bar Fabianski is camped in the Arsenal half now as Swansea desperately seek an equaliser. This is a great opportunity for them to get a point, when a defeat seemed inevitable.
DOWN THE THROAT OF CECH AGAIN! Swansea manufacture a great chance to tie things up as Naughton's in-swinging cross from the right-hand side is past Mustafi and headed on goal by Fer, but he can't beat the keeper.
Theo Walcott hits the post!
Arsenal hit Swansea City on the counter-attack at breakneck speed with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain teeing up Theo Walcott, who steps inside his marker and wraps his foot around the ball to curl a well-struck shot against the post.
The ball dribbles across the goal-line and away from danger. So close. Swansea City still hanging on in there.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil make way for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs.
Strangely, Bradley takes off Barrow and brings on Angel Rangel.
Seven minutes of normal time to play.
No one is leaving this game early as the action surges from end to end. Arsenal will feel that attack is the best form of defence to keep the ball away from their own area, but too much of that and Swansea could fashion one last great chance.
OFF THE INSIDE OF THE POST AND OUT! Fer is careless again on the ball and Arsenal break. Oxlade Chamberlain plays a ball to Walcott, who cuts inside his man and curls a low finish that should have wrapped it up.
That’s another chance that’s gone begging.
Again Barrow beats Monreal and pulls the ball back for Gylfi Sigurdsson, but the Icelandic playmaker sends his shot over the bar. You would expect more from a player of his quality. He should have hit the target at the very least.
Not quite as it turns out, with the limping Barrow replaced by Angel Rangel.
First of three changes here as Alexis is withdrawn for Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Keiran Gibbs has been thrown on to help out against Barrow, with Ozil making way.
Arsenal rattled.
It should be 3-3. Wayne Routledge picks out Barrow completely unmarked in the box - he has all the time in the world - but he tries to beat Cech with a header. He can’t generate enough power and it goes straight at the goalkeeper.
Shocking finish. That was a straightforward chance.
For the third time in the second half, the offside flag denies Arsenal a good-looking attack. The Arsenal fans aren't happy with that decision, but it's the right call as the ball comes back at them.
OH MY WORD, WHAT A CHANCE! Naughton clips in a ball that has Monreal hopelessly out of position against Barrow, who has time and space but plants his header down the throat of Cech!
Sigurdsson whips in a great delivery, but Cech punches it just before the offside flag is raised. Concerned faces from Arsene Wenger and Steve Bould on the Arsenal bench.
Swansea really fancy this now, and Arsenal are rattled after they feel that a few decisions have gone against them. The visitors have a free-kick in a good position out on the left flank.
Overall Possession Ratio
- ArsenalKey color for Arsenal
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession