Swansea came to the Emirates Stadium with absolutely no chance of taking even a single point from the encounter, if the statisticians were to be believed. Arsenal had lost only 1 out of their last 34 games at home and their form going into the tie was the best in the league, having won 13 out of 15 points in their last 5 games. But somebody forgot to tell Garry Monk and his men this. Swansea played fearless football and eventually got the 3 points which has suddenly opened the door for Manchester United to try and clinch the 3rd spot thereby demoting Arsenal back to their perennial fourth place finish.
Swansea had their back to the walls for most of the game as they had to contend with wave after wave of Arsenal attack. Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski looked like a ball magnet on the night when every shot found itself into the hands of the Pole. Bafetimbi Gomis was the definitive super sub as he came on to score the winner in the 87th minute. Arsenal enjoyed almost 70% of the possession throughout the game but failed to create the proportionate number of chances. Failing to have a single shot on goal in the first half, the Gunners came out in the second half with more resolve but were met with a stubborn Swansea defence. A stray counter attack and a Gomis header caught the home side out, stunning everybody associated with the North London club. A faint cheer from the red side of Manchester could be heard in the distance.
Arsenal’s failure to find the net was of their own making. They failed to garner the creativity required to outwit the Swansea defence. We now look at how different Arsenal players played their part in the final result.
- David Ospina – 5.5/10
The Colombian had very little to do in the match. He was called upon to make just two saves in the first half and one more in the second half. He was found ill-placed to handle Gomis’ header with replays indicating he could have done better in keeping it out. He has cemented his place in the team ahead of Szczesny but had very chances to prove himself last night
- Hector Bellerin – 7/10
Bellerin is becoming the model full back. He did not miss a single overlapping run and is calm when penetrating the box. He was key in creating chances for Giroud, who did not finish them. His pace on the right flank caused many problems for Swansea but the balls he delivered found no takers.
- Per Mertesacker – 5.5/10
Mertesacker could only have been spotted on the pitch if somebody threw some paint on him. So invisible was he that it looked like Koscielny was the only one marking the key man in the Swansea attack whether it was Gomis or Siggurdson. Mertesacker comically blocked Ozil’s freekick early in the game and then drifted into oblivion. Mertesacker needs to be aware of his surroundings or could find himself lower than Gabriel in the pecking order come next season
- Laurent Koscielny – 5/10
Koscielny was no better than his partner at center back. He was solely responsible for the ease with which Gomis got his head to the ball in the dying minutes of the game. Early on, his mistake also set Siggurdson on his way but the striker failed to capitalise. Koscielny and Mertesacker looked territorial lost and failed to read the game.
- Nacho Monreal – 6/10
Monreal and Bellerin look to be twins on either wings. Nacho made some crucial overlapping runs and created a decent chance for Ramsey. He may not possess Bellerin’s pace but is technically well adept. There were a few questions raised about his positioning when Gomis leapt for the header.
- Francis Coquelin – 8.5/10
If the game ended after the first half, he would have been crowned the man of the match. Coquelin looked like the source and the end of the Arsenal attack. It would have served the whole team a lot better if everybody played with the same intensity. Coquelin got his tackles and interceptions spot on and did his best to carry the attack forward, but with little or no help.
- Santi Cazorla – 7/10
The Spaniard was kept in check every time he got himself into a shooting position. When Arsenal’s penetration into the box became difficult, they started to lay it off for Cazorla to take a crack from outside the area. But his attempts always hit the Swansea bus which was well and truly parked. Cazorla could not impact the game from set pieces as well.
- Mesut Ozil – 6/10
A lacklustre performance from the German. He had an early freekick blocked by none other Mertesacker and created one brilliant goal scoring opportunity which Aaron Ramsey failed to take. Ozil looked uninterested in the midfield, losing the ball many times and not going for those penetrating through balls.
- Aaron Ramsey – 7.5/10
The Welshman battled injury to pass a late fitness test. Ramsey has been prolific in the past couple of weeks, instrumental in almost every Arsenal goal. He looked on the cusp of something but failed to take his chances. A few shots were blocked, a few hit the side netting and a few never made it to the target. He could not produce, the much needed, moment of brilliance.
- Alexis Sanchez – 7/10
Another player who was expected to find the net based on recent form. Sanchez did not play a bad game. He continued to strive for that breakthrough as much as his legs could carry him. He carried on with those scintillating dribbles and runs to try and find an opening in the Swansea defence. He had a clear chance on goal towards the end which Fabianski saved, a chance he would have finished 10 out of 10 times on any other day.
- Olivier Giroud – 6.5/10
Giroud had a good chance in the initial stages which he headed over the bar. He was the target man upfront but could not be reached in the swamp of defenders around him. A few snap shots and quick passes in the box proved inconsequential. He was replaced in the 70th minute for Theo Walcott.
- Theo Walcott – 6/10
Walcott was brought on for Olivier Giroud to provide a better performance upfront. But he was just an imposter. Walcott had a clear goal scoring opportunity after Fabianski parried the ball, following Sanchez’s close range attempt. But the substitute could only shoot into Fabianski’s body with the goal gaping wide. He will need to up his game if he does not want to end up an eternal substitute.
- Jack Wilshere – 7/10
The first few minutes after he came on, Wilshere looked dangerous. He made many runs into the box and got himself into dangerous positions. This was his chance to outshine the rest on the pitch and give Wenger some selection problems. Unfortunately, he did not do himself any favours.