Swans hit back to sink Arsenal
11 Nov 2014 11:13 PM GMT
Second-half goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis saw Swansea beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday to leapfrog the Gunners into fifth place in the Premier League table and complete a miserable week for Arsene Wenger. Alexis Sanchez’s 12th goal of the season gave Arsenal the lead in the 63rd minute in south Wales.
However, two goals in three minutes, in the final quarter, left Wenger’s side with nothing to show for their troubles. Having given up a three-goal lead in their midweek 3-3 Champions League draw at home to Anderlecht, the north London club’s defensive lapses again proved costly and this time there wasn’t even the consolation of a point.
Swansea enjoyed a plentiful supply of possession and in the 22nd minute, the hosts felt they had a decent claim for a penalty when Chambers appeared to push Wilfried Bony in the back. Referee Phil Dowd was well-placed and immediately waved away the Swansea appeals. The second half was barely a minute old when Sanchez sent Oxlade-Chamberlain through on goal. The England star hit the target but Fabianski was equal to it. A third yellow card for Swansea followed a rash challenge from Williams on Santi Cazorla, whilst Mertesacker ended up in Dowd’s notebook after tripping Emnes.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 63rd minute. Bony gave away the ball deep in the Arsenal half and after Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla had carved a hole in the Swansea defence, Welbeck picked out Sanchez, who side-footed past Fabianski from point-blank range.
Swansea, however, were level 15 minutes from time after Kieran Gibbs brought down substitute Modou Barrow. From the ensuing free-kick, Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson beat Szczesny from almost 30 yards. Two minutes later, a second substitute, Gomis rose highest to head home Montero’s pin-point cross.
However, two goals in three minutes, in the final quarter, left Wenger’s side with nothing to show for their troubles. Having given up a three-goal lead in their midweek 3-3 Champions League draw at home to Anderlecht, the north London club’s defensive lapses again proved costly and this time there wasn’t even the consolation of a point.
Swansea enjoyed a plentiful supply of possession and in the 22nd minute, the hosts felt they had a decent claim for a penalty when Chambers appeared to push Wilfried Bony in the back. Referee Phil Dowd was well-placed and immediately waved away the Swansea appeals. The second half was barely a minute old when Sanchez sent Oxlade-Chamberlain through on goal. The England star hit the target but Fabianski was equal to it. A third yellow card for Swansea followed a rash challenge from Williams on Santi Cazorla, whilst Mertesacker ended up in Dowd’s notebook after tripping Emnes.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 63rd minute. Bony gave away the ball deep in the Arsenal half and after Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla had carved a hole in the Swansea defence, Welbeck picked out Sanchez, who side-footed past Fabianski from point-blank range.
Swansea, however, were level 15 minutes from time after Kieran Gibbs brought down substitute Modou Barrow. From the ensuing free-kick, Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson beat Szczesny from almost 30 yards. Two minutes later, a second substitute, Gomis rose highest to head home Montero’s pin-point cross.
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