Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis came off the bench to score with his first touch as Swansea came from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium.
With two of the most attacking sides in the league on show, it was surprising how lacklustre the first half actually was with very few chances from either side. The game livened up in the second half with Alexis Sanchez breaking the deadlock, but two goals in three minutes from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Gomis turned the game on its head and saw the hosts leapfrog their opponents in the table.
Before the match there was a comment from the commentators about how Arsenal topped the stats table in terms of possession and passing. So why on earth are we not winning more games? Although this was only the Gunners' second league defeat of the season, the London club have drawn five of their opening 11 games which is far too many. There is no point having so much possession if you're not going to use it effectively. Teams have learnt to stifle are nice passing moves better so we need a plan B. Whilst plan A is superb when it comes off, we really need to grind out more wins. At 1-0 up, we should have been a lot more careful in protecting our lead.
Don't get me wrong, Swansea are a tough nut to crack at home and have only lost one home league game this season (to Southampton) but these are the kind of games we really should be winning if we want to be taking seriously in the title race. Although I still back manager Arsene Wenger despite many seemingly wanting him to go even I, who can usually find positives in anything, was left bemused by some of his tactics. With one minute to go Wenger withdrew Calum Chambers and put on Yaya Sanogo. Yes, we needed to bring on a striker as we were chasing the game and desperately needed a goal. By why do it with just a minute to go and not a lot earlier? Also why bring on Yaya Sanogo, who has yet to score a competitive goal for the club? Lukas Podolski may not have had much game time this season but every time he comes on he looks lively and he would have been a far more suitable replacement. It beggars belief!
Whether it is finally Wenger's time (although admittedly I still stand by him) to go or if several big transfers need made in January, something has to change! I think if we can add two or three top class players in the right positions, especially a defensive midfielder, during the January transfer window, things could yet change for the better but these transfers need done in January and not later.
Back to the match, and in a rather tedious first half the hosts' best chance fell to Marvin Emnes but his tame effort was blocked by Wojciech Szczęsny in the Arsenal goal. Wenger had a few half chances but didn't really get going until the final minutes of the first half. Good combination play between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck almost helped the visitors to the opening goal but the latters' shot was well saved by former Gunner Lukasz Fabianski at his near post. Aaron Ramsey hit a sweetly struck volley just wide in first-half stoppage time as the teams went in goalless at the break.
Arsenal were quick out the blocks in the second half and almost scored in the opening minute when Alexis Sanchez set up Oxlade-Chamberlain but the England international's effort was easily saved by Fabianksi.
The visitors finally broke the deadlock after 63 minutes as Sanchez once again got himself onto the score-sheet with his 12th goal for the club. Oxlade-Chamberlain burst forward at tremendous pace before releasing Welbeck, who composed himself and controlled the ball before sliding it across for Sanchez to tap home.
The visitors should have been looking to build on their lead and see the game out but Swansea had other ideas and a quickfire double gave the hosts all three points. Gylfi Sigurdsson curled a delightful and unstoppable free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards with to level the scores with just 15 minutes remaining.
Arsenal barely had time to recover from that setback before they conceded a second goal just three minutes later. Gomis had only been on the field for two minutes when he scored with his first touch of the ball as the impressive Jefferson Montero crossed for the French striker to nod the ball beyond the stranded Szczesny.
The Gunners desperately needed to find a leveller in the closing stages but didn't create enough clear-cut opportunities. Sanchez continued to work tirelessly and tried his best to help the cause with a wonderful assist over the top, but substitute Theo Walcott's touch let him down and the chance went begging as Swansea held on for the win.
A very frustrating afternoon for Arsenal, who dropped down to sixth in the Premier League table, but the Gunners will have to wait until after the international break to put things right when they return to action for the visit of Manchester United. We will certainly need a much better performance in that game as we look to try and get our season back on track.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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