Many fans including myself wanted goal-line technology introduced into football so we cannot complain when it comes back to haunt us.
That is exactly what happened when a late header from Swansea substitute Bafetimbi Gomis guided Swansea to a 1-0 win and the league double over Arsenal to end their opponents' 10-match unbeaten league run.
Jefferson Montero's cross was met by the head of Gomis, who also scored the winner in the reverse fixture, and Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina tried desperately to claw it away. At first glance the award of the goal appeared to be an absolutely crazy decision. I genuinely thought a combination of a post and Ospina had kept it out but, as soon as I saw the first replay, it was very clear that referee Kevin Friend had got it spot on. The electronic goal-line system confirmed that the ball had crossed the line and the goal was given.
Without goal-line technology the match may very well have ended goalless but as it was the Gunners suffered a blow in their bid to seal runners-up spot in the Premier League. The Gunners went into the match as one of the most in-form sides in the league since the turn of the year and a win would have point them level on points with second-placed Manchester City. Arsene Wenger's men remain three points behind City, albeit with a game in hand, to make the trip to Manchester United all the more important. If Arsenal can claim a shock victory at Old Trafford and win their game in hand against Sunderland they would at minimum draw level on points with City. However, were they to lose to Louis Van Gaal's men, Arsenal would drop behind Manchester United into fourth so it really is a crucial match.
Second, third and fourth all mean no silverware but if we can avoid the need for a Champions League qualifier and finish in second, as well as lift the FA Cup, it would at least show some progress. Surely it won't be yet another fourth-placed finish? Well the result at Old Trafford will go a long way to deciding our fate. We proved we can win their when we knocked Manchester United out of this season's FA Cup so we need to make sure we go and get another positive result.
To achieve that, however, we will need to show a lot more creativity and decisiveness in the final third. Although we had large amounts of possession and defended well for most of the game, with Ospina not called upon too often, we really lacked ideas in attack. Former Gunner Lukasz Fabianski had an excellent game between the sticks for the visitors but we should have tested him a lot more than we did.
The first half was somewhat dull, with neither side creating too many chances. Olivier Giroud wasted the best chances of the opening 45 minutes as he sent a header over the bar before later shooting wide from long-range. At the other end, Angel Rangel's low strike was comfortably saved by Ospina.
Arsenal had an appeal for a penalty waved away after Alexis Sanchez appeared to have been pulled back in the box. Although the Gunners can possibly consider themselves unlucky in that instance it was a dull attacking performance from the hosts. The one positive note for the hosts at half-time was that it did extend their impressive defensive record of not conceding in the first half to 15 league games.
Arsenal improved in the second half but again failed to convert their chances. Alexis Sanchez smashed his effort into the side netting before Giroud's low strike was comfortably saved by Fabianski. Aaron Ramsey then saw his effort hit the side netting, while Fabianksi denied Santi Cazorla with an excellent save before reclaiming the ball at the second attempt.
Substitute Theo Walcott couldn't get enough of a firm touch to a deflected cross to cause any real danger to Fabianski. The Polish shot-stopper then produced some of his best saves of the match to keep the hosts at bay. Nacho Monreal latched onto a perfectly-weighted pass from Alexis Sanchez but he couldn't beat his former team-mate as Fabianski reacted superbly to block the Spaniard's effort.
Arsenal continued to push forward in search of the opening goal but to no avail as Ramsey's strike was comfortably saved by Fabianski. The Gunners then wasted arguably their best chance of the match 12 minutes from time. Ramsey's ball into the box was expertly controlled by Sanchez before the Chilean's effort was parried by Fabianksi. Walcott was quick to react to the rebound but his follow-up was tame and comfortably saved by the Swans' stopper.
Despite barely testing Ospina it was Swansea who grabbed the all-important winning goal five minutes from time. Montero beat Hector Bellerin before crossing for Gomis, whose header looked to have been kept out by Ospina. Large sections of the crowd were then left stunned and confused when a goal was suddenly given but, on reflection, it was the correct decision as Ospina and the ball were behind the goal-line when the goalkeeper made the save.
It was a key moment in the game and the goal undid all of Arsenal's hard-work and dominance. But in a way we only had ourselves to blame after the amount of chances we wasted, especially in the second half.
The remaining three games will decide whether we finish second, third or fourth and some may argue that there isn't too much more to play for. Whilst second is still not the title it would be a big improvement on fourth and, although we are no longer in the driving seat for the runners-up spot, we certainly shouldn't give up.
That aside, it is about time we beat Manchester United in the league, and we need to make sure we show plenty of hunger and desire to bounce back from defeat. Although we are way off Chelsea's pace at the moment we had still been earning plaudits for our excellent form. We need to prove that the Swansea game was just a blip and not the start of a poor end to the season.
Although the final game of our season against Aston Villa is the only true cup final clash, we need to treat the trip to Manchester United just as importantly. It may not be for a trophy but we need to prove we can beat them in the league and not allow Van Gaal's men to leapfrog us. Let's make sure we end the season with three league wins and the FA Cup.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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