Swansea vs. Arsenal: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game

Swansea City came from behind to secure an impressive and thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory over Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.

The Welsh side scored twice in the space of three minutes to overcome Alexis Sanchez’s 12th goal of the season for the Gunners, as Gylfi Sigurdsson and then substitute Bafetimbi Gomis found the net to secure the three points in a game that only seemed to spark into life in the final 30 minutes.

In Jefferson Montero the home side had the game’s standout performer, as the winger troubled his opposite number Calum Chambers time and time again, before finally providing the cross for Gomis’ winner.

Victory for Swansea leapfrogs them above their opponents into fifth in the fledgling Premier League table. Defeat for Arsenal, meanwhile, means they remain on 17 points after 11 games—already 12 behind championship leaders Chelsea.

Afterwards, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports:

"

It is difficult to explain how we lost the lead. We were in control, but they did not give up and I think we lost some decisive challenges in the middle of the park in the final 20 minutes. That was costly.

We were not in too much trouble, I think we had the best chances. It was a very tactical game, but when we were 1-0 up we lacked some spark and a killing instinct to protect that lead.

We just lost a game that we should not have lost. In football you have to win the games you can. For us to challenge for the Premiership you have to be a bit more realistic than we were today.

"

Wenger opted not to make wholesale changes to the side that threw away a three-goal lead against Anderlecht in midweek, preferring instead to give them the chance to make amends for that slump and build on the more positive aspects of the display.

Swansea, in contrast, had to shake things up considerably due to injuries and suspensions, with ex-Gunner Kyle Bartley drafted into the defence and Marvin Emnes and Montero supporting Wilfred Bony in attack.

It was Montero who would prove the game’s most influential performer, as he tortured Chambers down the Arsenal right. The Ecuadorian winger was a key reason why the Swans seemed to control much of the first half, with Arsenal limited to only a few attacking flourishes toward the end of the break.

Despite the home side’s marginal superiority, they only created a couple of clear-cut opportunities. Bony thought he should have been awarded a penalty after being bundled over in the box clumsily by Chambers, although Phil Dowd waved away the appeals with a conviction that perhaps did not reflect it appeared to be a poor challenge from the defender.

Emnes had the other great chance of the half, firing straight at Wojciech Sczczesny after being played clean through on goal.

Arsenal, in stark contrast to the action-packed events of Wednesday at the Emirates, struggled to find any rhythm in the first half, playing themselves into a greater fluency only in the final five minutes, as Aaron Ramsey volleyed narrowly wide from the edge of the box after a more sustained spell of pressure.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

The second half was marginally more even and open, although Montero—frustrating Chambers with his pace and trickery—continued to be about the game’s only genuine threat. Swansea continued to push forward and looked dangerous but they could not find an opening goal, and Arsenal would soon punish them for that with a blistering counter-attack.

It came from another Swansea attack, as Bony’s miscued touch in the driving ran allowed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to spring a counter-attack. The winger evaded Tom Carroll’s despairing lunge and released Welbeck down the right, who took a touch before cutting back inside and looking for a target inside the box.

He picked out Sanchez, who had timed his late run perfectly, and the Chilean made no mistake as he clipped home a shot to round off a sweeping team move.

"

Alexis Sánchez' goal, that's 5 goals in his last 4 Premier League games now. Incredible. https://t.co/O7NksYoz0d

— Footie Guide (@footieguide) November 9, 2014"

Swansea could have been forgiven for being demoralised by that clinical moment, but they continued to do what had what served them so well in the previous 70 minutes and duly got their rewards.

A counter-attack of the home side’s own gave them a glorious opportunity, as Kieran Gibbs cynically fouled substitute Modou Barrow 30 yards from goal. The chance seemed tailor-made for Sigurdsson—who produced a delightful strike to beat Szczesny and restore parity.

Suddenly the Liberty Stadium was bouncing, with all the momentum beyond the home side. Barely two minutes later they would be in front, as Montero finally got the reward for his scintillating display.

Again the winger embarrassed Chambers, squaring the England international up and then darting past him toward the byline. His cross was perfectly lofted for substitute Gomis, who had come on after the equaliser, as the Frenchman jumped high above Nacho Monreal and planted his header inside the near post with aplomb.

Wenger responded immediately, bringing on both Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere to inject his side with a greater threat and passing range in the final ten minutes.

Swansea sat deeper and ceded possession to the visitors, but Arsenal were unable to create any clear-cut opportunities, with Leon Britton blocking an Alexis Sanchez effort from range and the defence holding firm to box their opponents out from corners.

The final whistle was greeted with delight by the home faithful, who had seen their side go toe-to-toe with one of the league’s biggest sides and come out on top. Wenger will be disappointed with his side’s inability to hold firm after taking the lead, but he realistically cannot die that Monk’s side warranted their triumph. 

Monk noted:

"

I think that is one of the first times this season we have gone behind, but we showed the character we have in this squad. We deserved the win in the end.

I think it was quite an even game throughout, but we made the changes and thankfully they went for us today. Bafe deserved his goal, he’s been working very hard in training.

[Montero] was magnificent, but not just him the whole team. They stuck at it and played some great football. They believed, and that was the key to it. They got a deserved win.

"

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Player Ratings

Player	Rating
Lukasz Fabianski	7
Angel Rangel	7
Kyle Bartley	7
Ashley Williams	8
Neil Taylor	7
Ki Sueng-yung	7
Tom Carroll	7
Gylfi Sigurdsson	7
Marvin Emnes	7
Jefferson Montero	9
Wilfred Bony	7
Substitutions
Modou Barrow	7
Bafetimbi Gomis	7

Player	Rating
Wojciech Szczesny	6
Calum Chambers	5
Per Mertesacker	6
Nacho Monreal	6
Kieran Gibbs	6
Mathieu Flamini	7
Santi Cazorla	6
Aaron Ramsey	6
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain	7
Danny Welbeck	6
Alexis Sanchez	7
Substitutions
Jack Wilshere	6
Theo Walcott	6
Yaya Sanogo	6

What's Next?

Swansea have 13 days to prepare for a visit to face Manchester City, while Arsenal have the same period of time to get ready to host old enemies Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

All quotes taken from Sky Sports' live post-match broadcast.