Swansea vs. Arsenal: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Swansea City punished Arsenal for failing to adapt their tactics on Sunday afternoon, coming from behind to steal a 2-1 victory and continue their excellent season.
Alexis Sanchez had put the Gunners ahead in the second half following a wonderful counter-attacking move, but a wonderstrike from Gylfi Sigurdsson pegged them back. Minutes later, Bafetimbi Gomis headed the hosts ahead, and the Swans were able to hold on.
Here, B/R picks its winners and losers.
Loser: Calum Chambers, Who Was Lit Up by Jefferson Montero
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It's perhaps not all his fault—where was the help from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and why was he put up against Jefferson Montero?—but Calum Chambers' performance against Swansea City proved why his long-term future lies at centre-back, not right-back.
Montero has been a quiet player for Swansea City since signing, but he exploded into our consciousness on Sunday after ripping the Arsenal right-back a new one.
Those who believe Chambers' future is on the flank, check the tape here. He's not quick enough to contain wingers in Montero's mould.
Winner: Jefferson Montero, Who Was the Best Player in the Park
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There were a lot of strong performances in white out there at the Liberty Stadium, but it was Jefferson Montero who broke Arsenal's game plan and delivered the victory for Swansea.
He was nothing short of a blur as he skinned Calum Chambers time and again, and late on he delivered a peach of a cross from the byline to set up Bafetimbi Gomis' winner.
An excellent showing from the Ecuadorian.
Loser: Arsene Wenger, Who's on Very, Very Thin Ice
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The midweek collapse against Anderlecht—allowing the Belgian side to draw 3-3 despite going 3-0 down—was embarrassing. The lessons that should have been learned were: tighten up at the right time and play the correct personnel matchups.
Arsenal were still wide open after going 1-0 up here, and Swansea struck late on to score two. Another set of points dropped. Even worse, Hector Bellerin was a good matchup play vs. Jefferson Montero's pace but was ignored in favour of the slow Chambers, and Chambers was a better matchup vs. the beef of Wilfried Bony and Bafetimbi Gomis, but Nacho Monreal played there instead.
What is going on?
Winner: Gylfi Sigurdsson, for That Wonder Free-Kick Goal
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Take a bow, Gylfi Sigurdsson. Hit one like this, and you are going to eat up the column inches with ease.
"Swansea 2-1 Arsenal! Gylfi Sigurdsson scores a marvelous free-kick then Gomis puts them ahead (via @Ryan_Smith14): https://t.co/wqDEBblge2
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) November 9, 2014"
The Icelandic international curled a delicious effort into the top corner from 25 yards, making a telling contribution to the game—finally!—after close attention from Mathieu Flamini in the first half.
Winner: Garry Monk, Who Managed the Game Brilliantly
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Swansea City were, largely speaking, the better side. They dominated the opening 40 minutes and gave up a late flurry only before the half, then bettered Arsenal in the second half and scored the required goals.
The patterns were tedious in the first 45 minutes—a natural byproduct of two cautious, possession-based teams meeting—and Monk didn't overreact in front of the home fans and strike with substitutions too soon.
The players he brought on—Modou Barrow (debut), Bafetimbi Gomis and Leon Britton—all served a purpose and were brought on at the right time. The first opened up the right flank, the second scored the winner and the third closed out the game.
Excellent from Monk.
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