Arsenal Haunted by Return of Lukasz Fabianski in Swansea Defeat

EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON — Lukasz Fabianski returned to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since leaving Arsenal last summer and came away with three valuable points for Swansea City courtesy of a 1-0 victory. On a night when the Gunners failed to find their range, Bafetimbi Gomis snatched the result with a dramatic late winner. 

In some respects, this felt like half a game. The first half was bereft of both atmosphere and action. Swansea named an XI without a recognised striker and seemed prepared to sit deep the majority of the time. Arsenal played some pretty passes in their own territory, but struggled to penetrate Swansea’s three-man defence.

Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the first half was trying to guess whether or not Olivier Giroud was injured after he fell to the ground with a familiar flick of his fingers. 

It was Giroud who came closest to opening the scoring in the first half, sending a looped header just over the bar. Despite that nervous moment, former Arsenal 'keeper Fabianski didn’t have a notable save to make. The Gunners had given him a warm welcome in the tunnel before the game, and that generosity of spirit seemed to continue beyond the kick-off. 

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Only once the sky darkened did the match begin to spark. Under the lights, the encounter slowly came to life. A sleepy crowd began to stir as Arsenal turned up the tempo.

Changes made a difference. In this fixture, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger named the same starting XI for the fifth consecutive game in a row. That’s the first time that’s happened at Arsenal since 1994; the first time it’s happened in the entirety of Wenger’s reign. It’s testament not just to the Gunners’ excellent form, but also to the increasing influence of the regime of their new physio, Shad Forsythe. 

However, it took the introduction of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere for Arsenal to up their game. Fresh legs brought a fresh approach, and Arsenal began to exert some sustained pressure on the Swansea goal. 

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

However, that pressure never quite translated into dangerous efforts on goal. Although Fabianski made a string of saves, none of them were particularly taxing. In part, that’s down to astute positioning, but Arsenal’s attackers are also accountable for some unconvincing finishing. Alexis Sanchez and Walcott were particularly guilty, spurning a chance to put the Gunners in front in the 78th minute.

Wenger himself admitted after the match that his players didn't put enough pressure on Fabianski, per Arsenal's Twitter account:

Fabianski’s fortune will have been particularly infuriating for Arsenal fans in contrast with the travails of their own goalkeeper. After Gomis climbed above Nacho Monreal to head in the winner, just as he did in the reverse fixture at the Liberty Stadium, Ospina initially thought he’d clawed the effort away. However, goal-line technology demonstrated that the ball had comfortably crossed the line, with the Colombian’s bizarre backward dive actually carrying him into his own net.

It was a sucker punch, but Garry Monk’s game plan worked out to perfection. Much to Arsenal’s frustration, this night belonged to him and his team—and particularly Lukasz Fabianski.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.