Arsenal continued their good run of form beating visitors Swansea City 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Gunners continued from where they left off before the international break, as Theo Walcott scored a brace inside the first 33 minutes to give his side a comfortable 2-0 lead. But Granit Xhaka’s mistake at the edge of the box allowed Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson to score a marvellous left-footed shot which meant that Arsenal went into half-time with just a goal ahead.
However, Mesut Ozil scored after combining with Alexis Sanchez just after the break to give Arsenal a two-goal cushion. But a second goal for the visitors by substitute striker Borja Baston coupled with Xhaka’s red card meant that the Gunners had to fight it out in the last 20 minutes, which they eventually did to register their sixth consecutive league victory.
Here are the major talking points from the game:
#1 Mesut Ozil celebrates birthday in style
Mesut Ozil came to Arsenal three seasons ago and has since won recognition as being one of the best playmakers in the world. The German international celebrated his 28th birthday in style as the Gunners beat Swansea City to get the three points at home.
The former Real Madrid player was very good on the ball throughout the game and was picked up in the box by Alexis Sanchez and hit it on the volley to make it 3-1 to the Gunners after the 57th minute.
Ozil’s birthday will be even happier after the goal and win, which sees his team climb to the 2nd spot in the Premier League table.
Arsenal’s number 11 has been at the peak of his career in the past two seasons and as he turns 28, he will be hoping to make the most of his peak years and help Arsenal in finally winning a major trophy.
#2 Swansea couldn’t convert chances
Swansea City came into the game with a new manager in United States’ Bob Bradley taking over the reins of the club. The Swans started the game on the back foot but were helped by Granit Xhaka’s loss of possession at the edge of his own box which was well converted by Iceland’s Gylfi Sigurdsson.
The visitors had to wait for their turn to attack as Arsenal, typically, dominated possession. But it was not a one-sided affair at the Emirates as Swansea saw themselves waste a host of goal-scoring opportunities which saw them failing to equalise even against Arsenal’s 10-men.
Modou Barrow was the stand-out performer for the Swans as the Gambian made some excellent runs from the right wing to cause the home side problems throughout the game. His quick pick-out pass to Borja Baston saw Swansea score their second goal, but many chances were wasted by the likes of Sigurdsson, Leroy Fer, Federico Fernandez and Baston himself.
If the visitors had shown better touches inside the box in the final third, Swansea might have got a point from the game.
#3 Mistakes could’ve cost Arsenal the game
The Switzerland international had earlier made a mistake as he lost possession just outside his own penalty box which granted Gylfi Sigurdsson and Swansea their first goal just before the half-time whistle. Another wild tackle from the Swiss man meant that Arsenal had to contend with 10-men for the last 20 minutes of the game.
Arsenal fans did not like how referee John Moss gave Xhaka a straight red card for the tackle from behind and their reaction was justified as worse tackles have got away with just a yellow card for such an offence.
It turned out to be a nervy second half for the home team’s fans and manager Arsene Wenger as Swansea created chance after chance, but luckily for Arsenal, the visitors wasted them all.
#4 Frantic second half for both teams
The game was very one-sided in the first half as Arsenal dominated possession as well as the game. But as the second half began, Swansea also got into the game and threatened Arsenal with great play from the right wing through Modou Barrow.
Sigurdsson’s delivery from set-pieces also gave his teammates plenty of crosses to make use of.
On the other hand, Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez were constantly threatening the visitors with their runs in behind their defence. However, Mesut Ozil and the duo were caught off-side several times in the second half.
There was also a golden chance for Walcott to get his hat-trick as substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found him in the box, after a counter-attacking run on the right wing, but the former’s shot hit the post.
It was a game which could’ve gone either way but Arsenal fans will be pleased to see their team finally winning games they might have lost in the past few seasons.
#5 Theo, Arsenal finally showing their decisiveness
Theo Walcott has been at Arsenal for more than 10 seasons now but has failed to live-up to the expectations of the Arsenal as well as England fans. However, there is something different about the 27-year old this season.
Wenger has played him on the right wing so far and that has brought Walcott back into form. The right side of midfield is ideally the best position for him as he gets in behind the defence on many occasions and also has the ability to take on defenders on the wing.
His great start to the season has seen him scoring 7 goals in 9 matches in all competitions. His good form has also resulted in a call-up to the England team for the World Cup qualifiers during the recently concluded international break.
His decisiveness in the final third has made him a great threat to the opposition so far and Arsenal have been helped because of the same, which was also seen today with the two goals that he scored.
The Gunners have now won six consecutive games in the Premier League which has seen them climb to the second place on the table, level on 19 points with Manchester City and behind only on goal difference.
