Arsenal 1 - 0 Swansea City: Really should have been a thrashing

Going into the game, there was one interesting tactical change, probably forced thanks to having certain key midfielders all fit at the same time for the first time this season. With Abou Diaby back and having a guaranteed starting spot in the side, one of Jack Wilshere or Santi Cazorla had to make way from a central position. Tonight, Cazorla played on the left hand side, while Wilshere played as our further forward midfielder.

First Half

Like in the initial game with these two, the first half was something a drab affair. Arsenal started brightly and had some good moments in the final third, but were let down several times by their decision making as they often opted to play that extra pass or take on that extra man when they didn't need to. "Shot shy" would probably best describe our attack in the first half.

Swansea threatened a couple of times, but weren't much of a force to be reckoned with. They had some good periods of possession, but only because our pressure was, again, very lacking. A couple of players would press but the rest of the team wouldn't follow.

They had a great chance to score with Bartley hitting the crossbar (again) with a header. Our marking from the set-piece was not good there at all.

We had a couple of great chances, too. Walcott had a shot blocked which he should have done better with, while Vermaelen missed a sitter on the stroke of half-time.

It wasn't a bad first half, but more was certainly needed from Arsenal to win it.

Second Half

Only one team was in it in the second half.

Swansea made little effort to take the game to us and seemed to try and sit back and soak up pressure. Unfortunately for them, Arsenal were actually in the mood for once and created chance after chance.

The first real great chance fell to Walcott. Played in beautifully by Diaby, he managed to dink the ball over Vorm but miss the target. Okay, not the easiest chance, but one you would have expected him to put that away, given his form this season.

Walcott would go on to miss a couple more very good chances - one which he tried to volley in from close range, but really should have just let it drop and then smash it and one which he put way wide after getting in behind Swansea's back line.

Walcott wasn't the only one to be lacking end product tonight. Giroud, industrious all game, didn't have much luck in front of goal, putting a header wide and often not being able to get on the end of chances, either because he lacked the pace or because of a loose touch. Cazorla blazed a couple of shots over the bar, while Wilshere, brilliant at creating the space, couldn't quite get enough shots way on goal.

Wastefulness in front of goal aside, this was the most fluid and energetic I've seen Arsenal in a while. Diaby played a very disciplined role in midfield, allowing Coquelin to venture forward and Wilshere to focus entirely on attacking. Cazorla drifted in and out of the game, but still proved important in keeping Arsenal's passing fluid. On a whole, we weren't so predictable going forward.

The only goal of the game came from the best player of the night. Cazorla played a good pass into Giroud, who touched into Wilshere's path. Wilshere proceeded to then belt it in from outside the area. It was the most decisive bit of a play from an Arsenal tonight and not surprisingly it resulted in a goal.

Is this the best set-up?

Recently, it seems that Arsenal's best games have been the games that Wilshere has proved the most influential. When Wilshere is allowed to get forward, get into advanced positions and run at defences, it opens up more spaces for other players to exploit. Playing in a deeper position doesn't allow him to do this.

The role Diaby played tonight shouldn't be overlooked. He was disciplined all night and was a very solid base that Arsenal could work from.

Cazorla has struggled when given constant attention and has been marked out of games a lot this season, which is why a free role on either flank may suit him best. With the attention largely on Wilshere in the centre, Cazorla could find some space on the pitch.

Of course, with Cazorla on the flank, you may lose a bit of balance and work rate, which is something Podolski provides. We were hardly tested defensively tonight, so it'll be interesting to see if this proves a problem in the future.

Consistency is needed

The performance was great but we've seen many times this season that we can't sustain these types of performances over a period of games. The win and performance should give us confidence, but it's absolutely vital we do it again. We need to be more clinical, and we need to improve our set-piece defending. And we do still need a couple of new players.

So overall, a good night, but still important to not get carried away and put in similar performances from here on in.

Jacky Boy

And Giroud the assist machine

Wilshere. Back to his best. He is now in Beast mode.

Was absolutely immense as the No 10.

Szcesney to Swansea strikers: I didn't really Michu today trololol

jack the lad

cant believe he could do this after playing that way vs city

cant get jaded

it was the destiny

to get swans in cup
and show we can dominate them

27 shots to 7
10 on target to 0!!!
that sczc save of ki was going out anyway

13 corners mainly wasted though

Jack.

Wish we had more like him.

Arsenal need a lead player on the attacking side. We have a bunch of pretty good players and an off form cazorla. There is no difference maker on the team. Please Wenger lol.

sportsczy wrote:Arsenal need a lead player on the attacking side. We have a bunch of pretty good players and an off form cazorla. There is no difference maker on the team. Please Wenger lol.

Cazorla needs a breather. Atleast after Chelsea this weekend.

I expect a youthful line-up against Brighton, but thats for another day.

Any transfer will do, any transfer will do


lol, someone more clinical? (walcott and Giroud could use some assistance)


or someone technical and creative (Cazorla needs a breather and Rosicky can't be his backup if he's this unfit)

or someone to play the midfield anchor role (Diaby has been good but obviously we're better off relying on wet tissues and Arteta being injured is a sobering reality that he can't do it alone.


Take your pic Mr. Wenger.

Jack was brilliant for second match in a row. Man of the Match even without the goal for me.

Anyone else wondering why Walcott is taking all of these set pieces though? It seems as though Cazorla should be serving those from pretty much any angle (i.e. both corners and most free kicks).

Few months ( seems like years ) ago Walcott delivered few fantastic crosses and freekicks. Since then he has been taking them with the failure rate of 90%

RealGunner wrote:Few months ( seems like years ) ago Walcott delivered few fantastic crosses and freekicks. Since then he has been taking them with the failure rate of 90%

Sell him while we can?

Wilshere, Gibbs & Diaby Coquelin played really well too. Walcott and Giroud played so-so today.

Wilshere with a masterclass performance. If anyone else was playing like him it would have been at least 3-0. He needs to play in the attacking midfield role like that every time.

Cazorla and Jack partners in attack >>>>>> Arteta and Jack playing towards the back

Szczesny - N/A: I could have gone in goal tonight
Sagna - 7
Mertesacker - 7
Vermaelen - 7.5
Gibbs - 7.5

Diaby - 7
Coquelin - 7
Wilshere - 8.5

Walcott - 6
Giroud - 6.5
Cazorla - 6.5

Good win. Now to Chelsea.

Thanks you Arsenal and Wenger for putting players in the box

Well I was out in the city, couldn't watch it ):

I'm curious as to how we lined up with Cazorla on the wing, so if someone could tell me the formation..

Match was not telecasted due to United and Chelsea matches.. I am happy to see us making use of Wilsheres offensive abilities.. Cazorla has been ineffective for many matches as CAM.. And Diaby adding balance to our midfield..

beatrixasdfghjk. wrote:Well I was out in the city, couldn't watch it ):

I'm curious as to how we lined up with Cazorla on the wing, so if someone could tell me the formation..

There is no taking away anything from his quality. But he has been clearly overused and is 'jaded' or 'tired' or 'needs a breather'. Hopefully, he can dig in a bit against chavs. But he deserves a break, and soon.

I've seen the recap. Great match, we should have scored more.

I'm a bit dissapointed by walcott, he should have scored far more!

Great match by wilshere, and we need someone like diaby all of the time. Someone who controls the midfield and recognise his defensive duties.

I really think this is a great setup, altough I would put podolski up front.
I never got it why we leave such a talented and great player on the bench, okay he hasn't been at his 'best' but he scores goals and gives assists and I feel he can do more than giroud.

missed the match


May I ask if it was a 4-4-2 formation???????

Wenger

Wilson37 wrote:Match was not telecasted due to United and Chelsea matches.. I am happy to see us making use of Wilsheres offensive abilities.. Cazorla has been ineffective for many matches as CAM.. And Diaby adding balance to our midfield..

Move to Canada, they show all the games.

I have been lucky so far, every Arsenal game has been on TV and many more other EPL games. All CL games on TV.

evian wrote:missed the match


May I ask if it was a 4-4-2 formation???????

Wenger

Nah it was 4-2-1-2-1 kinda formation.