Liverpool had drawn on Sunday against champions Chelsea, meaning that Champions League qualification was guaranteed. But with both City and United winning it meant that the pressure for direct qualification to the group stage was there.
Arsenal, unbeaten for 10 games, named the same side for the 5th consecutive time. The first time in 20 odd years.
Ospina continued in goal, with Bellerin and Nacho as the full backs. Mertesacker partnered Koscielny at the centre of defence. Coquelin and Cazorla started in deep lying roles with Ozil in an advanced position. Giroud, the lone frontman.
Swansea had beaten Arsenal earlier this season, so revenge should have been on the cards for most players.
FIRST HALF
Swansea started without a striker and that showed in Arsenal's domination in possession. They couldn’t convert this possession into clear cut opportunities however.
Giroud headed over a Ramsey cross for Arsenal's first chance. Chances were few and far in between.
Swansea kept disrupting the Arsenal rhythm with fouls to break up play. Arsenal were restricted to long range shots. Not a single shot on target and a terrible half came to an end.
It extended the Gunners’ record of not conceding in the first-half to 15 Premier League games.
SECOND HALF
The game needed a lift, and a moment of incisiveness five minutes after the restart triggered it. The ball was neatly worked to Hector Bellerin on the right wing, but Fabianski came out well to meet his low cross ahead of Giroud at the near post.
Alexis then had a shot hit the side netting. Ospina had to be alert to cut out a Montero cross from reaching Ki.
Ozil was a growing influence on the game. He found Giroud in the area, but the Frenchman’s low snap shot was easy for Fabianski to gather. Ramsey was the next to be picked out by a searching Ozil pass, but his finish didn’t match the build-up play.
The Emirates crowd tried to raise the atmosphere and an immediate change in tempo was seen from the players. Fabianski had to keep out Giroud and Ramsey after both were found by 2 Ozil passes.
The best chance of the game fell to Alexis Sanchez when he missed a glaring opportunity by hitting straight at Fabianski, then Walcott also managed to miss the rebound, much to the frustration of the Arsenal fans.
In the 85th minute Swansea took the lead, Gomis, who was the match winner the last time the sides met, on as a substitute had a header which initially looked like it was saved, only for goal line technology to show it was a goal.
The worst game of the season you could say, terrible.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (5): Very poor for the goal. Imagine arguing with goal line technology. Yes he did do that. Shocking.
39: Hector Bellerin (6): Was doing good the entire game, but allowed the cross to be delivered for the goal rather poorly.
6: Laurent Koscielny (6.5): Did not have much to do. But was beaten for the header.
4: Per Mertesacker (6.5): Again not much to do.
18: Nacho Monreal (7): Was aggressive in his tackle, but not good enough for the goal unfortunately. Could and should have had a penalty.
34: Francis Coquelin (6): Was not needed at all to be honest.
19: Santi Cazorla (5.5): Very poor game, almost everything he tried hit the defender in front of him.
16: Aaron Ramsey (6.5): Was the creator for the big chance for Alexis, was anonymous otherwise.
17: Alexis Sanchez (5): One of his worst games. Ever.
11: Mesut Ozil (7.5): Created 5 chances from open play. The others should do better.
12: Olivier Giroud (6): Again struggled to get a hold in the game.
SUBSTITUTES:
10: Jack Wilshere (6.5): Provided energy, but not the technical spark that was so badly needed.
14: Theo Walcott (4): Shocking miss. Should pick himself up and perform to show he deserves what he is earning.
Arsenal, unbeaten for 10 games, named the same side for the 5th consecutive time. The first time in 20 odd years.
Ospina continued in goal, with Bellerin and Nacho as the full backs. Mertesacker partnered Koscielny at the centre of defence. Coquelin and Cazorla started in deep lying roles with Ozil in an advanced position. Giroud, the lone frontman.
Swansea had beaten Arsenal earlier this season, so revenge should have been on the cards for most players.
FIRST HALF
Swansea started without a striker and that showed in Arsenal's domination in possession. They couldn’t convert this possession into clear cut opportunities however.
Giroud headed over a Ramsey cross for Arsenal's first chance. Chances were few and far in between.
Swansea kept disrupting the Arsenal rhythm with fouls to break up play. Arsenal were restricted to long range shots. Not a single shot on target and a terrible half came to an end.
It extended the Gunners’ record of not conceding in the first-half to 15 Premier League games.
SECOND HALF
The game needed a lift, and a moment of incisiveness five minutes after the restart triggered it. The ball was neatly worked to Hector Bellerin on the right wing, but Fabianski came out well to meet his low cross ahead of Giroud at the near post.
Alexis then had a shot hit the side netting. Ospina had to be alert to cut out a Montero cross from reaching Ki.
Ozil was a growing influence on the game. He found Giroud in the area, but the Frenchman’s low snap shot was easy for Fabianski to gather. Ramsey was the next to be picked out by a searching Ozil pass, but his finish didn’t match the build-up play.
The Emirates crowd tried to raise the atmosphere and an immediate change in tempo was seen from the players. Fabianski had to keep out Giroud and Ramsey after both were found by 2 Ozil passes.
The best chance of the game fell to Alexis Sanchez when he missed a glaring opportunity by hitting straight at Fabianski, then Walcott also managed to miss the rebound, much to the frustration of the Arsenal fans.
In the 85th minute Swansea took the lead, Gomis, who was the match winner the last time the sides met, on as a substitute had a header which initially looked like it was saved, only for goal line technology to show it was a goal.
The worst game of the season you could say, terrible.
PLAYER RATINGS
13: David Ospina (5): Very poor for the goal. Imagine arguing with goal line technology. Yes he did do that. Shocking.
39: Hector Bellerin (6): Was doing good the entire game, but allowed the cross to be delivered for the goal rather poorly.
6: Laurent Koscielny (6.5): Did not have much to do. But was beaten for the header.
4: Per Mertesacker (6.5): Again not much to do.
18: Nacho Monreal (7): Was aggressive in his tackle, but not good enough for the goal unfortunately. Could and should have had a penalty.
34: Francis Coquelin (6): Was not needed at all to be honest.
19: Santi Cazorla (5.5): Very poor game, almost everything he tried hit the defender in front of him.
16: Aaron Ramsey (6.5): Was the creator for the big chance for Alexis, was anonymous otherwise.
17: Alexis Sanchez (5): One of his worst games. Ever.
11: Mesut Ozil (7.5): Created 5 chances from open play. The others should do better.
12: Olivier Giroud (6): Again struggled to get a hold in the game.
SUBSTITUTES:
10: Jack Wilshere (6.5): Provided energy, but not the technical spark that was so badly needed.
14: Theo Walcott (4): Shocking miss. Should pick himself up and perform to show he deserves what he is earning.