Saturday, 28 September 2013

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to two points as goals from Serge Gnabry and Aaron Ramsey saw them to victory at Swansea.
After Tottenham and Chelsea drew, and Manchester United and Manchester City lost, the Gunners capitalised to maintain their early-season promise.
Teenager Gnabry slotted the opener after half-time and in-form Ramsey fired in to double the advantage.

Arsenal set the pace

  • Aaron Ramsey has now scored eight goals in his last eight appearances for Arsenal
  • At 18 years and 76 days old, Serge Gnabryis the second youngest Premier League goalscorer for Arsenal, behind Cesc Fabregas (17 years and 113)
  • The record for consecutive away wins in the Premier League is 11, set by Chelsea in 2008
Ben Davies volleyed home to give Swansea hope but Arsenal held on.
The result extends their club record of consecutive away wins in all competitions to 12 and equals their record of eight in the Premier League, which was set in the 2001-02 title-winning campaign.
While much credit has gone to new signing Mesut Ozil, once again Arsenal's driving force was Ramsey, who joined them as a 17-year-old in 2008 and suffered from injury and inconsistency until this season.
The former Cardiff player was booed throughout by the home supporters but responded with another commanding display, playing a role in both of his side's goals and scoring an eighth in eight games.
Similarly influential was Gnabry, the 18-year-old German scoring his first goal for the Gunners in only his second Premier League start.
Both men shone against a Swansea side now without a league win in eight matches at the Liberty Stadium, where Arsenal kicked-off knowing exactly what was at stake having seen their rivals slip up earlier in the day.
They had lost only two of their previous 21 league games and it was clear to see why as their formation - 4-5-1 when defending and 4-3-3 going forward - looked sharp when under pressure and on the attack.
Coming into the weekend Swansea had the best pass completion rate in the division this season (87.3%) - and they again showcased their slick passing game, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Play media

Swansea lost concentration - Laudrup
Jonjo Shelvey's early strike from distance, which fizzed over the bar, was the hosts' only meaningful effort of a first half in which lone striker Michu lacked service and was well marshalled by the Arsenal back line.
At the other end Kieran Gibbs threatened with a low cross, Per Mertesacker headed wide and Ramsey drilled off target.
There was a scare for Arsenal when Wojciech Szczesny struggled to clear a backpass, but it was the visitors who went closest as Olivier Giroud dragged wide after being released by Gnabry.
Gnabry had the first attempt on target as Arsenal began the second half positively, and it was the young winger who broke the deadlock.
The move was orchestrated by Ozil and included touches from Bacary Sagna, Giroud and Jack Wilshere before Ramsey played in Gnabry to slot his first goal for the club with a crunching finish.
Play media

Wenger hails spirit and solidarity
Arsenal were now advancing in waves and after Michel Vorm saved well from Ozil, Ramsey doubled the lead by shooting through a number of bodies after impressive link play from Wilshere and Giroud.
Swansea wanted a corner in the build-up, and their frustration was compounded when Ramsey continued his hot streak.
Michael Laudrup introduced Wilfried Bony and gave the Swans fresh impetus, with Nathan Dyer and Bony himself drawing saves from Szczesny.
When Davies exchanged passes with Bony and got in behind Mertesacker to finish with his knee on the volley, Swansea were back in contention.
But Arsenal dug in to mark Arsene Wenger's 17th anniversary as manager with what could prove to be a crucial three points.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (5) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)

Swansea City

  • 01 Vorm
  • 02 Amat
  • 04 Chico Booked
  • 19 Tiendalli
  • 33 Davies
  • 08 Shelvey (Bony - 61' )
  • 12 Dyer
  • 15 Routledge (Pozuelo - 64' )
  • 20 De Guzman Booked
  • 21 Canas Booked
  • 09 Michu

Substitutes

  • 25 Tremmel
  • 03 Taylor
  • 35 Alfei
  • 07 Britton
  • 24 Pozuelo
  • 10 Bony
  • 26 Vazquez

Arsenal

  • 01 Szczesny
  • 03 Sagna
  • 04 Mertesacker
  • 06 Koscielny
  • 28 Gibbs
  • 10 Wilshere (Jenkinson - 90' )
  • 11 Ozil (Monreal - 88' )
  • 16 Ramsey
  • 20 Flamini Booked
  • 44 Gnabry (Arteta - 78' Booked )
  • 12 Giroud

Substitutes

  • 21 Fabianski
  • 05 Vermaelen
  • 17 Monreal
  • 25 Jenkinson
  • 08 Arteta
  • 31 Miyaichi
  • 23 Bendtner
Ref: Clattenburg
Att: 20,712

MATCH STATS


Possession42%58%90minsSwansea CityArsenal

Shots

1010

On target

34

Corners

43

Fouls

511

Live Text Commentary

90:00+4:45Full time
Full TimeThe referee signals the end of the game.
90:00+4:36
Dwight Tiendalli delivers the ball.
90:00+3:54
Free kick crossed by Ben Davies.
90:00+3:26
Chico fouled by Kieran Gibbs, the ref awards a free kick.
90:00+2:39
Free kick taken by Jonathan de Guzman.
90:00+2:31
The referee books Mikel Arteta for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+2:31Booking
Booking
90:00+2:16
Mikel Arteta concedes a free kick for a foul on Miguel Michu.
90:00+1:45Substitution
SubstitutionJack Wilshere goes off and Carl Jenkinson comes on.
90:00+0:31
Mathieu Flamini manages to make a clearance.
88:59
Per Mertesacker manages to make a clearance.
87:32Substitution
SubstitutionNacho Monreal joins the action as a substitute, replacing Mesut Ozil.
86:32
Shot by Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico Chico missed to the right of the target.
86:06
Clearance made by Bacary Sagna.
83:56
Laurent Koscielny takes the free kick.
83:38Booking
Booking
83:38
Booking for Jose Alberto Canas for unsporting behaviour.
83:32
Handball decision goes against Jose Alberto Canas.
83:05Booking
Booking
83:05
Chico is given a yellow card.

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