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Premier League
Mar 2, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
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1-2

Campbell (15')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Routledge (32'), Williams (74')

Live Commentary: Arsenal 1-2 Swansea City - as it happened

Relive Swansea City's stunning come-from-behind victory at Arsenal in the Premier League with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.
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Arsenal went into Wednesday night's Premier League match against Swansea City looking to avoid three straight defeats for the first time in almost six years.

The Gunners started well and took an early lead through Joel Campbell, but then it all went wrong as Swansea ended their own four-game winless run by fighting back and stunning the home side 2-1.

Relive it all below with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates.


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Evening all! Matchday 28 is a midweek round in the Premier League and after five games last night, there's five more tonight. Here we'll be focussing on Arsenal vs. Swansea, but we also have coverage of the other four games if you want to stay on top of everything!

Team news has just been announced at the Emirates but before I bring you the two lineups, some bad news from the visiting camp...

Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin will not be present tonight having been taken to hospital with a chest problem. Former Swansea interim manager Alan Curtis will therefore bark the orders from the dugout tonight.

Francesco Guidolin attempts to go unnoticed during the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City on February 28, 2016© Getty Images

ARSENAL XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal; Ramsey, Coquelin; Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Gibbs, Elneny, Flamini, Walcott, Welbeck

SWANSEA XI: Fabianski; Naughton, Amat, Williams, Kingsley; Cork, Fer; Ki Sung-Yueng, Routledge, Ayew; Gomis
Subs: Nordfeldt, Rangel, Fernandez, Fulton, Barrow, Sigurdsson, Paloschi

Right then, let's start with Arsenal, who make three changes from Sunday's disappointing defeat at Old Trafford. Out go Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck, with Per Mertesacker, Joel Campbell and Olivier Giroud coming in. Koscielny is the surprise omission, but he's had to sit out with a "slight calf problem".

Not sure if Guidolin or Curtis picked the Swansea team, but there's tons of changes from the Welsh outfit as they play away in North London for the second game in a row having lost 2-1 at Spurs on Sunday.

In total there are SIX Swansea changes, with Lukasz Fabianski, Ashley Williams, Jack Cork, Ki Sung-Yueng and Andre Ayew the only players to keep their place from the weekend. Surprising to see Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alberto Paloschi, who scored the opener at White Hart Lane, drop to the bench.

Before we bring you more build-up with kickoff now 40 minutes away, why not take a listen to the latest episode of our football podcast - The Dugout - below. We led with Arsenal's recent woes and whether the Gunners have blown it in the title race.


So Sunday's defeat against rivals Man Utd left Arsenal third in the table and six points behind Premier League leaders Leicester. That gap could have been extended to nine points last night, but the Foxes failed to beat West Brom at home, so Arsenal can cut the gap to three tonight.

That might sound good, but if Spurs win at West Ham tonight then they will be going top. Not what Arsenal fans will want to see! If you want to follow that game as well and see how the London derby unfolds, then click here to join my colleague Danielle Joynson. Don't leave me though!

Arsenal come into this match on a three-game winless streak in all competitions, while for Swansea they are hunting a first win in five. The Swans, who managed their highest-ever league finish last year, are in real danger of going down if they don't sort it out in the final stretch of the season.

Bournemouth's win over Southampton last night makes it look like a four-team race for two survival places between Swansea, Sunderland, Norwich and Newcastle. Swansea hold the advantage at the moment on 27 points, with the other three all on 24. Sunderland and Norwich played their 28th games last night, while Newcastle are in action at Stoke tonight. Swansea won't drop a place if they lose tonight, but defeat coupled with a Newcastle win would really hurt, especially given Sunderland's improved play of late.

As mentioned, the visitors have made a host of changes and one of those to come in is Stephen Kingsley, who makes his Premier League debut tonight at left-back. He'll be up against Joel Campbell, but Alexis Sanchez might just want to swap wings and have a go at the debutant.

Midfielder Stephen Kingsley #2 of Swansea City controls the ball against Minnesota United FC on July 19, 2014© Getty Images

You have to say that it looks like Swansea are not prioritising tonight's match with all those changes. With their next three games against Norwich, Bournemouth and Villa, the club seem keen to keep players like Sigurdsson fresh for the weekend. Understandable, but some people won't be happy with it.

H2H: Swansea are unbeaten on their last three league trips to the Emirates, with two wins and one draw. The nine Premier League matches between these sides have seen four wins apiece and one draw.

So Swansea have a pretty impressive record against the Gunners, but this season's reverse fixture was a convincing win for the North London side as they won 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium thanks to goals from Giroud, Koscielny and Campbell.

Olivier Giroud (C) of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with his team mates Per Mertesacker (L) and Mesut Ozil (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on October 31, 2015© Getty Images

Couple of Arsenal points to look out for tonight - defeat would make it three straight competitive losses for the first time since April 2010, while two assists for Mesut Ozil would see him equal the Premier League record of 20 set by fellow Gunner Thierry Henry in 2003.

You'd expect Arsenal to be able to get past a much-changed Swansea side, but the Gunners have failed to score in four of their last six matches in all competitions at the Emirates Stadium. Also, just one of the last 26 goals scored in this fixture has been netted in the first half. So maybe not many goals tonight.

PREDICTION: Those stats don't hint at a goalfest and I think it'll be a low-scoring Arsenal win to nil. The Gunners are not in good form, but I reckon they'll eke out a 1-0 win with Swansea already looking ahead to the weekend game against Norwich.

They love their stats over in America and this ESPN graphic suggests that Spurs - sorry Arsenal fans - are the most likely team to win the league!


Right then, everyone ready? The two teams have just been led out of the tunnel by tonight's referee Robert Madley. Swansea in their pretty awful navy and green hoops tonight.

If you're fully focused on this match and nothing else then fear not, I will keep you up to date on any big goals in tonight's other games - West Ham vs. Spurs, Stoke vs. Newcastle, Liverpool vs. Man City and Man Utd vs. Watford.

KICKOFF! The home side get us underway on a chilly night in North London.

Good stuff from the visitors as they pass the ball neatly around at the back before quickly working it forward. Gomis, who scored the winner here last season, gets the ball on the edge of the box but takes a heavy touch and loses it.

The first shot comes from Arsenal, though, as Sanchez tees up Giroud, whose curling effort is blocked by Williams.

CHANCE! Arsenal well in their stride now and Giroud has a chance to put them ahead but hits it tamely with his weaker right foot from Bellerin's cutback. Arsenal fans, I have some good news...

UPDATE: Early goal at the Boleyn Ground and it's 1-0 West Ham against Spurs as Antonio heads home Payet's corner for the home side. Spurs have won six league games in a row, but are they about to bottle the chance to go top tonight?

If Spurs are beaten in East London then Arsenal will move back level on points with their rivals if they win here tonight.

OFF THE POST! Swansea living dangerously! Ozil flicks a header backwards into the path of Sanchez, who initially misses his kick completely before regaining the ball and slapping a low shot against the far post.

I said before the match that just one of the last 26 goals in this fixture had come in the first half, but it's hard to imagine there won't be one today the way it's going!

GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 SWANSEA (JOEL CAMPBELL)

Nope, didn't take much longer at all! Sanchez lifts the ball into the box for other winger Campbell and the Costa Rican produces a fine finish on the stretch to lift it over Fabianski. Top goal.

So as it stands in the table Arsenal are going level on points with Spurs ahead of Saturday's North London derby and just three behind Leicester.



It was a great pass from Alexis for the goal and that was his first assist at home in the Premier League since April 4, 2015 vs. Liverpool.

SHOTS! Arsenal have done the opposite of sit back since taking the lead and just gone close twice, with Ozil's shot blocked by Kingsley before Bellerin's dipper from distance was saved by Fabianski.

SHOT! Ooooooh! Down the other end Swansea threaten for the first time as Fer's curling effort from 25 yards whistles just over the bar. The visitors want a corner, but Madley says that Cech did not get a touch to it and signals for a goal kick.

The thing for Swansea is just keeping the deficit to one goal. If Arsenal get a second then surely it's too much of an ask for the team from South Wales to get anything from this game.

GOAL! ARSENAL 1-1 SWANSEA (WAYNE ROUTLEDGE)

Excuse me? Where did that come from?! Arsenal want a free kick in the middle, but Madley says no and Swansea play on, with Cork threading the ball into the path of Routledge, who slots past Petr Cech with ease. All square out of nowhere!

Arsenal will want to restore their lead before half time and they're right back on top as Bellerin's low cross is cleared away.

That sweet finish from Routledge ended a run of 34 Premier League appearances without a goal for the wideman.

Just seen a replay of the free-kick incident that Arsenal were complaining about in the lead-up to Swansea's goal. Amat was a bit all over Ozil, but there wasn't enough for the German to tumble to the turf and Madley saw right through it.

Great play by Campbell as he beats Kingsley with a fake before teeing up Bellerin. The right-back could shoot from a tight angle, but he tries to pull it back and the ball hits Amat before cannoning back and going out for a goal kick off Bellerin. Groans from the home fans.

BOOKING! First yellow card of the match to Swansea forward Ayew for tripping up Monreal.

OFF THE BAR! The crossbar's still shaking! Ramsey curls it over and instead of going for goal, Mertesacker nods it back for Giroud, whose right-footed volley is so sweetly hit and crashes back off the woodwork. Too sweet if anything!

Not quite sure how Swansea are level here, but if Arsenal fail to beat a team struggling near the bottom with some of their best players on the bench at home then it really is worrying for the Gunners.

Just the one minute added on.

HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-1 SWANSEA

Pretty incredible that Swansea are level. Arsenal have hit the woodwork twice and scored once, but one lapse at the back was punished and now it'll be a nervy second half for the hosts if they do not restore their lead quickly. Here's an Alexis Sanchez miskick to sum up the way things are going at the moment for the Gunners. Back shortly for the second 45!

Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal miskicks during the Premier League match against Swansea City on March 2, 2016© Getty Images

Okey doke, Arsenal are out for the second half but we're just waiting on Swansea at the Emirates.

SWANSEA SUB: Change at the break from the visitors and it's Sigurdsson on for Ki.

KICKOFF! Swansea get us back underway. Big, big half for Arsenal this, especially with Spurs struggling at West Ham.

Top work down the right from Campbell and Bellerin for Arsenal, but the latter's cross after he skipped past one challenge was in between teammates in the middle.

Oh my! Surely Swansea aren't going to take the lead? Debutant Kingsley produces a fine cross from the left that Cech can't decide whether to claim or not. In the end he decides to leave it and the ball travels dangerously across the six-yard box.

Just looking back at a replay from that Bellerin cross a minute ago, Fer slid in on the Spaniard and the full-back could have easily gone down but rode the challenge and kept the ball in. Good to see as most would have taken a dive at the first opportunity there.

Giroud down the right, Ramsey screaming for it in the middle and it almost reaches the Welshman, but Amat slides in to cut it out.

Ayew cuts in from the right for Swansea and decides to have a shot at goal, but that's nowhere near the goal. High and wide.

Routledge's goal remains the Swans' only shot on target

Wayne Routledge of Swansea City celebrates scoring the equalising goal against Arsenal on March 2, 2016© Getty Images

CLOSE! Ozil's deep corner is chested down 12 yards out by Sanchez, who then quickly gains control before his goalbound shot is toepoked wide by Williams. Definitely a corner, but Madley didn't see it and says goal kick.

CHANCE! Nothing going Sanchez's way at the moment. Great free kick this time from Ozil and somehow Sanchez fails to apply any kind of touch which would have taken it past Fabianski.

Kingsley has arguably been Swansea's best player on his Premier League debut and he's just surged past three red shirts into the box before cutting back to Ramsey and not a teammate.

Delay in play here as Fer receives treatment on the field. Welbeck, who has a good recent record against Swansea, about to come on for the home side.

ARSENAL SUB: It's Campbell off for Welbeck and the Arsenal fans are not happy with that! They boo the decision to take the Costa Rican goalscorer off.

MISS! Oh my word, Swansea should be in front! Sigurdsson surges past Mertesacker into the box and then rounds Cech. The angle is tight, but Sigurdsson goes for too much power and pulls it all the way across goal. What a chance!

Arsenal want a penalty as Giroud falls in the box. Nothing given, but the ball drops to Ozil and his shot is blocked clear. However, the offside flag was up for Giroud at the start of the move, so ignore the above!

Free kick on the edge of the box for Arsenal...

OFF THE BAR! Arsenal hit the woodwork for a third time! Sanchez takes the free kick and his deflected effort comes back off the bar. How close can you get?!

SWANSEA SUB: Second change for the visitors, with young Scottish midfielder Fulton on for Fer.

Here's one of three Arsenal shots against the woodwork tonight. One of those nights?

Olivier Giroud of Arsenal sees his shot saved by Lukasz Fabianski of Swansea City on March 2, 2016© Getty Images

Loads of time for Bellerin out on the right, but he floats a cross too close to Fabianski. Only about 20 minutes left now!

GOAL! ARSENAL 1-2 SWANSEA (ASHLEY WILLIAMS)

Wow! What a night this is for Leicester, with Spurs and now Arsenal BOTH LOSING! Ayew wins a free kick down the right and Sigurdsson whips over a vicious delivery that Cech can only parry into Swans captain Williams, who knows nothing about it. The ball is in the net though!

ARSENAL SUB: Change straight away from Wenger and it's a bold one as he takes off Sanchez for Walcott.

CHANCE! Arsenal corner and Ozil's outswinger is met by Giroud, but he can't generate the power to beat Fabianski.

BOOKING! Routledge becomes the second Swansea player in the book.

Wenger has one change left to make but there are no more attacking players left on the bench! Was it the right call to take Sanchez off? He's hit the woodwork twice and been pretty unlucky tonight.



UPDATE: And I have more good news for Swansea fans: Newcastle have just fallen behind at Stoke.

CHANCE! Giroud feeds the ball into Monreal's path, but the defender leans back and skies it over the bar. What a huge night this is for Leicester. As well as Spurs and Arsenal losing, Man City are 3-0 DOWN at Liverpool in the rematch of Sunday's League Cup final.

Not long to go now and Swansea are doing just fine. If they pull this off it will be some result and probably the worst result of Arsenal's season.

The Gunners threaten a leveller, but Giroud can't reach it at the back post. It's going to be attack versus defence for the next five minutes plus stoppage time. Can Swansea hold on?

Walcott with a header but that's easy for Fabianski.

SWANSEA SUB: Rangel on for Ayew as five minutes added on are signalled.

CLOSE! Welbeck close to an equaliser, but his header on the stretch bounces wide. Into the final two minutes of added time...

Free kick to Arsenal, but Ozil's inswinger is punched clear by former Arsenal keeper Fabianski. Swansea are going to do this!

Cech up for a corner...

FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 1-2 SWANSEA

OH MY GOODNESS! What a huge night in the Premier League title race as Arsenal, Spurs and Man City (3-0 down at Liverpool) all lose! Here at the Emirates Arsenal took the lead but then threw it away, with Swansea earning their first win in five.

It is the first time in almost six years that Arsenal have lost three games in a row and there are boos aplenty at the Emirates. Incredible result.

Anyway, time for me to say goodbye, but why not click back to the homepage for live updates on Liverpool 3-0 City and Man United 1-0 Watford. Keep your eyes peeled for reaction from the Emirates, will be interesting to see what Wenger says. See ya!

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Francesco Guidolin attempts to go unnoticed during the Premier League game between Tottenham Hotspur and Swansea City on February 28, 2016
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


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