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[monks data]
Arsenal logo
Premier League
Mar 25, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Swansea logo

2-2

Podolski (73'), Giroud (74')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Bony (11'), Flamini (90' og.)

Match Analysis: Arsenal 2-2 Swansea City

Sports Mole takes a closer look at Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Swansea at the Emirates Stadium, which was another blow to the Gunners' now-unlikely title chances.

Mathieu Flamini's 90th-minute own goal cost Arsenal victory against Swansea City and saw the Gunners lose further ground in the Premier League title race.

Wilfried Bony headed the visitors into an 11th-minute lead, which they held until deep into the second half before Arsenal scored twice in as many minutes.

Substitute Lukas Podolski bagged the equaliser and then superbly set up Olivier Giroud for Arsenal's 75th-minute second, but Wojciech Szczesny knocked the ball against Flamini late on as Swansea were gifted a 2-2 draw.

Arsene Wenger's side are now six points adrift of Chelsea at the top of the table, while the result keeps relegation-threatened Swansea in 15th, but moves them five points clear of the bottom three.

Below, Sports Mole analyses whether the result was reflective of the action at the Emirates Stadium.

Match statistics

Arsenal
Shots: 13
On target: 4
Possession: 61%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 11

Swansea
Shots: 8
On target: 2
Possession: 39%
Corners: 0
Fouls: 12

Was the result fair?

While Flamini's own goal was a fortunate bounce of the ball for Swansea, it was the slice of luck that their performance warranted. After falling behind early on to an excellent Bony header, the Gunners did very little to pull themselves back into the game until their quickfire double. That could have winded Garry Monk's side beyond repair, but they picked themselves up and deserve great credit for that.

Arsenal's performance

Their attacking play was devoid of pace throughout the match, particularly when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was withdrawn. However, his replacement Podolski proved to be the man to inspire the Gunners' comeback with a tidy finish from Gibbs's cross and a fantastic setup for Giroud. The German seems to have been better suited to an impact substitute role during his time in London. At the other end, Thomas Vermaelen's lack of recent football may have shown when he was not as sharp as Bony in jumping for the opening goal. That incident aside, Arsenal's centre-back pair dealt relatively well with a real nuisance of a striker. Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla endeavoured to create things, but the ball often bounced straight off an ineffective Giroud. It was Kieran Gibbs who was their most potent attacking threat and although his defensive positioning was suspect at times, the full-back had a fine game. They will need to improve dramatically to salvage what was promising to be a successful season.

Swansea's performance

The Welsh club initially set out to frustrate Arsenal by sitting deep, but their early goal, superbly finished by Bony, gave them something to hang on to and the confidence to be a little more expansive. It was when they stopped playing this way and reverted to dropping off that the Gunners punished them, because their defence, marshalled superbly by Ashley Williams, had previously been comfortable. Jonjo Shelvey and Michu, who have both recently returned from injury, were evidently lacking match sharpness and it may say something about the lack of energy in Arsenal's midfield that they were able to keep up. Bony again proved to be an excellent focal point to their attack, but a lack of offensive involvement from the wingers was disappointing. There was often space in behind the home full-backs and Swansea had the pace to expose it, but did not very often. Monk will be very pleased overall, though.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Kieran Gibbs The 24-year-old was Arsenal's best player, offering them a great source of width down the left wing and also producing several important defensive moments. His run and accurate cross, when none of his colleagues looked likely to create anything, provided Podolski with the team's first goal and the catalyst for their comeback. Plus, he was not mistaken for Oxlade-Chamberlain all evening, so a good night all round! To say he is not really in consideration for a World Cup spot shows England's depth in the left-back department. Special mentions to Williams and Bony of Swansea, also. Both were very good.

Biggest gaffe

There is obviously a certain element of bad luck to any own goal, but when you score one so late on, you will inevitably be deemed the villain. Flamini was racing back to help stop a dangerous Swansea attack when Szczesny, who really is equally culpable, knocked the ball against him and into the home net.

Referee performance

Lee Probert had a fairly quiet evening until inviting criticism on himself for blowing the whistle when Jonathan de Guzman was on his way through to goal. The minute clock had just struck 94, and the official had decided that was that, but so rarely do you see a referee call time when a team are on a blatant attack as Swansea were. Elsewhere, he missed a possible penalty when Podolski used his forearm to cynically block Bony's attempts to meet a free kick, so the Welsh club may not be too happy with his performance.

What next?

Arsenal: A season-defining two games against Manchester City and Everton, after which they could either be clinging on to their title hopes, or looking over their shoulder at the in-form Toffees.

Swansea: While tonight was a good point, the Swans have now only won once in 10 games under Monk's management. Norwich City at home this weekend is a great chance for them to change that.

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Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud shoots to score their second goal past Swansea City's Dutch goalkeeper Michel Vorm during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Swansea City at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 25, 201
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