Key Events So Far
- Goal Theo Walcott
- ARSENAL SQUEEZE IT IN! Ozil scooped a ball to the back post ...
- Arsenal's Mustafi hits the bar!
FABULOUS FOOTBALL! Walcott stabs a lovely early ball for Ozil, who then lets Bellerin run onto it on the overlap. The Spaniard is about to finish, but Taylor gets enough on it to take it wide!
Goal Theo Walcott
Great early ball from Xhaka to split the centre-backs and find Alexis through. His first touch takes him off stride a little, so he attempts to lob Fabianski from 25 yards, sending it wide of the post.
Overall Possession Ratio
- ArsenalKey color for Arsenal
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession
Well it has been coming for the home side. Like their goal against Burnley, it was far from the prettiest thing, but great hustle by Walcott to get on the end of that one. He's a different man this season.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Swansea City
Theo Walcott gives Arsenal the lead. That was a proper striker’s goal from the England international.
Hector Bellerin made the most of a lofted pass by Alexis Sanchez by heading the ball across the face of goal, Jordi Amat miscontrolled and a lurking Walcott punished his poor touch by clipping the ball into the back of the net from close-range.
Fully deserved, but could have quite easily been avoided.
THEOOOOOOO! #AFCvSCFC 🔴1-0⚪ (26) https://t.co/A2OrmRdUtb
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) Sat Oct 15 14:27:56 +0000 2016 ARSENAL SQUEEZE IT IN! Ozil scooped a ball to the back post from a central area, and Bellerin wins the header against Routledge. Amat appeared to have it covered, but Walcott nipped in and through sheer determination, won the ball and forced it over the line!
BIG interception from Taylor, who, on the slide, gets a toe on the ball before Walcott was able to break through for a one-on-one with Fabianski. Arsenal are also aggrieved that a challenge on Cazorla didn't lead to a free-kick.
Leroy Fer blazes over
Fast break from Swansea City ended with Barrow feeding the ball into Fer arriving in the box.
The Dutchman lent back as he struck the ball and it flew over the bar.
He didn’t have enough time and space to take two touches, so his first time shot needed to be flawless. It wasn’t.
Cazorla finds Ozil with a lovely pass down the left after Fernandez turned it over with a slack pass out of the back. He tees up Xhaka inside the D, but the midfielder telegraphs his effort and Britton makes the block.
Swansea starting to find their feet in this game of an unsteady start.
They’re looking more organised and disciplined as they sit back and challenge Arsenal to break them down.
If they can get the likes of Wayne Routledge and Barrow motoring on the counter-attack they could trouble Arsenal.
OVER THE BAR! What a chance for the visitors. Barrow cuts the ball into Naughton, who then lays it off for Fer at the top of the box. He leans back and slides his effort narrowly above goal!
Swansea appear to have settled somewhat, or perhaps it's just Arsenal taking their foot off the accelerator in the last few minutes. Barrow is giving them a few things to think about out wide.
Overall Possession Ratio
- ArsenalKey color for Arsenal
- SwanseaKey color for Swansea
Possession
Arsenal's Mustafi hits the bar!
Shkodran Mustafi rises above his marker to meet a corner from birthday boy Mesut Ozil (28 today and send a header goalwards.
It beats Lukasz Fabianski, but not the bar.
Thought we were gonna be seeing this celebration again for a second... Ozil corner, Mustafi header... against the… https://t.co/n4Mf0NoD0R
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) Sat Oct 15 14:14:03 +0000 2016 Fer commits a very careless turnover which is nearly costly for his side as they were outnumbered on the break, but Amat makes a crucial challenge to prevent Walcott from being put through.
OFF THE CROSSBAR! Ozil delivers the ball into the mixer, and Mustafi gets the step on Amat, glancing a header towards goal but seeing it bounce off the top of the woodwork! Closest they've come.
Fernandez gets across to make a challenge on Alexis, but with the ball heading back towards the byline, Fabianski can't prevent it from heading out for a corner, which Ozil prepares to take.
Barrow gets the ball down the right and has Koscielny for company. There's no time to wait for support as he decides to make a play, but the defender shepherds it out for a corner, which is wasted.
It's all neat and tidy from the Gunners at the top of the box as they try to pick the Swansea lock. You get the feeling that it won't be long before Fabianski is called into action in goal.
Arsenal quickly assert themselves. Could be a tough afternoon for the visitors.
The home side have already breached the Swansea City defence - first Mesut Ozil miscued a shot before Alex Iwobi saw his shot deflected wide.
Looks like Arsenal are enjoying a training session so far - zipping the ball around the dazed Swansea players.
Swansea earn a rare respite from Arsenal pressure with a free-kick on the left-hand side, but Sigurdsson's floater is dealt with by the defence. The hosts can't quite coordinate a break between Alexis and Walcott.
Alexis is confronted by Britton but still hooks the ball over the top towards Monreal, but Naughton intercepts it on the slide. It comes right back at the visitors though, who are penned in.
Intricate...perhaps a little too much so from the Gunners. Ozil shifts the ball to Iwobi at the top of the box, and he shimmies past his man but passes up a shot to keep possession going. Swansea crowd out his eventual effort.
KICK-OFF: Arsenal v Swansea City
We’re underway at The Emirates.
Bob Bradley’s first game in charge, Arsene Wenger closing in on 1,000 Premier League points at home.
Who will take home the three points?
✅Players ✅Fans ✅Referee Let’s go - COME ON ARSENAL! Listen live ➡️https://t.co/8ngvs5jbvb #AFCvSCFC 🔴 0-0 ⚪ (1) https://t.co/mGM7gref58
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) Sat Oct 15 14:01:43 +0000 2016 Off we go!
Here’s a stat you won’t believe: Arsenal have averaged 0.8 points per game at home to Swansea in the Premier League, their worst return on home soil against any side.
Arsenal’s defence has been in fine form but they’ll have to make sure they’re switched on for the full 90 minutes today as the Welsh side have scored decisive goals in the 74th minute or later in their last four games against the Gunners.
Arsenal head into this game in great form.
They have kept four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions and if they __win it would be their sixth consecutive Premier League __win - their best run since an eight-match win streak between February and April 2015.
OK, imagine you’re in the Arsenal dressing room and #AFCvSCFC is about to start… What do you say to the players?… https://t.co/jbCuWIyoi5
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) Sat Oct 15 13:48:39 +0000 2016 Historically, Swansea have a good record against Arsenal. The Swans have won three of their last five Premier League games against the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger’s team have managed just one victory against the Welsh side in that time.
If Swansea win today it will be their third consecutive win at The Emirates.
Bob Bradley encouraged by response to his appointment
The Swansea City manager said: “Whenever there’s a change, at any club, it’s a fresh start for everybody.
“You can see that on certain faces, that’s clear. Even at a time in a season when it’s been difficult, when there’s been managerial change, you see enthusiasm and a certain amount of excitement.
“That doesn’t automatically mean because you’ve changed some things everything’s going to come together right away. But it’s a start.”
