Arsenal vs Swansea match report: Gunners blow chance to gain ground on Spurs and Leicester

Arsenal 1 Swansea City 2

(Getty Images)

Arsenal’s season is beginning to take on the hue of a Shakespearean tragedy, their quest for glory being undone not by rivals but their own flaws. Their lack of game management, their weakness of character, and, last night, a simple goalkeeper error.

Petr Cech does not make many mistakes, but this one was calamitous, gifting Swansea three points they barely dreamed of and condemning Arsenal to a third successive defeat. A point would have been a bonus for Swans, but three is the best tonic their stricken manager could possibly have received.

The Gunners had seemed on course for a routine victory when, after constant pressure, they took the lead through a beautifully crafted, sublimely executed, 15th-minute goal from Joel Campbell. But there is little that is routine in this season and Wayne Routledge equalised. Then, after Alexis Sanchez hit the woodwork for the second time, Ashley Williams scrambled a Swansea second to leave Arsenal still six points behind Leicester, and lift Swansea six clear of the drop.

Swansea’s preparations were disrupted when their manager Francesco Guidolin was admitted to hospital having dropped in to see a specialist about a persistent respiratory infection while in London. He was advised to stay in “for a few days” but was said by the club to be “in a comfortable position”.

In his absence Alan Curtis, who had a mixed spell as caretaker manager earlier this season, was back in charge. His was an unenviable task. Presumably selected by Guidolin with an eye on Saturday’s visit by relegation rivals Norwich, only five players survived from the XI narrowly beaten but comprehensively outplayed at Tottenham on Sunday.

Williams was the only member of the back four retained; to his left Scottish full-back Stephen Kingsley, who spent the first half of the season on loan at League One strugglers Crewe, was given a daunting Premier League debut. Ahead of this makeshift defence Swansea fielded three attacking players in an odd 4-3-1-2 formation. It was definitely bold, and possibly foolhardy.

The Swansea XI seemed just what Arsenal’s doctor would have ordered after their wan display at Old Trafford. Arsène Wenger made a trio of changes, two forced. Olivier Giroud and Campbell returned in attack with Theo Walcott dropped and Danny Welbeck, still easing into regular football after his lay-off, rested. In defence Per Mertesacker replaced Laurent Koscielny, who had a “slight calf strain”.

To no great surprise Arsenal dominated from the start. Under softly falling rain they penned Swansea back and should have scored long before Campbell did. Giroud scorned two good chances, then Sanchez produced an air shot with the goal agape. Recovering quickly, he swivelled to shoot but struck the post, the ball rebounding into Lukasz Fabianski’s arms.

The former Arsenal keeper was beaten, however, in the 15th minute. Campbell’s run from deep into a crowded area was picked out by Sanchez with an exquisite chipped pass and the Costa Rican acrobatically converted.

The pressure continued, with Fabianski just holding on to a Hector Bellerin drive at the second attempt. It appeared merely a matter of how many Arsenal would score, but Leroy Fer showed that Swansea were not to be taken for granted with a 25th-minute shot just over.

Eight minutes later Mesut Özil was muscled out of a high ball by Jordi Amat and the ball ran to Jack Cork. He drifted easily, too easily, away from Aaron Ramsey before releasing Routledge running behind Bellerin and Mertesacker. The winger’s finish was impeccable. Arsenal complained, with some justification, that Amat had fouled Özil, but that did not excuse their poor defending.

Arsenal’s response was good, but from Mertesacker’s lay-back Giroud, 10 metres out, thrashed a volley against the bar. They thus went into the break with the mood subdued – until Spurs’ half-time deficit was announced.

When the players returned, however, schadenfreude gave way to the tension that is now as much a part of the Emirates matchday experience as the Gunnersaurus mascot. Roars of encouragement alternated with howls of frustration as passes went astray and only Sanchez, once, threatened before the hour-mark.

All the while Swansea grew in confidence. They might even have taken the lead but Gylfi Sigurdsson could not convert from a tight angle.

Arsenal’s frustration grew as a Sanchez free-kick deflected on to the bar, but that was a minor irritant compared to the horror of the 75th minute. Ayew won a free-kick from Bellerin, Sigurdsson whipped it in, and Cech could only push the ball into the body of Williams. To South Walian joy the ball rebounded in.

Further bad news arrived for Arsenal after the game with fears that Cech might have a hamstring injury.