Arsenal 0-1 Swansea: Garry Monk dismisses Arsene Wenger criticism

By Dafydd PritchardBBC Wales Sport at Emirates Stadium
Arsenal 0-1 Swansea: Swansea adapt for big games - Monk

Swansea City manager Garry Monk defended his side's tactics after Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accused them of "refusing to play" in their 1-0 Premier League win.

Bafetimbi Gomis's late header secured victory for the visitors at Emirates Stadium after they withstood long periods of Arsenal pressure.

"We were unlucky against a team who just defended," said Wenger.

Monk said: "If we didn't play, I'm not sure how we got the three points."

He added: "Three points - that's the pleasing bit, whether we deserved it or not.

Wenger says loss unlucky and undeserved

"We could have come here and gone toe-to-toe but, with the individual quality Arsenal have, they could have hurt us, so we set up very well with a game plan.

"We've done it all season. We've played games where we've dominated and won and we've played games like this where we've set up differently."

Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made several fine saves to deny his former team as the Gunners dominated the second half.

The Swans defended stoically to secure a win which lifted them into eighth in the table and closer to a European place.

Arsenal's first defeat in 11 league games left them three points behind second-placed Manchester City.

"They came just to defend with four defenders and six midfielders," said Wenger.

"If you win, you're fantastic. If you lose, people say, 'Why did you not play?' They won, so they are fantastic."