Match ends, Arsenal 2, Swansea City 1.
Arsene Wenger suggested his Arsenal side have proved their critics wrong after coming back from behind to win for the third game in a row.
Aaron Ramsey's winner against Swansea - his 50th goal for the club - secured a fourth successive win in total, and came at the end of a testing week off the pitch, with shareholder protests at Thursday's annual general meeting.
On the field, Arsenal have discovered their character, having come back from conceding the first goal to beat Everton and Swansea in the league, as well as Norwich in the Carabao Cup.
"Again we have showed the mental strength to come back and win the game," said Wenger, who enjoyed victory in his 800th Premier League game.
"I'm convinced that we have proved people wrong at Everton, Norwich and today and that can only make the team stronger."
Victory restored some cheer after the AGM, at which shareholders attempted unsuccessfully to vote out chairman Sir Chips Keswick, in protest at the way the club is being run.
And the gloom looked set to deepen when Sam Clucas slotted in a 22nd-minute goal against the run of play from Tammy Abraham's pass to give Swansea a half-time lead. It was the first touch Swansea had managed inside Arsenal's penalty area.
But two quick goals after the interval maintained Arsenal's 100% home record this season, with Sead Kolasinac firing in an equaliser before cutting back from the left for Ramsey to steer in via the foot of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Kolasinac eases Arsenal's troubles
It was a happier end to the week for Wenger, who revealed during Thursday's stormy AGM that his position would be reviewed at the end of the season, even though he signed a two-year contract in May.
Those comments add an extra degree of uncertainty to Arsenal's long-term future, with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez both widely expected to leave when their contracts expire at the end of the season.
Ozil, Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette played together as an attacking trio for only the second time - but their chief threat came from elsewhere.
Kolasinac, playing in the left wing-back role, provided their attacking impetus, taking every chance to get forward as Arsenal laboured in the first half, before playing a central role in the turnaround.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international finished a terrific move for the equaliser, as Arsenal finally managed to pass their way around and through a well-organised Swansea side.
Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Lacazette and Ozil were all involved, with the German's shot bouncing off a defender and running loose for Kolasinac to thump in via a deflection.
The wing-back's positive run to the byeline then set up Ramsey for the second, and there were other inspired moments, notably a beautiful, dragged backheel that sent Sanchez away down the left for a cross-shot that was saved.
"I liked his game today," Wenger said. "He had a good finish on the goal and some good combinations on the left, leading to the assist for the second.
"Once he scored, the confidence grew and he became more and more dangerous."
Stubborn Swansea rue Ayew miss
Swansea have been very hard to break down away from home this season, despite their poor league position.
For much of this game, it looked as if that run would continue, as head coach Paul Clement switched to a 5-3-2 system that smothered Arsenal's passing game.
John Motson, commentating for Match of the Day, described the early exchanges as "cat and mouse" - but it was the mouse that roared first.
Clucas timed his run perfectly in from the left on to Abraham's through pass and rolled a finish past Petr Cech to leave the home side shocked.
Abraham, watched by England manager Gareth Southgate, turned in a highly commendable performance, increasing his chances of a first senior call-up for the November friendlies against Germany and Brazil.
Swansea created little in terms of clear chances, but will regret passing up a great opportunity to go 2-0 up just before half-time.
Jordan Ayew dispossessed a hesitant Per Mertesacker inside the penalty area, and only had Cech to beat - but the Arsenal goalkeeper stayed calm and blocked with his knee.
Man of the match - Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal)
What they said
Arsenal goalscorer Aaron Ramsey: "It was difficult in the first half but we stuck at it. We have quality players in this team. I'm delighted we won and kept our 100% home record.
"I'm pleased to reach 50 goals for this club. I hope there are a few more to come."
Swansea head coach Paul Clement: "It is frustrating in terms of results but we saw some positive things. That was not a bad performance, we come to a big ground and gave them a tough game. Now we have got to turn our home form around.
"I liked a lot of things about the performance and we deserved a little bit more than we got."
Arsenal's 13 in a row - the key stats
- Arsenal have now won their last 13 games at the Emirates in all competitions, their longest ever winning run at the stadium.
- This was also Arsene Wenger's 400th home win with the Gunners in all competitions (213 at the Emirates, 185 at Highbury, two at Wembley).
- Aaron Ramsey is the 11th player to score 50 or more goals for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.
- The Gunners have come from behind to win three Premier League games this season, more than they did in the whole of 2016-17 (two).
- No player has created more goalscoring opportunities in the Premier League this season than Mesut Ozil (30, level with Kevin De Bruyne).
- The Swans have mustered fewer shots (76) and shots on target (20) than any other Premier League side this season.
What's next?
Arsenal resume their Europa League campaign at home to Crvena Zvezda on Thursday (20:05 GMT) before travelling to Manchester City in the Premier League next Sunday (14:15), while Swansea host Brighton next Saturday (15:00).
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 33Cech
- 6Koscielny
- 4Mertesacker
- 18Monreal
- 24Bellerín
- 8Ramsey
- 29Xhaka
- 31KolasinacSubstituted forHoldingat 78'minutes
- 11Özil
- 7Sánchez
- 9LacazetteSubstituted forGiroudat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Wilshere
- 12Giroud
- 14Walcott
- 16Holding
- 17Iwobi
- 34Coquelin
- 54Macey
Swansea
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Fabianski
- 5van der HoornSubstituted forDyerat 82'minutes
- 33Fernandez
- 6Mawson
- 26Naughton
- 4Ki Sung-yueng
- 8Fer
- 14CarrollSubstituted forMcBurnieat 84'minutes
- 17Clucas
- 18J AyewSubstituted forNarsinghat 81'minutes
- 10Abraham
Substitutes
- 11Narsingh
- 12Dyer
- 13Nordfeldt
- 15Routledge
- 51Mesa
- 61Rodon
- 62McBurnie
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
- Attendance:
- 59,493
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home73%
- Away27%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Swansea City 1.
Post update
Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alfie Mawson (Swansea City).
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Offside, Arsenal. Mesut Özil tries a through ball, but Alexis Sánchez is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mesut Özil.
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Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Nacho Monreal with a cross.
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Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Federico Fernández (Swansea City).
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Oliver McBurnie replaces Tom Carroll.
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Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Leroy Fer (Swansea City).
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Nathan Dyer replaces Mike van der Hoorn.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Luciano Narsingh replaces Jordan Ayew.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Olivier Giroud replaces Alexandre Lacazette.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
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Leroy Fer (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Rob Holding replaces Sead Kolasinac because of an injury.
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Offside, Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey tries a through ball, but Alexandre Lacazette is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tammy Abraham (Swansea City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a set piece situation.
Comments
Join the conversation
Interesting that there’s an HYS on an Arsenal game, but nothing on the Spuds one and no sign of the usual suspects up to their predictable trolling....silence is golden.
kevin_sandwiches
on
6 minutes ago
arsenal dont deserve to be in this league!! championship club at best!
clearly this sandwich is lacking a filling
Get over it, The Spuds are out and The Arsenal march on!
Let’s wait and see shall we? Hardly a resounding thrashing of West Brom, those European galacticos, was it? One goal margin? Believe me, Man City conceding two to WB will give the Gunners a confident starting point.
You know what pride came before, dont you benny?
By the way, BBC. Why no HYS on Spurs’ downfall?
Ps Don't go to tottingham unless you absolutely have to. It is literally appalling.
kevin_sandwiches
on
6 minutes ago
arsenal dont deserve to be in this league!! championship club at best!
clearly this sandwich is lacking a filling
With an attitude like his, I'm sure it'd be simple enough to find willing volunteers to fill in that sandwich......
“This is typical Arsenal ... mid-March you just know that they'll finish anywhere between 3rd and 7th
What is typical about that when they’ve only once finished outside the top four in the last 21 years or so?
I think you need to treat yourself to a new dictionary chap. Because someone has clearly torn out the T section page featuring the word ‘typical’.
'This comment was removed because it broke the house rules. Explain'
He always seems to say exactly the same thing. Can't understand it myself !
After going 1-0 down to Swansea, and playing terribly for the first half, I don't think Wenger has proved any critics wrong though.
- Southampton Supporter
Ashley Young mugging Dele Alli off was brilliant. And accurate.
Good ol' Sp*rs, always guaranteed to make you chuckle.....