FIRST HALF
The game got off to a tentative start, with both sides happy to feel each other out in the opening exchanges - although Nacho Monreal had a sight of goal but dragged his shot wide.
The Gunners soon started to grow into the match, and
Campbell came within inches of breaking the deadlock with a brilliant
first-time effort that sailed just past the far post.
But the threat Swansea posed was soon writ large when
Shelvey played Gomis clean through on a goal with a fine slide-rule
pass. The French forward raced on, but hesitated as he went around Cech
which allowed Bellerin to slide in and steal the ball of the striker’s
foot right in the nick of time.
It was a big let off for the Gunners, who soon found
themselves under further pressure as Gomis tested Cech with a firm
header from Montero’s cross.
Back Arsenal came, and Giroud had a golden opportunity just before the half-hour as Alexis found him in space in the area, but the France international blazed his effort over the bar.
Campbell threatened again with a snap-shot from the edge of the area, but former Gunner Lukasz Fabianski was equal to it.
SECOND HALF
The Gunners made the perfect start to the second half as
Ozil whipped in a corner from the left and Giroud found himself unmarked
in the area, diverting his header into the bottom corner.
It was Arsenal’s 2,000th goal under Wenger and could not
have come at a better side, as they sought to establish their dominance
on a well-contested affair.
But Swansea came straight back at the Gunners, with Cech
having to dive full length to palm away Montero’s fizzing effort from
the edge of the area.
Arsenal kept the tempo up as they sought to put the game
to bed and they had their reward in the 68th minute when Koscielny took
advantage of a Fabianski error to force the ball in from close range.
The home fans were not happy, but referee Kevin Friend
insisted there was no foul after Koscielny challenged Fabianski in the
area, before stabbing the loose ball into the bottom corner.
Campbell then put the seal on a fine individual
performance in the 74th minute when he got on the end of Ozil’s ball
across the face of goal, took a touch and bent it into the far corner.
It was a fine way to cap a brilliant afternoon’s work for
the Gunners ahead of a week that is sure to test them to the limit. But
on this evidence, they have nothing to fear.
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