Match Review: Arsenal Earn Fortunate Win Over Swans

Arsenal recorded its first win of the Premier League season thanks to a freak goal in what was, in honesty, a nervy affair for the Gunners and a commendable performance for Swansea City.

Swansea took the game to the Gunners and on occasions threatened the Arsenal goal with keeper Wojciech Szczesny making a very good save in the first half from Graham just as the visitors saw a later effort off Scott Sinclair’s free kick graze the Arsenal post with the Welsh side pushing to score their first goal of the league campaign.

Theo Walcott saw a shot on goal cleared off the line but with half time approaching, a bit of fortune for Arsenal undid the Swans as keeper Vorm’s intended throw out bounced off his defender’s back onto the path of Andrey Arshavin who gratefully tapped in.

Robin van Persie saw an effort from the edge of the box hit the outside of the Swansea post in the second half and substitute Marouane Chamakh saw his header well saved. Swansea then could have earned a point late on only for Graham to shoot over from close range.

The match saw Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker make their full debuts for Arsenal and both put in assured performances though Tuesday’s trip to Dortmund in the Champions League will prove a sterner test for the duo, Mertesacker especially. Israeli international Yossi Benayoun also came off the bench for his debut with half an hour left in the match.

Overall, seems the team is still coming to terms with a horrid start to the campaign but the win, however most fortunate earning the three points was, should help settle whatever jitters remain in the squad.