Arshavin goal gives Arsenal first league win

Mikel Arteta was making his Arsenal debut

Arsenal picked up their first 3 points of the season on Saturday as they beat Premier League new boys Swansea 1-0 at the Emirates. A rare error from goalkeeper Michael Vorm was enough for Arsenal. Arshavin gave them the only goal of the match, as the Gunners won for the first time in the league this season. There were many changes to the side that got smashed 8-2 by Manchester United in the last game. Arteta and Mertesacker made their debuts whilst Frimpong was back from suspension. Sagna was back from illness and Gibbs returned at left back after recovering from an injury. Other new boys Park, Benayoun and Santos were amongst the substitutes for the game.

In the very first minute of the game Arsenal created the first chance as Arteta got forward and fed Ramsey inside the penalty area but he smashed his shot wide of the goal.

Swansea's first chance of the game fell to Danny Graham. Aguestien delivering the ball into the path of Graham who got his foot to the ball but Szczesny was forced to make an outstanding save to keep out the ex-Watford man.

Then Walcott must have thought he had scored as Arshavin found him just inside the penalty area. Walcott got the shot away which came off the goalkeeper and was then cleared off the line by Cualker.

Then 5 minutes before the break Arsenal were gifted the lead in bizarre fashion as Theo Walcott hit a shot which looped off a defender into Vorms hands. He then rolled the ball out straight to his own defender who was facing the wrong way, Arshavin was alert to the loose ball and then curled the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Sinclair was one of Swansea's best players in the defeat

The first chance of the second half fell to Swansea from a freekick after Koscielny had brought down Sinclair on the edge of the box. Sinclair took the free kick and the ball curled over the wall and onto the cross bar and behind.

Arsenal's first chance fell to Van Persie but they were also denied by the woodwork as the dutchman cut inside and hit a shot which struck the post and bounced out of play.

Into the last ten minutes and Arsenal had a great chance to seal the game. Gibbs was set free down the left hand side before putting the ball onto the head of Chamakh but the header was straight at Vorm.

In the final moments of the game Swansea had a great chance to equalise as Szczesny missed the ball in a crowd of players from the corner which left Graham with an open goal but struck his shot over the crossbar.

The final score finished Arsenal 1-0 Swansea.

The teams lineups: 

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Frimpong(73), Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Arshavin(62), Van Persie(80).
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Santos, Coquelin(73), Benayoun(62), Park, Chamakh.

Swansea: Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Caulker, Britton, Allen(74), Rangel, Agustien(63), Dyer(83), Sinclair, Graham. 
Subs: Richards, Gower(63), Tremmel, Bessone, Moore(83), Lita, Dobbie(74).

My man of the match: Andrey Arshavin

Referee: Stuart Attwell

Attendance: 60,087