Gnabry grabs first senior goal as Arsenal beat Swansea

Arsenal put in a resilient performance as Serge Gnabry grabbed his first senior goal in a 2-1 win over Swansea. Aaron Ramsey was once again on the scoresheet as he silenced the Welsh crowd that had been booing him all game. After a dull first half the Gunners came back fighting and thanks to other results going their way, they extended their lead at the top of the table to 2 points. The side was unchanged from the team that had beaten Stoke last weekend with the only change being on the bench as Fabianski replaced Viviano. The Liberty Stadium is a tough place to go and Arsenal have slipped up there in recent games. It was the seventh meeting between the two sides in a little over 2 years but Arsenal came out on top this time.

Serge Gnabry capped off a brilliant week by scoring in the win against Swansea

The first chance of the game fell to Per Mertesacker. He was full of confidence after his goal last weekend but this time his header bounced wide.

Aaron Ramsey then came close after Flamini laid him off but the Welshman's driven strike went inches wide.

Swansea's first chance came thanks to a poor back pass which put Szczesny under pressure. His touch was poor and Michu stole in. However the ball went out of play, but only just, denying Swansea what probably would've been a certain goal.

The score at half time was 0-0.

Arsenal's best chance so far came minutes into the second half. Gnabry did well to find Giroud who then fired wide of the far post.

Szczesny and Michu then went toe-to-toe again but this time the Pole rushed out and got to the ball ahead of the Spaniard.

With the game looking as though it would be a draw due to the lack of chances, Arsenal grabbed the opener. Ramsey slipped a lovely reverse ball into Serge Gnabry who then stroked the ball home for his first Arsenal goal. It was quite a come back from the man who played 120 minutes in the week against West Brom and missed a penalty.

Just before the hour mark it was almost two. Ramsey surged through the middle of the park and then found Ozil but his shot was poor and Vorm kept it out.

Nathan Dyer then had a chance to spread his legs as he struck a shot from the edge of the area which deflected off Koscielny and forced Szczesny into making a great save to keep the ball in play.

From that, Arsenal managed to break away. Ozil found Ramsey who flicked the ball onto Wilshere. His determination won himself the ball and then played a one-two with Giroud. The Frenchman laid the ball off to Ramsey who fired home for his eighth goal in nine appearances this season!

Wojciech Szczesny was then forced into making his first real save of the match. Dyer had space on the edge of the area to hit a powerful shot but it was well kept out.

Swansea were pressing for an equaliser as Bony got their next chance after Wilshere gave the ball away. However his chance from a tight angle was saved at the near post.

The hosts were to find a goal though. Bony clipped the ball over the defence into Ben Davies who found the net with nine minutes remaining.

It was to be a nervy finish as the Swans looked for an equaliser. However Arsenal remained solid at the back and held on for all three points.

The final score finished Swansea 1-2 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Swansea: Vorm, Tiendalli, Chico, Amat, Davies, Canas, Shelvey(61), Dyer, De Guzman, Routledge(64), Michu.
Subs: Tremmel, Taylor, Alfei, Britton, Pozuelo(64), Bony(61), Vazquez.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil(88), Wilshere(90), Gnabry(78), Giroud. 
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Monreal(88), Jenkinson(90), Arteta(78), Miyaichi, Bendtner. 

My man of the match: Serge Gnabry

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 20,712