Arsenal vs Swansea City: Gunners Get First Win

It wasn't convincing, but Arsenal finally got their first win of the 2011-12 Premier League campaign, defeating Swansea City 1-0. Debutants Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker impressed for the Gunners, while Scott Sinclair and Nathan Dyer caused Bacary Sagna and especially Kieran Gibbs problems.

It took just 80 seconds for Arsenal's big signing to get involved, as Arteta played a wonderfull through ball for Aaron Ramsey charging through the midfield. The Welsh captain, who did so well to score against Montenegro last Friday, did worse this time, hitting his shot high and wide when a cross may have been better. Arteta was involved moments later when he played a wonderful one-two with Robin van Persie before winning a free kick, which he drove into the wall. Andrey Arshavin, who perhaps had his best Arsenal match since February, was instrumental in Arsenal's creativity, playing in Theo Walcott, who's shot was superbly cleared by Steven Caulker.

Swansea, though, had their moments, enjoying a majority of possession around the 30 minute marked helped by Arsenal's odd reluctance to close down in the midfield. Swansea's good work, however, was undone by a moment of madness. Michel Vorm's roll out hit Angel Rangel (which might be the best name ever) on the heel, and fell to Arshavin, who had an empty net to finish in. It was a good finish from a player who frustratingly does the hard things better than the easy things, but it was just reward for Arsenal's attacking play.

The sequence from the first half continued in the second 45 minutes of action. Swansea, despite the amount of possession that they had, failed to create many chances, aside from one or two moments of quality when Scott Sinclair or Nathan Dyer attacked Kieran Gibbs, who had a poor game. They had a late chance when the excellent Wojciech Szczesny failed to punch away a corner (though it looked like he was fouled), but Danny Graham hit the chance over the bar. 1-0, however, was a fair result: both sides missed easy opportunities in the second half and both hit the woodwork. Swansea may feel hard-done by, but if they continue to defend and pass the ball like they did today, they should stay up comfortably. They are not, though, this year's Blackpool, despite the insistence of Warren Barton.

Arsenal's performance was alright. With so little time for Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun to get acquainted with their new teammates, a lack of understanding could be expected, though the latter 2 greatly impressed. Their pressing system remains a worry, as does Kieran Gibbs, but results and performances should continue to improve from here on out.