Arsenal fans make their point outside the Emirates this afternoon

Published: 1 December, 2012
by TOM FOOT at the Emirates

Premier League
ARSENAL 0, SWANSEA CITY 2

AROUND 150 Arsenal fans assembled on the roundabout outside the Emirates before kick-off chanting “fourth is not a trophy' and “spend some money“. A black and yellow banner added: “Let's kick GREED out of football – where has our Arsenal gone?“.

It aas a stuttering protest, mired in contradictions, but a sign that tensions are beginning to bubble over.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was flat and there were no obvious signs of dissent from the home support. Not until Miguel Michu notched a late brace on 88 and 90 minutes. A disgruntled minority began clapping the away fans' taunts of "you‘re getting sacked in the morning". It felt ugly.

Arsene Wenger said: "My response is I can understand that. But it is more down to the shareholders – I don't want to get involved in that. I cannot say no to whether we need to spend money in the transfer window.

"We are in this job to turn it round. In some ways, it is a good moment to stick together.

"It is important that we get the quality of our game back – then the positions will change.

"Swansea deserved to win. It is disappointing, but it is the truth."

The stats show that Arsenal have not lost a league game since the 2-1 defeat against Manchester United on November 3. But they sit 10th in the Premier league and even the much hyped fourth place is beginning to dip away into the horizon.

This was an even contest between seventh and eighth in the table.

When asked if the 2-0 win at Arsenal was Swansea's best this season, manager Michael Laudrup put things in context: “No – it is not more special than winning at QPR or West Ham."

And because of the new company Arsenal are currently keeping this was really the kind of home tie they could not afford to slip up in – and especially not in such deflating fashion.

Yet, the players started the match in reverse gear with the attacking midfielders too often chasing back to break up the Swansea passing play.

An instinctive double save from Wojciech Szczesny and a last-gasp sliding tackle from Thomas Vermaelen stopped the visitors taking the lead in the first half.

Arsenal's attempts were restricted to an air header from Gervinho, in for the rested Olivier Giroud who might have done better in that position.

Theo Walcott struggled on the right wing while Jack Wilshere failed to grab the game by the scruff of the neck.

The Gunners started the second half in control and there were shouts for a penalty when Santi Cazorla fell in the box while trying to nip through two defenders on 58 minutes. Mark Clattenberg waved away the appeals and replays revealed minimal contact and a dive.

Cazorla – Arsenal's most consistent player – then fired a dipping volley that was saved by Gerhard Tremmel.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Giroud entered the fray on 68 minutess for the ineffective Lucas Podolski and Gervinho.

But despite the fresh legs the moves still broke down, Walcott in particular chucking his arms in the air and exchanging blank looks with team-mates

The slow build up of pressure is not a Wenger trademark, but without the razor-sharp passing and clinical finishing of times gone by there does not appear to be many other options available to him.

Vermaelen's flying header on 87 minutes was Arsenal's best opportunity. But it was Swansea who took their chances as the game became stretched near the end. Helped by some slapstick defending by Carl Jenkinson at the death, they deserved the three points and to be clapped off by the home support.

Laudrup added: “Seven points against Arsenal, Liverpool and West Brom in seven days is fantastic."