Arsene Wenger says Arsenal were a little lucky to score four goals against Swansea as the home side twice put through their own net at the Liberty Stadium.
Olivier Giroud gave the Gunners the lead and Alexis Sanchez rounded off the scoring either side of Jack Cork and Kyle Naughton own goals, both assisted by Alex Iwobi.
Speaking after the 4-0 victory, the boss praised the way his side coped with the Swans energetic start.
“The first half was very intense physically,” noted the boss. “They gave a lot in the first half and then our pace took over. They had problems to contain us.
“Swansea were very well organised and they closed down as a unit very well. We lost balls in the first 20-25 minutes which was down to them.
“In the second half, you could see we could create chances. Our transition and accuracy of passing was very good. We were fortunate with the goals, but the chances were there.”
The boss also touched on the two other big issues to come out of the game, an injury to in-form Olivier Giroud and a strop thrown by Alexis Sanchez when he was substituted with 12 minutes remaining.
“Giroud did well again and he was important for us. He had an ankle injury after 30-35 minutes and got to 60 minutes.
“Sanchez is not injured, he just wanted to stay on the pitch. I did not want to take a gamble on him.”
On his side’s title chances – the Gunners are now third on goal difference – he added:
“There are many good team around us and everyone is doing well. We can only focus on our results and hope some go our way.”
Let’s hope Giroud is OK. Even if he is Plan B we need him.
And that our confidence and points mount up before playing Chelsea.
I am getting a bit bored of hearing this Plan B story over and over. He has scored in all seven starts this season and has one of the the best goals to minute ratio in Europe at the moment. What more does he have to do to be at least an option for Plan A?
That is exactly what’s bothering me mate. He’s doing great and yet I would probably drop him. I think we are a better team with Alexis up top.
Based on what? It’s not like we were flying before these last five games he started in (in which we scored 12 goals). We were coming off the back of 2 poor defeats. We’ve won 4 in 5 and the one we haven’t won we scored 3 in which he had a hand in all of them.
I can accept playing him depending on whether the opponent presses or sits but I think dropping a player in this form regardless in this form is just crazy
It’s based on the opinion (that I agree with) that with Alexis up top, Wenger’s style of football becomes more apparent. He creates greater space for the ball on the ground, and his understanding there with Ozil as his second striker is very similar to Bergkamp-Henry’s partnership. Maybe it’s because we’re searching for a past that we prefer Alexis up top, but I also believe that Wenger’s system created that partnership before, not the other way around, and it can create something here again.
Based on the 19 unbeaten-matches run, before the Everton game (including PSG 2X, Spurs, United, Chelsea)
I think Alexis in the center really works best with a quick winger who makes runs into the middle–so when Theo is fit, I think Wenger will play Alexis as the 9 (or false 9, if you care about the difference). It might also work with Lucas Perez in Theo’s spot. Any other combination, I think means Giroud in the center and Alexis on one of the wings.
“PSG 2X, Spurs, United, Chelsea” We were great against Chelsea. However first game against PSG we were really poor. Cavani could have had as many goals as he wanted. Second PSG game Giroud started and scored. Against Spurs we scored courtesy of an own goal. Against United we were second best all game and Giroud came on to score the winner. I am not saying Giroud should definitely start every game but he should start depending on the game especially in this form. Ozil behind Sanchez has worked very well but sometimes people talk about it as if we were… Read more »
* Giroud came on to score the equaliser (United)
I think when ‘Pedant’ wrote: “he is Plan B” – he meant (as I did) exactly the same: Depending on form and opponent – Yes, he should start. But if we have an in-form/healty Theo and Iwobi, (plus Ox maybe Welbz in the near future),on the wings then our team has more fluidity, creativity and goals in it (if we play with them plus Alexis in the middle). By the way. I think you’re right to go into details. But if you do it -then: you have to write about every 19 games I mentioned. Plus you should write about… Read more »
We did great in some of those 19 games. I just highlighted those few as you highlighted them yourself. However I disagree that the dip in our performances is due to Sanchez going out wide and Giroud playing centre forward. For me the biggest factor by far was Cazorla’s injury. We are just not as fluid without him. If we had someone with his ability back in the team I would be more happy to play a more fluid system more regularly.
I wrote ‘even if he is Plan B’.
I’ll try not to be pedantic but this ‘if’ does make a difference.
AW quite polite about Swansea as is his wont, but they look fucked to me.
Anyway, more importantly good points for us away and points to be dropped by some northerners today.
Onwards and upwards gooners.
AW is trying to boost the Swansea players confidence so they put the effort in against the other teams we’re competing with. Swans drawing with Chavski or Liverpoo! etc can only benefit us.
Good thing we got our back after losing them
*balls back
Phil Collins fan?!?
You are the worst kind of person…
Have you ever seen a player with so many “dubious goals”?? It seems as if whenever Iwobi scores, a defender has had the slightest of touches and the “panel” take it away from him. The commentators were even suggesting his header v crystal palace could be marked as an own goal….Lampard’s goalscoring record would be somewhat lower if that panel worked as dillingently then..
The rules have been the same for ages. If the shot is on target the attacker gets the goal. Those yesterday weren’t even shots, in no way are they ‘dubious’. They are blatant own goals.
First one was a shot
Oh just watched it again and you are correct. Hard to tell if it was on target though. Still don’t think it’s aassive conspiracy.
The first was obviously a goal bound shot but I think the deflection change the pace and the direction of the ball massively.so they have a strong case to give it as an own goal.
There’s bit of unfairness in making “on target” the sole criterion: if there is a shot headed towards the goal that the keeper will obviously save, but it is deflected past him by a teammate, it is credited to the attacker. If a shot blasts off the crossbar, bangs the keeper in the back, and goes in, it is an own goal.
Whether fair or unfair, rules are rules
Alexis is very important player of arsenal. Substituting him was fair but arsenal needs to understand fire under his belly to be great. Anything that stops him will get him frustrated so Wenger needs to talk to him closely and I am sure he will.
It’s important to have Alexis cuz during Swansea match; it was due to alecis, the first goal was scored. He is awesome tackler, fast and sharp shooter. He is like untiring horse which needs utmost love and respect
Iwobi made it happen. With Swansea trying to defend from inside their own 6 yard box, any firmly struck shot/cross had a decent chance of ending in their net.
February is on the way which will be a busy month, we need all our lads to be in good condition, let’s go gunners keep it up
Alexis came out mad cos he knows they didn’t play well against a relegated team and with 2 own goals, he’s very self-critical
May I engage you for psychic services?
I like this theory. Apart from the goal, he didnt have a great game. He decisions were a bit off. If he were frustrated with himself, based on his own standards, I think he’d have reason to be
I do wonder what, if any, conversations Wenger has with Alexis after situations like these when he is rested or taken out early. Sanchez can be as pissed as he wants to be, but has to understand the needs of the team are greater than the needs of any individual and needs to respect Wenger’s decisions and support his teammates instead of sitting off to the side like a pouty kid.
Think he just does it to tease Arseblog, he’s a good lad really.
*sorry, replied to the wrong comment!
This is what Wenger is talking about cultural differences. In other countries, showing displeasure for a simple reason as being taken off is a fairly routine thing and perfectly acceptable, say in all of South America. I’m sure Sanchez didn’t mean anything by it, and honestly with his one-track, golden retriever personality, I doubt he even realizes the extent of this bizarre game of charades the media is trying to play with this guy.
The British media sucks more than even the suckiest thing world wide. That includes Sanchez’s sulk or no sulk episodes. The British media sucks even more than Hitler. And Phil Collins!
The job had already been done and Alex is had to be rested for fear of any injury and also help Wellbeck to be match-fit. Alexis needs equally fit team mates to help him shine and Wenger has to prepare tyem. Wenger was just right.
Comment: Lucky goals you call them but if they were goals scored against us, they would have called our defenders stupid boys….Hehn?! There is no lucky goal in football particularly those ones by Iwobi. We pressed to their box and our effort yeilded a goal. Thats football!