Arsene Wenger v The Swansea Defense
(Arsenal 0 – 1 Swansea)
It was a game of immensely uninspiring and unentertaining football; a game that was not helped by the 10 goal thriller simultaneously taking place in the League One playoffs between Sheffield United and Swindon. During the game Arsenal had just nine shots on target, while Swansea chalked up just three. The difference between the two teams was merely that Swansea managed to make better use of one of their shots on target, and walked away with a valuable three points which guarantees they can’t finish lower than ninth in the league.
Arsenal meanwhile are headed towards their coveted fourth place spot – a spot that can only be disappointing to them given that they are edging down towards it rather than up.
You’d expect Arsenal to be disappointed at losing, but bitterness was unexpected at the final whistle. Arsene Wenger did not take the graceful route out of the ground and instead said that Arsenal “were unlucky… against a team who refused to play completely and just defended. They came just to defend with four defenders and six midfielders, and they defended. That’s it.”
It was a cheap shot at a Swansea who, on paper, should have been beaten by Arsenal. – but weren’t Fortunately for the neutrals, Swansea Manager Gary Monk had a response ready to defend his team against Wenger’s moaning.
According to Monk, “If we didn’t play, I don’t know how we got three points.”
Boom. Advantage Monk.