Bafetimbi Gomis header secures three points for Swans
Swansea City stunned Arsenal last night at the Emirates Stadium thanks to a late header from Bafetimbi Gomis, which was confirmed by the new goal-line technology.
The Swans overcame The Gunners earlier on in the season at the Liberty Stadium thanks to a Gomis header, and it was the same man who ruined Arsenal’s night last night when he nodded home in the 85h minute.
The 1-0 win meant Swansea completed a season double over both Arsenal and Manchester United.
It was a very slow-paced and quiet game at the Emirates, surprisingly considering the type of football both teams play, but with just two shots on target from the first-half, the teams went into the interval all level at 0-0.
The best chance of the half came for Olivier Giroud in the opening minutes, but he couldn’t keep down his header from an Aaron Ramsey cross.
Second-Half
The second-half picked up in pace and in attempts with the majority of them being fired at former-Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, but the Pole was trying his best to spoil his old-employers night.
After denying Alexis Sanchez, Fabianski then denied Theo Walcott and continued to frustrate the home crowd, who were getting agitated at the thought of a 0-0 draw, scuppering their chances of a second-placed finish.
Things then got even worse for the home faithful as a quick counter attack saw Gomis head home from a Jefferson Montero cross.
The Swans substitute just got enough on the ball for it to go over the line as David Ospina clawed it away, but thanks to goal-line technology, the goal was given just five minutes before the end.
Cue mass exodus at the Emirates as thousands of angry home fans fled for the exits.
Premier League
The game ended 1-0 to Swansea and it saw them go just one point behind Southampton in the Premier League, whilst Arsenal stay third, three points behind Manchester City but with a game in hand.
Swansea face City at the weekend in Wales, whilst Arsenal travel to Old Trafford to face fourth-placed Manchester United.
Match Reaction
After the game, both Monk and Arsene Wenger faced the media.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We were a bit unlucky with the goal. There are a lot of positives. This kind of game you play 20 times and win 19 times.
“In patches our domination was top quality. You have to learn from defeat and we take encouragement from a defeat like that.
“Swansea deserve credit for their defensive display but they probably had the fewest passes in our half of any team here this season.”
Swansea manager Garry Monk: “We worked all week on our plan. The players were magnificent and carried it out to the letter.
“I’ve tried to make the team adaptable. There’s no one way to play – as a team you have to be able to adapt and today was a perfect example of that.
“We didn’t have a fit striker to choose from the start, but I knew if it was tight in the last 20 minutes we could push for a winner.”
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