Swansea guns down Arsenal
Source: Agencies |
January 17, 2012, Tuesday
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ARSENAL'S hopes of a late challenge for the Premier League title took what could be a decisive blow on Sunday with a 3-2 defeat at newcomer Swansea.
Robin van Persie put the Gunners ahead early with his 18th goal of the season but Swansea outplayed and outpassed what has long been one of England's most attractive teams.
Scott Sinclair struck a 16th-minute penalty before Nathan Dyer made it 2-1 to the Swans 12 minutes after halftime. Theo Walcott equalized in the 69th but Arsenal conceded less than a minute later as Danny Graham took advantage of some slack defending to hit a 70th-minute winner.
Arsenal's sixth defeat from 11 away matches allowed sixth-place Newcastle to draw level on 36 points with a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. Arsenal is four points behind fourth-place Chelsea in the final Champions League berth.
Swansea's commitment to attacking, passing football instead of the safety-first approach of many Premier League newcomers has now lifted it to 10th place, 10 points behind the Gunners but nine clear of the relegation zone.
"It's something we all inherently believe in and we've had success with it," Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said. "The players show great courage to pass the ball. Sometimes we make mistakes but I've got a great belief they can play and pass, even against the best teams."
In its first topflight season since 1982-83, Swansea played about 100 more passes than Arsenal.
Arsenal stayed fifth in the standings, four points behind fourth-place Chelsea in the final Champions League berth. Swansea is in 10th place, 10 points behind the Gunners but nine clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle moved above Liverpool despite losing leading scorer Demba Ba to Senegal and the African Cup of Nations. Leon Best again started up front and scored the only goal in the 37th minute.
In Spain, Barcelona let slip an early 0-2 lead before struggling past 10-man Real Betis 4-2 in the Spanish league after Lionel Messi scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone won on his home debut as his new team beat Villarreal 3-0 thanks to Radamel Falcao's double.
Also, it was: Osasuna 0, Racing Santander 2; Athletic Bilbao 3, Levante 0; and Sporting Gijon 2, Malaga 1.
Robin van Persie put the Gunners ahead early with his 18th goal of the season but Swansea outplayed and outpassed what has long been one of England's most attractive teams.
Scott Sinclair struck a 16th-minute penalty before Nathan Dyer made it 2-1 to the Swans 12 minutes after halftime. Theo Walcott equalized in the 69th but Arsenal conceded less than a minute later as Danny Graham took advantage of some slack defending to hit a 70th-minute winner.
Arsenal's sixth defeat from 11 away matches allowed sixth-place Newcastle to draw level on 36 points with a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. Arsenal is four points behind fourth-place Chelsea in the final Champions League berth.
Swansea's commitment to attacking, passing football instead of the safety-first approach of many Premier League newcomers has now lifted it to 10th place, 10 points behind the Gunners but nine clear of the relegation zone.
"It's something we all inherently believe in and we've had success with it," Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers said. "The players show great courage to pass the ball. Sometimes we make mistakes but I've got a great belief they can play and pass, even against the best teams."
In its first topflight season since 1982-83, Swansea played about 100 more passes than Arsenal.
Arsenal stayed fifth in the standings, four points behind fourth-place Chelsea in the final Champions League berth. Swansea is in 10th place, 10 points behind the Gunners but nine clear of the relegation zone.
Newcastle moved above Liverpool despite losing leading scorer Demba Ba to Senegal and the African Cup of Nations. Leon Best again started up front and scored the only goal in the 37th minute.
In Spain, Barcelona let slip an early 0-2 lead before struggling past 10-man Real Betis 4-2 in the Spanish league after Lionel Messi scored his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone won on his home debut as his new team beat Villarreal 3-0 thanks to Radamel Falcao's double.
Also, it was: Osasuna 0, Racing Santander 2; Athletic Bilbao 3, Levante 0; and Sporting Gijon 2, Malaga 1.
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