- Swans win it through Williams
- Arsenal six points off top
- 3-straight defeats for Gunners
Swansea City beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to put a huge dent in the Gunners’ fading title aspirations.
Arsenal led through Joel Campbell’s first half strike but Wayne Routledge equalized before the break and Ashley Williams bundled home just over 15 minutes from time to seal a memorable win for the Welsh outfit.
With the win Swansea -- who were without manager Francesco Guidolin who was taken to hospital with a chest infection -- move on to 30 points, while Arsenal stay on 51 points and are now six points off first-place Leicester City.
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Arsenal did all the pressing early on and Alexis Sanchez went agonizingly close to giving the Gunners the lead. The Chilean hustled on the left side of the box and smashed a low shot which cannoned off the post and straight into the grateful grasp of Swansea’s goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
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The Gunners did take the lead after 19 minutes as Costa Rican international Campbell scored with a half volley into the far corner after Sanchez’s delightful ball over the top. 1-0 to the Arsenal.
Wave after wave of Arsenal attack continued with Swansea occasionally looking dangerous on the break as Leroy Fer cured a shot just over the bar from 25-yards out. However, in the 31st minute Swansea were level.
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A bad giveaway from Aaron Ramsey in midfield saw the Swans break and Jack Cork’s ball sliced through Arsenal’s defense and caught out both Per Mertesacker and Hector Bellerin as Routledge coolly slotted past a stranded Petr Cech. 1-1.
Before half time Campbell played in Bellerin in the box but his cross was blocked and Arsenal cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines.
The second half became an end-to-end encounter with the Swans looking lively, while Sanchez sent a shot just wide of the post as Arsenal pushed to go ahead.
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In the 65th minute Gylfi Sigurdsson went so close to giving Swansea the lead but the former Spurs playmaker was slightly off balance as he sent his shot inches wide.
At the other end Arsenal rattled the crossbar with Sanchez curling an effort against over the wall but against the woodwork.
Swansea stunned Arsenal with 18 minutes to go as Sigurdsson whipped a free kick from the right into the six-yard box and Cech failed to claim the ball which allowed Williams to bundle home.
Arsenal pushed hard late on but failed to break though as Wenger’s forlorn figure on the sidelines said it all.
The Gunners’ title hopes are in ruins.