No Thierry Henry heroics this time around. The fairy tale was all Swansea City's as they stretched their arms out wide in Wonderland. Nine years ago to the day, Swansea were bottom of the Football League. And guess who were top of the Premiership? Arsenal. That said it all, while "Land of our Fathers" sang it all as it resounded across South-west Wales. The suspicion must be, however, that not even their fabled forefathers would have believed this. The Gunners, the mighty Gunners, outplayed at their own game and toppled in the Premier League. No club, anywhere, has enjoyed a more rousing turnaround this century. Inevitably, Ars̬ne Wenger had his gripe with the officials, calling Swansea's first-half penalty "complete imagination". But when the bitterness subsided of Arsenal's second successive League defeat and of a four-point gap to Chelsea in fourth, even he had to admit how deserving Swansea were of the three points which hauled them into the top 10. Brendan Rodgers' men only know one way to play Рthe right way. And when their history is rewritten this win will rightfully feature large and proud. It seemed so ominous when Robin van Persie latched on to Andrei Arshavin's through-ball in the fifth minute to score his 18th League goal of the season, fooling both Steven Caulker and fellow Dutchman Michel Vorm to squeeze it inside the near post. On the bench Henry grinned Рthis is how he remembered it. But then followed the fickle new Arsenal, allowing themselves to be outpaced, outpassed and, essentially, out-fought. Swansea, as they have all season, proceeded to remain faithful to their footballing philosophy. From the nightmare beginning to the excruciating end. They live and are prepared to die on their passing game. Within 11 minutes the life was pouring through their veins as Aaron Ramsey was adjudged to have clipped Nathan Dyer's heels as he swivelled in the box. "Complete imagination"? That's stretching it ridiculously, although it was dubious. Wojciech Szczesny actually dived the right way, but Scott Sinclair's spot-kick had the requisite power. Game on. Dream on. Arsenal might have struck straight back had Ramsey's daisy-cutter across the goal not hit the unsuspecting Caulker, a Spurs loanee of all things, and deflected directly to Vorm. From there it was white delight. But then, had Van Persie buried it when put through by Yossi Benayoun on the half-hour mark it might have been different, but his effort was aimed at Vorm. By then, Swansea had wrested the momentum away from Arsenal and were only to let it go for a minute. With three English wingers on the pitch, the onlooking Fabio Capello had a frank comparison to make. It did not favour Theo Walcott, despite his second-half equaliser. Sinclair and, in particular, Dyer were simply electric as Leon Britton and Joe Allen expertly fired up the generator. "The way my players play means that international football wouldn't be a shock to them," said Rodgers. It was Allen who set up Dyer for his third in as many games. This has been a week Ramsey would far rather forget. Criticised for venting his feelings about Gary Speed's successor as national captain, the former Cardiff player was the target of The Liberty's indignation. And when Allen, his good friend, dispossessed him in the 58th minute Ramsey's frustration was obvious. He could only watch on as Dyer collected the ball on the edge of the area before unleashing a flyer past Szczesny. Cue those hymns, which might never again sound so bitter to Ramsey, the national captain. Arsenal were hanging on, a mess at the back, with poor Ignasi Miquel a stranger on his first Premier League start. That needs a long-term fix, but in the short term Wenger had seen quite enough and introduced Henry in the hope of sprinkling magic. The old boy at least witnessed an Arsenal fightback, however brief, however futile. In contrast to their attacking play, Swansea's defence showed one or two holes, which in the 69th minute Johan Djourou's pass split Neil Taylor and Ashley Williams to exploit. Credit to Walcott for clipping the ball over Vorm in clinical fashion, because otherwise his afternoon was not pretty. Were Arsenal to escape after all? Only for the length of their cheers. As Arsenal were still back-slapping, Swansea substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson's pass picked out Danny Graham, who capitalised on Szczesny's hesitancy in advancing from his line to send the home support back into rapture. Still Swansea pressed, still Swansea believed. By now everyone knows they can play the stylish stuff, but what about the resolve? They answered those doubts emphatically. "We responded quickly, we got the goal and then took them on," said Graham, whose status grows as his Premier League tally rises to eight. "For us to score so quickly after they equalised was massive and we played good stuff towards the end. I think we warranted the win." Didn't they just. Henry barely had a kick, although he did have a front row seat to watch Per Mertesacker horribly scuff wide when the net gaped. The evening didn't get any better for Ramsey as he aimed his bullet header from Walcott's cross at Vorm as Arsenal threw numbers forward. Not to say Swansea sat back; they didn't, they wouldn't know how. But there was one more fright to survive when Tomas Rosicky drove to the box and forced Vorm to save, before gathering Laurent Koscielny's follow-up. When the whistle went, pandemonium ensued. Who would have thought it in 2003? James Corrigan - The Independent
Great match report, thanks for that dragon Phil. Recorded the game as I was working, what a fantastic match to come home to and even after the early Arsenal goal the Swans seam to have a new philosophy of late and really went after them, hunting them down mid-field, stealing the ball, pressing forward. WHAT a fantastic game! What a fantastic team effort, What a fantastic crowd who sang their hearts out even seconds after the first goal, you never stopped, if you don't get voted supporters of the year I will eat my head. Is there such an award? I hope so, and I hope you win it as I really don't want to eat my head.
I've never heard Hymns and Ayrias (sp) sung so loud at kick off. Sounded like there was 40000 in the liberty!! I love it!
Nice article DPJ! I could only watch the match through a badly stuttering Internet onnection while traveling. Lost connection at half time and only picked it up agin after the score was 3-2. Looking forward to seeing the whole thing on Wed from a DVR. This win is such a thrill. Last time I saw us at home to Arsenal was the '68 cup tie. Revenge took a while but how sweet.
To anyone who watches the games online - download Sopcast, it's an internet TV streaming program. It has channels that broadcast football, and as it's a stand-alone, non-browser-based player it's a lot smoother than watching stuff through websites. If anyone needs help with it send me a PM.
as i get up early for work, went to bed, left the tv on, woke up 0-1, sleep, woke up saw dyers goal, 2-1, nap, woke up 3-2 what a gr8 win, now absoultely tired but worth it (hate Swans sunday matches)
Just woke up & thought I'd dreamed the game , had to rush to come check . I'll never forget this games result .....never !!!
Scottswan - Got all hung up trying to download sopcast at half time. Will complete before the next match that is not covered on real tv live.
It's worth it Yankee. All the sites that list streams have loads for Sopcast. There's regular "Channels" which show all the big games, so normally you can find things really easily.
Well it's been one hell of a journey for us Jacks these last few years, think we really started to get going when Jacket was with us, but then Martinez, improved things with the Spanish style of passing play, and Sousa for all his failings, surely deserves recognition for the way he taught us how to defend, and now Rodgers is successfully seeing us through the finishing school, putting the finishing touches to our unique continental style of play, he's adding the steel as well to survive here in the Premiership, long may the Jack revolution continue!................ please log in to view this image
I started reading this and was thinking 'My god, DPJ, you've really pulled out the stops for this one.' My jaw dropped as I read the eloquent prose, the rich vocabulary..... Then I saw it was a cut 'n paste. Enjoyable though.
We officially forgive you for taking a point off us Okay we never really begrudged you a point as you gave us a very good game and earned the point but lets just say you wouldn't have to put your hand in your pocket if you were wearing a Swansea shirt in a pub in Tottenham
If you could just repeat the result against Chelsea and let us win when you visit Oh and bring us Caulker back in one piece!
Knackered by name, and knackered by nature, by the looks of things, do you need glasses or what, the 'James Corrigan - The Independent' bit was in bold for the elderly amongst us, maybe you are late for your annual trip to specsavers!.............
Caulker did well yesterday overall but was culpable for both goals. Should have got his foot in on RVP and failed to step up for the offside trap. That said, he's young and learning all the time. Did some good things yesterday that made up for it, and deserves a starting place well ahead of anyone else we've got.
DPJ: Yes, but the writer's name is AT THE END after you've read it. Now who's knackered? Keep up ffs. I wasn't saying you were claiming credit, only that it looked like your article until you got to it's conclusion.
Yeah, I'm sure it's a huge step up for him in the Premiership but he's only going to learn by playing and it was obvious from his performances in the previous two loan spells that he was too good for League One and the Championship.
Most articles I read in the Media have the authors title at the end, but if you like I'll put it at the beginning, if only to shut up knackered nitpicks like you!.................
