10/09/2011 14:00 v Arsenal
Andrey Arshavin’s huge slice of good fortune was the difference as the Swans fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Once again, the Swans looked well-organised and held their own away from home, but were still left searching for that elusive first Premier League goal.
Aiming to respond from a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Manchester United two weeks earlier, Arsenal started well with Aaron Ramsey shooting over while Steven Caulker produced a brilliant goal-line clearance to deny Theo Walcott.
The Swans had also threatened going forward with Danny Graham drawing a wonderful save out of Wojciech Szczesny, but shot themselves in the foot just before half-time.
After racing to prevent a corner, Michel Vorm unwittingly threw the ball against the heels of Angel Rangel, who was facing the other way, and Arshavin ruthlessly punished by slotting into the empty net from a tight angle.
However, Vorm atoned for his error in the second half with a good save to prevent Marouane Chamakh from doubling the lead, while Robin van Persie also hit the post for the Gunners.
Meanwhile, the Swans refused to give up and Scott Sinclair saw his free-kick brush against the crossbar but their best chance to rescue a point fell to Graham who, in the dying seconds, was just unable to keep the ball down and on target from close range.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Walcott, Ramsey, Frimpong (Coquelin, 74), Arteta, Arshavin (Benayoun, 62), Van Persie (Chamakh, 81).
Subs not used: Fabianski, Santos, Djourou, Park.
Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Caulker, Williams, Taylor, Agustien (Gower, 64), Britton, Allen (Dobbie, 75), Dyer (Moore, 84), Graham, Sinclair.
Subs not used: Tremmel, Bessone, Richards, Lita.