Premier League: We’re left looking over our shoulder, admits Wenger
ARSENAL 2 SWANSEA CITY 2
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger admits his team have been sucked into another scrap for fourth place after an injury-time own goal from Mathieu Flamini cost them two much-needed points last night.
Two second-half goals in 66 seconds from Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud appeared to have erased Wilfried Bony’s early header – and Saturday’s drubbing at Chelsea — only for Swansea to fashion a damaging equaliser in the dying seconds.
It leaves Arsenal, Premier League title contenders before the turn of the year, glancing nervously back at Everton, who closed to within six points last night and could overtake the Gunners when they meet on Merseyside in 11 days.
Wenger said the title race was now “not the biggest worry – we have to be realistic”, adding: “We have to look behind us. Everton win, so we have to focus and prepare well for the next game.”
Worryingly for Arsenal, the next game is against Manchester City, who Wenger observed “look a little bit unstoppable”. The Frenchman also revealed midfielder Aaron Ramsey remains two weeks from playing after another setback in his recovery from injury.
On paper, a home fixture against Swansea, who arrived without a win in eight, looked ideal for Arsenal to exorcise that 6-0 humiliation at Stamford Bridge, yet the visitors took an 11th-minute lead when Bony met Neil Taylor’s cross with a firm header.
Swansea repelled increasingly anxious home forays until the 73rd minute, when Kieran Gibbs beat Angel Rangel and crossed for Podolski to steer a volley past goalkeeper Michel Vorm from inside the six-yard box.
Palpably relieved, the Gunners instantly went ahead, Giroud nonchalantly touching home Podolski’s early low cross.
The lead never looked secure, however, and evaporated in the first minute of injury time amid a cruel penalty-box pinball. Leon Britton burst through, Per Mertesacker’s attempted tackle forced Wojciech Szczesny to save with his feet, and the goalkeeper’s sweep hit Flamini’s shin and rolled into the net.