da bet nacional： Look in the dictionary for the definition of ‘smash and grab’, and the first entry must surely be this match, where a Swansea side – under the cosh for vast swathes of their Premier League clash against Arsenal on Monday night – somehow managed to come away with a victory which sees them move to within one point of seventh-placed Soouthampton. Is the Gunners’ campaign in danger of falling off the rails at the wrong time? Do we have a contender for Manager of the Year? Here are three things we learned from the match…
da lvbet： 1. Gunners in glass houses…
A fortnight ago, Chelsea were lambasted by the less-than-impressed home Arsenal support as the two London rivals played out a goalless draw which all but sealed the championship for the Blues. After Monday’s below-par performance from the Gunners – which saw them struggle in front of goal in a largely uninspiring performance – will the Emirates faithful be quick to denounce their own side as ‘boring’? Unlikely. But it shows that while Chelsea can afford to be boring in certain games – and that is why they are deserved champions – for the Gunners, they remain a long way off that mark. It is games like these that the North London side will need to win – and convincingly – if they are to have a credible chance of challenging for the title next season.
2. Shadow of final showdown looms large
While Arsenal have guaranteed a place in the top four for yet another season and are likely to finish in the automatic qualification places for next year’s Champions League, this was not a game that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger would have liked to have seen his side lose, especially with the small matter of the FA Cup final coming up at the end of the month. Aston Villa are no mugs under Tim Sherwood, and Arsenal will need to up their game considerably against lesser opposition – something they failed to do on Monday against Swansea – otherwise a second successive cup triumph at Wembley may be in jeopardy.
3. Garry Monk: Manager of the Year?
The win may have been fortuitous, but the Swans are now just one point behind Southampton in seventh and two below Spurs in sixth. Having already comfortably surpassed their previous record points tally, the South Wales side can now push on to secure a highest-ever finish under the stewardship of the hugely impressive Garry Monk, who has secured a league double over Arsenal in only his first full season in football management. A genuine contender for Manager of the Year, surely?