Bafetimbi Gomis had goal-line technology to thank as Swansea City did a 1-0 away day number onArsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
The France international, who scored his first ever Premier League goal against the Gunners last November, rose highest to head home Jefferson Montero's centre five minutes from the end of a game the Swans had rarely looked like winning.
Indeed, Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina thought he had kept Gomis' header out, but technology rightly proved the ball had crossed the line.
It confirmed a dispiriting defeat for the hosts, whose hopes of automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages now look infinitely harder
Arsenal had dominated much of the game, but after a lacklustre first-half they found former Gunners keeper Lukasz Fabianski in inspired form. The Polish international repelled repeated waves from the home side, his best moment coming when he deniedAlexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott in quick succession.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina tries in vain to stop Bafetimbi Gomis' effort crossing the line in the 86th minute
The French striker wheels away in celebration as his late header is awarded as a goal by referee Kevin Friend
Fabianski stopped firm to repel a seemingly endless barrage of shots as Arsenal dominated before Swansea substitute Bafetimbi Gomis came on to score the winner, five minutes from time.
It was a goal awarded thanks to the goalline technology. Gomis leapt high and produced a powerful header, directed inside the post.
David Ospina clawed it out but not before it had crossed the line and the replays proved that Kevin Friend’s technology was working perfectly.
More to follow...
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez looks in pan as he is challenged by Swansea's England international midfielder Jonjo Shelvey
Swansea City players gather in a huddle before the match as they looked to continue their strong finish to the season
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski saves from Olivier Giroud on his first return to the Emirates since joining Swansea last summer
Ashley Williams and Giroud grapple in the box as Arsenal look to score from a second-half corner
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey picks out a forward pass under pressure from Swansea's Ki Sung-yeung
KEY MOMENTS
3’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL – A good Arsenal move ends with a clipped cross from Aaron Ramsey that Olivier Giroud heads just over the bar.
12’ – NOT ONE FROM THE TRAINING GROUND – Arsenal are awarded a free kick on the edge of the Swansea box, but Mesut Ozil curls it straight into his captain, Per Mertesacker, in the wall.
42’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL – Angel Rangel keeps the ball in play only to see Sanchez latch onto the loose ball and find Giroud, who fires wide on the turn from 20 yards.
50’ – CHANCE FOR SWANSEA – Montero pulls the ball back for Ki Sung-yueng but the midfielder takes a touch and his eventual effort is deflected behind.
59’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL – Jonjo Shelvey loses the ball on the edge of the Swansea box, Ozil nips in before feeding Giroud in the area but Fabianski saves his effort.
72’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL – Walcott cannot get a clean contact on Ramsey’s pull-back.
74’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL – Nacho Monreal gets the wrong side of Federico Fernandez but cannot beat Fabianski from 12 yards.
78’ – CHANCE FOR ARSENAL – Brilliant double save from Fabianski to deny Sanchez and then Walcott on the rebound.
85’ – GOAL FOR SWANSEA! – Montero digs out a cross from the left-hand side and Gomis is there to head towards goal. Ospina looks to have clawed it out, but technology proves otherwise.
KEY STATS
Garry Monk's side are the only team to do the double over Arsenal, so far this season.
Swansea have won three in a row in the PL for the first time since their opening three matches of this campaign.
Swansea's win is their third away from home in the top flight. It was also their first in eight visits to London against any opposition.
Arsenal's defeat was only their second at home all season.
TALKING POINT
Were Arsenal too lethargic in the final third? Fabianski will rightly get the plaudits for his side's victory but did Arsenal play with the tempo required to get a result at the Emirates? For all their possession they were unable to break down their visitors in a forgettable first half. In truth, it was only in the last half-an-hour that the Gunners began to step up their game and cause Swansea real problems. Swansea's game plan may have been well executed but it was hardly rocket science and questions will now be asked of why Arsenal could not break them down. In the end they were let down by a few below-par performances, and may have let the initiative in terms of second place slip.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lukasz Fabianski (Swansea): Gomis may have come off the bench to score but his side would not have still been in the game at that point had Fabianski not been in fine form. The Polish keeper was the subject of much criticism when an Arsenal player but on his return to the Emirates Stadium was assured in his handling and commanded his area well. Gylfi Sigurdsson also deserves credit, playing as he did in an unfamiliar role up front.
PLAYER RATINGS
ARSENAL: Ospina 6, Bellerin 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Coquelin 5, Cazorla 6, Ramsey 5, Ozil 6, Alexis 6, Giroud 4 Subs: Wilshere 6, Walcott 5
SWANSEA: Fabianski 9, Rangel 6, Fernandez 7, Williams 7, Taylor 6, Ki 6, Shelvey 6, Cork 5, Sigurdsson 8, Montero 6, Dyer 6 Subs: Richards 6, Gomis 7, Barrow 6
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