Arsenal 1 Swansea 0: Relief at Emirates Stadium

ARSENAL fans are getting used to new faces and a new dawn says TOM FOOT after watching the Gunners sneak past Swansea with a 1-0 win this afternoon.

 

WHERE are all the moaning Gooners? Have they been soothed into silence by Arsene Wenger's new "keep calm, carry on" signings?

For a long time now, the Emirates has felt like a cauldron of rage about to bubble over. Blood boiling in the veins, the fans grumbled: "Wenger this. Wenger that. Too lightweight. Shoot!". And then the old eyes-down, hop-skip-up the aisles to beat the traffic.

Now, perhaps, these people are realising how we have been spoilt over the last 14 years, as Wenger would say, with the "quality and mental strength" of the players, and perhaps taken it for granted.

Today there was an air of optimism. A coming together, for the common good, in the face of adversity (8-2).

We've made some signings. It's a new dawn and time to get knuckle down and get behind the team.
And what better tie than newly promoted Swansea "no goals" City at home to kick-off this new era of optimism?

There was rising applause for Per Mertesacker on his first touch, while Mikel Arteta was saluted with standing ovations when he took corners in the first half. The Spaniard may not have the ability or potential of Cesc Fabregas, but he does that thing Cesc did, of looking around before and after receiving the ball, making sure he knows where the rest of the team are. He made intelligent passes throughout the game and his first touch was to pick out Aaron Ramsey with a through ball that the Welshman really should have finished.

Goalkeeper Szczesny was another reassuring presence. His strong-wristed diving save in the first half stopped Swansea taking the lead . He is also very good at coming out and punching or catching the ball from corners – manic Manuel Almunia's fundamental deficiency. And the gigantic German, Mertesacker was collected at the back throughout the match. He says his role model is Tony Adams – although he looks more like Igors Stepanovs - so he will have been pleased his debut was a "1-0 to the Arsenal".

Wenger said afterwards: "Mertesacker was calm and composed. He keeps the line well. Arteta played well, especially in first half. We could see he will bring us some technical security." He added that Yossi Benayoun - also making his debut for the Gunners today - brought "control" in midfield.

Security. Calm. Composed. Control. Is the Arsenal PR machine spinning a new public image for club.
The script could have been very different had Swansea's Danny Graham not hooked his shot over from six yards on 90 minutes.

Andrei Arshavin got the winner in the first half after some calamitous goalkeeping left him with the ball at his feet and an open goal. It was a tight angle but the winger coolly rolled it home.
Wenger said: "Arshavin had a very good spirit - he has lost confidence. People think he doesn't care. But it's not true he does care, very much."

Ah. Serenity now.

* In other news, a photographer was stretchered off to hospital in a neckbrace after a giant flag pole fell on her head during the match. Arsenal allowed fans to bring large flags back into the ground last season after a banning them in 2006.