No saving Gunners from super Swans

HE MAY have been able to ride to their rescue in the FA Cup, yet Thierry Henry can now be under illusions that the Arsenal of now is in no better shape than the one he left.

Just as he did against Leeds a week ago, the Gunners legend made another cameo here at the Liberty Stadium, yet this time he was unable to inspire a turnaround in fortunes as Arsene Wenger’s team’s top-four ambitions suffered another significant setback.

It had all started so well. Robin van Persie had given the Gunners an early lead only for a Scott Sinclair penalty and Nathan Dyer strike to swing the contest in Swansea’s favour.

Theo Walcott levelled for Arsene Wenger’s side in the 69th minute, soon after Henry’s introduction as a substitute for his 255th English top-flight appearance, yet the visitors were left stunned just a minute later when Danny Graham fired in a dramatic winner.

Arsenal could have few complaints with the outcome, though, after a substandard display which exposed their flaws right the way through their side.

Their play lacked its usual penetration and fluidity, while possession was frittered away uncharacteristically cheaply — the absence of the injured Mikel Arteta a factor but by no means an excuse.

Having begun to close in on their rivals after such a shambolic start to the season, they now find themselves four points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in fifth position following back-to-back league defeats.

The visit of Manchester United to the Emirates Stadium next Sunday now looks pivotal to their entire season with the fourth place achieved five years ago when Henry was last there looking the best they can hope for.

Swansea, meanwhile, have won their previous two league matches, stretching their unbeaten run to four after ending their away hoodoo at Aston Villa and picking up draws against Tottenham and QPR.

This success was sufficient for them to climb into the top half of the table — a fitting reward for an excellent start to this year and equally fine finish to the previous one.

Staying there looks well within their grasp if they can keep the likes of Dyer and Graham fit, who are both certain to have caught the eye of the watching Fabio Capello.

Dyer, in particular, excelled as he gave the Gunners’ rookie defender Ignasi Miquel a harsh introduction to the English top flight in the Spanish defender’s first Premier League start. Swansea made four changes from the team which defeated Barnsley in the FA Cup last weekend yetthey found themselves trailing within five minutes following the Gunners’ first serious attack.

Aaron Ramsey, back in his native country, and Alex Song combined to feed Andrei Arshavin, whose threaded pass set van Persie away and he did the rest, fooling Steven Caulker with a dummy before squeezing a vicious low shot inside the near post.

After scoring 35 goals in 2011, it was the Netherlands international’s first of the new year, having recently been given time off by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

However, the Swans were handed an opportunity to level matters from the penalty spot just 12 minutes later when Nathan Dyer turned sharply inside the area before tumbling under pressure from Ramsey.

Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny guessed the right way but Scott Sinclair’s strike was precisely placed into the bottom-right corner.

Van Persie spurned a presentable opportunity at the other end when he went through on goal, when goalkeeper Michael Vorm stood up superbly to narrow the angle.

The Gunners fans chanted Henry’s name when he emerged from the dugout to warm up as they signalled their desire to see their hero make his much-anticipated Premier League return.

They certainly needed inspiration from somewhere as Swansea twice threatened with long-range strikes from the impressive Dyer and Joe Allen.

And it was those two who combined to put Brendan Rodgers’ team in front in the 57th minute.

Allen dispossessed his Welsh skipper Ramsey and squared the ball to Dyer who steadied himself before unleashing a sweetly-struck shot beyond Szczesny.

It was not long before Henry and Tomas Rosicky were introduced for the disappointing Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun and by the 69th minute, Arsenal were level.

Johan Djourou dissected the Swans defence to send Walcott clean through and he coolly clipped the ball beyond the onrushing Michel Vorm.

The visitors’ joy was to prove short-lived, though, as within a minute the Swans had regained the lead when Graham took advantage of some slack defending to clinically convert from a tight angle after good work from substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Henry, on a short-term loan from the New York Red Bulls, might have made an immediate impact last time out yet he was unable to inspire a turnaround this time as the Swans survived a flurry of late pressure to record a memorable triumph and added to Arsene Wenger’s woes.