Wenger rues penalty call as Swans force replay

Swansea 2 Arsenal 2

Goals from Lukas Podolski and Kieran Gibbs gave Arsenal the advantage with seven minutes to go after Michu had given Swansea the lead with his first touch. However, just as he did against Aston Villa last week, Danny Graham popped up with an equaliser.

Wenger, however, felt his side should have been given a penalty after Dwight Tiendalli appeared to catch Aaron Ramsey’s ankle.

“It was a penalty and the referee saw it, you know why he did not give it,” he said.

“He thought the guy had not done it on purpose, and I think as well it was accidental. But he did not trip himself, he was caught clearly by the leg of the Swansea player. The referee hesitated and he did not give it.

“We should have won this game. The first half was a bit one-paced but the second was much more open.

“We created many chances and found ourselves 1-0 down, but we showed character and quality. Unfortunately I felt on the corner just before their goal, when we conceded it, we lacked some calmness and focus.

“It is frustrating to concede a goal like that, but we showed heart and we kept going.”

Neither side wanted a replay but Wenger said: “I am frustrated as I did not want a replay. But if it’s the choice between staying in or going out, then I would rather take the replay at the Emirates.”

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup agreed. “I think the overall feeling is that it was a fair result,” he said.

“A replay is not exactly what I’m looking forward to with the two Chelsea games in mind and our league games too. However, when you have been in this profession at the highest level, you always want to play and win.”

On a day for the footballing purist, Swansea signalled their intention early on when Nathan Dyer’s cross was hurriedly cleared by Per Mertesacker. Danny Graham, the subject of plenty of transfer speculation of late, brought out the best in Wojciech Szczesny shortly after and Wayne Routledge sliced wide from 20 yards.

Then after scares at the opposite end, former Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley headed against the bar from a Jonathan de Guzman cross.

Arsenal picked up after the interval and after volleying wide from 20 yards, Olivier Giroud had two golden opportunities to break the deadlock. His powerful strike from Walcott’s pass forced Michel Vorm to save at his near post and the Dutch keeper was at it again four minutes later from point blank range.

By now Arsenal were rampant and Swansea were forced to bring on Michu to provide creativity. The Spaniard did the trick with his first touch and suddenly Swansea were in the driving seat.

Dyer and Graham worked tirelessly to win possession and when Michu clipped the ball into space, there was only ever one outcome. Szczesny did his best to close him down, but Michu slotted past him with the minimum of fuss.

Wenger threw on Podolski for the final 18 minutes and like Laudrup’s decision to introduce Michu, it had an immediate effect. Swansea failed to clear a corner 10 minutes from time and the German spun and beat Vorm with a clinical strike.

Two minutes later, Arsenal were in front. A crisp exchange of passes with Giroud in the Swansea box gave Gibbs an acre of space and the full-back volleyed spectacularly past Vorm.

Swansea left it late to snatch a share against Villa last week and they did it again when Graham appeared at the far post from a corner to beat Szczesny from close range. Honours even and a trip to Brighton for the winner.

SWANSEA CITY (4-5-1): Vorm 7; Tiendalli 6, Bartley 8, Flores 7, Davies 6; Dyer 6, Britton 7 (Agustien 68, 6), Ki 6, De Guzman 6, Routledge 6 (Hernandez 56, 6); Graham 7.

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Szczesny 6; Sagna 6, Mertesacker 4, Koscielny 6, Gibbs 7; Ramsey 5 (Podolski 72, 7), Arteta 7, Wilshere 6; Walcott 6, Giroud 7, Cazorla 6.

Referee: H Webb.