He is more resilient... everyone is focused to do well
more disciplined defending, the three that Arsenal scored could have been prevented.
And in a hectic last 20 minutes – after Granit Xhaka’s reckless challenge on Swansea dangerman Modou Barrow brought a red card from referee Jon Moss – perhaps Bradley’s charges should have equalised.
It was that kind of day at the Emirates.
Theo Walcott scored two and could have scored four.
“He is more resilient this season,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
When the going got tough after Xhaka’s departure, Walcott was Arsenal’s go-to man. He chased everything. hing.
He helped Arsenalenal through that spell – his energy allied with the newfound resilience in the squad quad from central defendernder Shkodran Mustafi.
“That helped to gett us over the line,” said Wenger.ger. “Everyone is focused now ow to do well.” And the sending off ? “I thought it was harsh,” h,” said Wenger. “Maybe a dark yellow card! But thehe referee went for brightht red.”
Xhaka did not come e with the reputation of a choirboy from Borussia Moenchengladbach.
“He had some problems in Germany”, said Wenger. But he added: “He is not a dirty player.player And I think Barrow made made a lot of it. Will he lear learn? Intelligence means you don’td make the same mistakemis twice.” B Bradley’s hopes of a dr dream start were qu quickly ended. In the 26th minute, A Arsenal’s initial s supremacy came to f fruition when Walcott w was alert enough to
OLIVIER GIROUD is planning a comeback for Arsenal this week in the LLeague Cup.
TheTh France striker has been out for three weeks with a toe injury suffered againstagain Paris SaintGermainGerm in the ChampionsCham League last month.mon But he will return capitalise on hesitant defending from Jordi Amat to bundle the ball past Lukasz Fabianski.
More poor defending allowed Walcott to score a second in the 33rd minute when Swansea failed to clear a corner.
But Swansea were handed a lifeline, five minutes later, when Xhaka’s day to forget included an unnecessary dalliance on the ball close to his own area and Gylfi Sigurdsson robbed him and curled the ball past Petr Cech.
But an exquisite volley from Mesut Ozil in the 57th minute appeared to allow Arsenal to slip into cruise control.
However, Bradley ’ s assertion that the group of players he inherited have spirit and quality was proved right as substitute Borja Baston swept home a second for Swansea after Barrow had once again given Nacho Monreal a dizzy spell.