Gunners forced to grind it out

ARSENE WENGER breathed a huge sigh of relief after Arsenal were forced to hang on for a precious three points at home to Swansea City.

The Gunners had Granit Xhaka sent off on 70 minutes for a challenge on Modou Barrow but despite classing the decision as ‘a little harsh’, Wenger will not be challenging the call made by referee Jon Moss.

Wenger said: ‘What looked to be a comfortable afternoon finished in a very uncomfortable way. We just got over the line.’

The Gunners made it six Premier League wins in a row to lift themselves up to second in the table.

Theo Walcott’s brace put Arsenal in command but Gylfi Sigurdsson pulled one back for Swansea in Bob Bradley’s first game in charge.

A goal from birthday boy Mesut Ozil restored Arsenal’s two-goal cushion but Borja Baston tapped in Barrow’s cross to cut the gap to one.

The nerves at the Emirates Stadium started to jangle as the Gunners were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men.

Leroy Fer and Federico Fernandez were denied by Petr Cech in the closing stages of a pulsating contest but Arsenal demonstrated the kind of steel required to sustain a title push.