Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to two points as goals from Serge Gnabry and Aaron Ramsey saw them to victory at Swansea. After Tottenham and Chelsea drew, and Manchester United and Manchester City lost, the Gunners capitalised to maintain their early-season promise. German teenager Gnabry slotted the opener after half-time, his first goal for Arsenal, and in-form Ramsey fired in to double the advantage. However, Swansea were a battling team, playing an attacking style befitting their coach former Danish international Michael Laudrup. Ben Davies volleyed home to give Swansea hope but Arsenal held on.
The result extends their club record of consecutive away wins in all competitions to 12 and equals their record of eight in the Premier League, which was set in the 2001-02 title-winning campaign. While much credit has gone to new signing Mesut Ozil, once again Arsenal’s driving force was Ramsey, who joined them as a 17-year-old in 2008 and suffered from injury and inconsistency until this season. The former Cardiff player was booed throughout by the home supporters but responded with another commanding display, playing a role in both of his side’s goals and scoring an eighth in eight games. Similarly influential was Gnabry, the 18-year-old German scoring his first goal for the Gunners in only his second Premier League start. Both men shone against a Swansea side now without a league win in eight matches at the Liberty Stadium, where Arsenal kicked-off knowing exactly what was at stake having seen their rivals slip up earlier in the day.
The other match that I saw last evening was Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspurs which ended in a 1-1 draw and saw Fernando Torres sent off.