Arsenal 3-2 Swansea player ratings: Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil shine, but a bad game for Granit Xhaka

Arsenal weren’t at their best as they scraped a win against Swansea (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal held on to a slightly nervy 3-2 victory over Swansea City as they finished with ten men at the Emirates Stadium.

Theo Walcott had scored twice before birthday boy Mesut Ozil’s fine volley looked to __have put the game beyond the visitors, though the Gunners twice let them back in to the game.

Gylfi Sigurdsson reduced the deficit shortly before half time, making it 2-1 at the break, and then substitute Borja made it 3-2 when he came on off the bench in the second half.

2 – Mesut Ozil is the 2nd player to score a Premier League goal on his birthday this season (Koscielny v Southampton the other). Ya. pic.twitter.com/L1pak2dTSB

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 15, 2016

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Overall, however, new Swans manager Bob Bradley looks to __have a big job on his hands to rescue his relegation-threatened side, who were hugely outplayed by Arsenal for much of this match.

Arsenal could have added to their lead late on as Walcott came close to netting a hat-trick, but his shot from close range struck the post before rolling along the goal line.

With Tottenham and Manchester City dropping points elsewhere, this hard-fought three points looks even more valuable for Arsene Wenger’s side, who are now on six league wins in a row this season.

Premier League

• 15 October, 3pm

Arsenal

• Walcott 26'
• Walcott 32'
• Ozil 57'

3

FT

2

FT

Swansea City

• Sigurdsson 38'
• Borja 66'

Best Player

Theo Walcott

Arsenal

Two goals, close to a hat-trick: the fine run continues.

Worst Player

Granit Xhaka

Arsenal

At fault for Swansea's 1st and a needless red card.

Team Ratings

Arsenal

Swansea City

• Cech

• Bellerin

• Monreal

• Mustafi

• Koscielny

• Xhaka (OFF - 70)

• Cazorla

• Walcott

• Ozil (83)

• Iwobi (68)

• Sanchez (83)

• Coquelin (68)

• Gibbs (83)

• Chamberlain (83)

• Fabianski

• Naughton

• Fernandez

• Amat

• Taylor

• Cork (71)

• Britton (60)

• Fer

• Barrow (83)

• Sigurdsson

• Routledge

• Borja (60)

• Ki Sung-yueng (71)

• Rangel (83)