Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal were ‘on edge’ before beating Swansea City

Having got a win, Monk is optimistic of his side’s chances against an Arsenal side that only sit behind Premier League leaders Manchester City on goal difference.

“I am pleased because we could keep a clean sheet during the hard moments of the game and you are never in a hurry to take too many risks going forward”.

It was the flawless riposte to the midweek 3-0 defeat by second-tier Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, a match in which England pair Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were injured.

Although Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski appeared to be fouled, Wenger said: “I didn t see a foul, honestly, but maybe I have missed something”.

The first half went goalless and Swansea’s defensive side managed to keep Arsenal at bay.

“We are talking”, the Spaniard said on Friday.

“I thought the effort and commitment from my players was great, but you need to take those opportunities when you’re on top”.

I’ll probably get loads of abuse for this [on social media], but I think they will. I think this could be Arsenal’s year.

“Joel Campbell took his goal really well and he is still a young player who had to wait for his chance”, Wenger said. “It will be a tough game but we will be in with a chance if we put our best foot forward on the pitch”.

“There are no easy games in the Premier League”. In terms of defence, you have to defend more and you have to help the team more in terms of making sure you’re well-positioned to ensure the players in attack can stay fresh.”Mesut Ozil will be expected to maintain the form that has seen the Germany global provide more assists than any other Premier League player this season”. I think three-nil flatters Arsenal.

“The second half we were a different team”.

“I’ve played in many games where whenever the keeper is touched a foul is given, but I don’t expect things to go for us”.

“But, for me, it’s all about perception and we’re on a par, if not very close, to more illustrious teams in this league on vastly superior budgets to ourselves”.

“We gifted them two goals and you can’t do that against any team, let alone Arsenal”.

“We knew that in the second half we needed to up our pace, our decisiveness, our determination”.