I rarely feel bad about a draw. Down the years I've learnt there's only so much separating a draw from a loss, so, almost every time we drew, I waved it aside and concentrated on the following game. Wasn't always easy, but you get the idea.
Moreover, under the circumstances a draw was, probably, the most predictable outcome. An exhausted Arsenal, that only days before was put to the sword, was unlikely to get three points, especially taken into account how we've played this year in the immediate aftermath of a footballing beating. Yet dropping the points the way we did was frustrating beyond belief.
Arsene made only one change to the side that went down to the Blues, Flamini replacing Podolski. Bellerin appeared on the bench in place of an injured Koscielny.
Arsenal started the game on the front foot, but, apart from lots of possession and a couple of wayward shots from the Ox, didn't look threatening.
When Swansea scored the opener, it was completely against the run of play, however. A simple cross from the left coupled with a moment of brilliance from Boni and suddenly we were chasing the game.
Lots more of possession ensued, but little came off. Mert's effort hit the side netting, before Cazorla weaved through Swansea's defence only to see his shot well-saved. At half-time we still trailed, unable to break down an organised Swansea defence.
In the second half we looked only marginally better. Around the 60th minute Podolski replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain in an attempt to avoid a sure defeat. Before that, Rosicky's shot in frustration was the only thing we've conjured up.
In the 73rd minute, Arsenal suddenly exploded. Gibbs did brilliantly to get behind the opposition's full-back, cut the ball back and Podolski was there to poke it home.
Less than sixty seconds later the German turned provider. Someone (Rosicky?) won a crunching header in the centre of the park, Podolski raced down the flank and sent in a (perfect) low cross in Giroud's direction. The Frenchman smashed the ball under the bar to put Arsenal ahead.
After that, we dropped back to try and get the points we've been working so hard for. Kallstrom made his debut to shore things up in midfield and Sanogo replaced a knackered Giroud.
However, Arsenal didn't look a fortress we so successfully imitated in the North London derby. Whether it was Koscielny's absence, the overall level of physical and mental exhaustion or a combination of both, our defence never looked rock-solid.
Thus, when a late equaliser came, I wasn't surprised. Frustrated, angry, disappointed, but not surprised. Sure, the goal (an own goal by Flamini) was an accident, pure and simple, but the fact it happened because of a breach in our defence was no accident. The Frenchman was devastated by the slip-up, but, in the end, it was a collective mistake and Mathieu was just unlucky to have been standing where he was.
After the game Arsene said:
"The result is very disappointing but the spirit we put in and the effort we put in was great and we have to take it on the chin. We made the most difficult [part] by coming back to 2-1 and after that you could see that maybe we were too focused to keep the result and maybe too conservative because of confidence level had been affected certainly by Saturday. We just wanted to win the game without pushing anymore forward and a mistake happened unfortunately and it created a result we didn't want. But overall I have to give credit to the fighting spirit and the desire we put into that game".
He then treaded the familiar territory of a top-four finish:
"Everton won, so we have to focus and prepare well for the next game. It will be open until the end but you can still have surprises as well. Man City had a good result tonight, they look a bit unstoppable. They are favourites as they have two games in hand, them and Chelsea are favourites now for the title".
But the most depressing bit came later, when our manager touched on the injured players:
"None of them are close to coming back. Koscielny is out for a while. After that Ozil, I don’t know but at least two or three weeks. Ramsey is perhaps the closest. He is two weeks maybe".
Considering Ramsey was scheduled to return against City (Southampton, originally) we are in a bad spot. We cannot really rotate due to so many players being out, but the group that gave their all in Tuesday seemed dead on their feet. They are still humans, after all, who have their highs and lows, who just fought another battle. There is no telling how long they'll be able to keep going, but I hope we make it all right through the weekend and then we'll have a week to prepare for our clash with Everton and get some R&R.
I hate to say it, but our short bench is taking its toll. True, we have many players out (again, should not we do something about it already?), but it doesn't excuse the manager's choice not to strengthen his team in the summer. This why we are where we are and facing an uphill task to become at least third.
In the light of City and Liverpool's wins, even the third place seems to be slipping out of our reach. We now have to look back, where Everton lurch six points behind and with a game in hand. Arsenal will have to, somehow, restore their confidence and put the maximum effort to get something out of the next two games. And make no mistake, we need to do so.
Moreover, under the circumstances a draw was, probably, the most predictable outcome. An exhausted Arsenal, that only days before was put to the sword, was unlikely to get three points, especially taken into account how we've played this year in the immediate aftermath of a footballing beating. Yet dropping the points the way we did was frustrating beyond belief.
Arsene made only one change to the side that went down to the Blues, Flamini replacing Podolski. Bellerin appeared on the bench in place of an injured Koscielny.
Arsenal started the game on the front foot, but, apart from lots of possession and a couple of wayward shots from the Ox, didn't look threatening.
When Swansea scored the opener, it was completely against the run of play, however. A simple cross from the left coupled with a moment of brilliance from Boni and suddenly we were chasing the game.
Lots more of possession ensued, but little came off. Mert's effort hit the side netting, before Cazorla weaved through Swansea's defence only to see his shot well-saved. At half-time we still trailed, unable to break down an organised Swansea defence.
In the second half we looked only marginally better. Around the 60th minute Podolski replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain in an attempt to avoid a sure defeat. Before that, Rosicky's shot in frustration was the only thing we've conjured up.
In the 73rd minute, Arsenal suddenly exploded. Gibbs did brilliantly to get behind the opposition's full-back, cut the ball back and Podolski was there to poke it home.
Less than sixty seconds later the German turned provider. Someone (Rosicky?) won a crunching header in the centre of the park, Podolski raced down the flank and sent in a (perfect) low cross in Giroud's direction. The Frenchman smashed the ball under the bar to put Arsenal ahead.
After that, we dropped back to try and get the points we've been working so hard for. Kallstrom made his debut to shore things up in midfield and Sanogo replaced a knackered Giroud.
However, Arsenal didn't look a fortress we so successfully imitated in the North London derby. Whether it was Koscielny's absence, the overall level of physical and mental exhaustion or a combination of both, our defence never looked rock-solid.
Thus, when a late equaliser came, I wasn't surprised. Frustrated, angry, disappointed, but not surprised. Sure, the goal (an own goal by Flamini) was an accident, pure and simple, but the fact it happened because of a breach in our defence was no accident. The Frenchman was devastated by the slip-up, but, in the end, it was a collective mistake and Mathieu was just unlucky to have been standing where he was.
After the game Arsene said:
"The result is very disappointing but the spirit we put in and the effort we put in was great and we have to take it on the chin. We made the most difficult [part] by coming back to 2-1 and after that you could see that maybe we were too focused to keep the result and maybe too conservative because of confidence level had been affected certainly by Saturday. We just wanted to win the game without pushing anymore forward and a mistake happened unfortunately and it created a result we didn't want. But overall I have to give credit to the fighting spirit and the desire we put into that game".
He then treaded the familiar territory of a top-four finish:
"Everton won, so we have to focus and prepare well for the next game. It will be open until the end but you can still have surprises as well. Man City had a good result tonight, they look a bit unstoppable. They are favourites as they have two games in hand, them and Chelsea are favourites now for the title".
But the most depressing bit came later, when our manager touched on the injured players:
"None of them are close to coming back. Koscielny is out for a while. After that Ozil, I don’t know but at least two or three weeks. Ramsey is perhaps the closest. He is two weeks maybe".
Considering Ramsey was scheduled to return against City (Southampton, originally) we are in a bad spot. We cannot really rotate due to so many players being out, but the group that gave their all in Tuesday seemed dead on their feet. They are still humans, after all, who have their highs and lows, who just fought another battle. There is no telling how long they'll be able to keep going, but I hope we make it all right through the weekend and then we'll have a week to prepare for our clash with Everton and get some R&R.
I hate to say it, but our short bench is taking its toll. True, we have many players out (again, should not we do something about it already?), but it doesn't excuse the manager's choice not to strengthen his team in the summer. This why we are where we are and facing an uphill task to become at least third.
In the light of City and Liverpool's wins, even the third place seems to be slipping out of our reach. We now have to look back, where Everton lurch six points behind and with a game in hand. Arsenal will have to, somehow, restore their confidence and put the maximum effort to get something out of the next two games. And make no mistake, we need to do so.