MATCH REPORT: Arsenal 1-0 Swansea City

1-0 to the Arsenal. The Gunners did what they had to going forward, did what they had to at the back. Solid debuts from Per Mertesacker and Mikel Arteta.

Or to put it another way, Arsenal could have scored ten, and let the Welsh side attack far too easily in the second half, resulting in some nervous defensive moments.

Early on, Arteta's pass put Aaron Ramsey through on goal, but the Welshman, impressive against England, put his chance wide. Danny Graham's effort was superbly kept out by Wojciech Szczesny after the striker had outmuscled Mertesacker. Defender Steven Caulker, on loan to the Swans from Tottenham, had to keep out Theo Walcott's effort with a goal-line clearance. Both sides kept creating chances, but it was Arsenal who broke the deadlock.

Late in the first half, goalkeeper Michel Vorm attempted to roll the ball out, only for it to hit Angel Rangel and fall to Andrei Arshavin, whose first-time strike from an angle found the net.

The game continued to provide entertainment in front of the goals in the second half. Scott Sinclair's superb free-kick struck the bar, before Robin van Persie's powerful effort hit the post. The Dutchman also fired over after playing a one-two with Ramsey.

Late on in the game, substitute Marouane Chamakh had a chance to seal the victory, but his header from Kieran Gibbs' cross couldn't find its way past Vorm in the Swansea goal. Swansea then piled the pressure on Arsenal, culminating in Graham missing a great chance deep into stoppage time.

Despite a frantic finish, it remained 1-0 at the final whistle. The Welsh team did well, and on another day could have stolen a point. For Arsenal, relief at a first Premier League win, pulling them away from the relegation zone.