Garry Monk bemoans Swansea City's defeat by Arsenal

Swansea City manager Garry Monk believes their 3-0 defeat by Arsenal "flattered" the Gunners.

The Swans spurned good chances in a goalless first half before Arsene Wenger's side cantered to victory with a clinical second-half display.

Monk thinks his team were unfortunate to suffer a fourth defeat in their last seven Premier League games.

"The irony is we didn't play anywhere near as good as that last week against Aston Villa, yet got the win," he said.

"Especially in the first half against Arsenal, the way we attacked we were the better team and we really should have taken the lead.

"The second Arsenal goal killed us a little bit - the momentum and the way we were playing. The scoreline definitely flattered them."

Fabianski controversy

Olivier Giroud's header goes past Lukasz Fabianski

After an unmarked Olivier Giroud had headed Arsenal in front, Laurent Koscielny doubled their lead as he seized on an error from Swansea's former Gunners' goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Under pressure from Giroud's challenge, the Poland international dropped the ball into Koscielny's path for a simple tap-in, but Monk believes the goal should have been disallowed.

"I've been involved in many of those situations myself and I think the whole stadium, everyone in it apart from the referee expected a free-kick," said the former Swansea centre-back and captain.

"You see it time and time again. It's a free-kick with contact on the keeper. Those fine margins are what I'm talking about.

"That decision didn't go for us so we have to live with that."

Good intentions

Swansea's next two fixtures are at Norwich and at home against Bournemouth who are 16th and 17th in the Premier League table respectively.

Having lost to an Arsenal side level on points with league leaders Manchester City, Monk hopes his men will fare better against teams placed lower in the table.

"We're not always going to be competing against the quality of teams like Arsenal," he added.

"You could clearly see our intentions in the first half.

"It's taking that into the games where we're not always going to be competing against the quality of Arsenal - it's the teams that are going to be in and around us."