And a great chance for the Swans instantly! Jefferson Montero cuts it back to Wilfried Bony, but he shanks his shot wide. It's all opening up.

Image source, Getty Images

A clinical break, wonderfully done! Swansea lose it in midfield and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain breaks the lines, powerful burst through the middle to stretch the defence to breaking point. Santi Cazorla helps it on to Danny Welbeck, he cuts inside and they are queuing up in the middle. Welbeck keeps his head and lays it on a plate for Alexis Sanchez, who buries his sixth goal in the last four games...

Former Arsenal and Wales striker John Hartson
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra at the Liberty Stadium

"Swansea have missed Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge today. They play so well with each other and the balance they give the side is fantastic. When you have a squad the size of Swansea's and two of your regular big players are not playing, you are going to miss them.

"These are really, really poor conditions here now. It is absolutely lashing it down."

The heavens have opened, proper rain, and a first real shot on goal for some time. Santi Cazorla thumps in a low shot, it fizzes across the turf and Lukasz Fabianski gathers it in.

Into the last half hour. Any danger of a goal?

Former Arsenal and Wales striker John Hartson
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra at the Liberty Stadium

"Theo Walcott is just taking his tracksuit bottoms off and getting warmed up. I would hazard a guess at Santi Cazorla coming off. I'm a big fan of Cazorla's but he hasn't had much impact on this game. The game needs some fresh legs. It also needs a goal to liven things up."

Both sides look sloppy in play, they can't find the final ball at all. Theo Walcott is warming up now, Arsenal need him back to his best.

There have been nine goals scored in the last 10 minutes of the last six meetings between Arsenal and Swansea in all competitions. Who's up for some late drama? We may need it - it's been a bit flat so far.

Neal Collins:, external Only positive about this Arsenal performance: They are unlikely to throw away a 3-0 lead!

Robert Whittaker:, external Something seriously missing in this Arsenal team. Names look good on back of shirt but performances do not match.

Steve Mochama:, external Count me in project #WengerOut, willing to sacrifice my pay to sponsor the banner flying over the Emirates.

Evie, Reading: Not sure that Calum Chambers is suited to being a full-back. Jefferson Montero is killing him with his pace every time.

Is Jefferson Montero the fastest man in the Premier League? He can really shift, leaving Calum Chambers eating his dust again but his cross is too long for Marvin Emnes, who can't get on the end of it. Very open first five minutes in the second half.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal and Wales striker John Hartson
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra at the Liberty Stadium

"Not even a minute into the second half and we have just seen the best chance of the game {see 17:04]. But Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain couldn't get the ball out of his feet and there was no power on the shot.

"Ashley Williams seemed to hurt himself in that challenge on Alexis Sanchez see [17:06]. He was down getting treatment for a while. We've not seen signs of an Arsenal substitution yet but I do think Arsene Wenger will bring on Theo Walcott or Jack Wilshere in the next 15-20 minutes."

Alexis Sanchez thrashes in the free-kick - over the top for a corner...

A wild swing from Ashley Williams, right through on Santi Cazorla's shin, and both men are down. Bone-to-bone contact, those are the sort that really sting!

Williams stays down but he can't get away from referee Phil Dowd, who hovers over him like a vulture before giving him a yellow card. Arsenal have the free-kick on the corner of the penalty area.

Early chance for the Gunners, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hurts Swansea with his pace again as he latches on to Alexis Sanchez's pass but Neil Taylor is across on the cover to shut him down and his shot is eventually weak.

Here we go, back under way.

Here they come, back out for the second half. Looks like no changes for either side.

Quite literally watching paint dry at the Liberty as a groundsman repaints one of the six-yard boxes.

Theo Walcott goes through his stretching routine away to his right. Is Walcott the man to make the difference?

Alex, Birmingham: Surely Wilfried Bony is the striker that Liverpool need? Liverpool are playing with a large number of attacking midfielders and Mario Balotelli as a target man, and it's not working! The question is: why didn't they sign him?

Gary, London: Problems throughout the Arsenal side, not just in defence. Keeper is poor too. 50 shots on target faced, 16 conceded this season. Not good enough.

Image source, Reuters

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew on striker Ayoze Perez:

"He is a player who was highly regarded and we worked hard to bring him to the club. We thought his physicality could be an issue but he had such technical quality and we hoped that would see him through, and it has. That goal was worthy of winning any game.

"The cross had good pace on it but he had to add a little pace of his own with the flick, which was outstanding. Usually, you just have to guide the ball in. He had some great little moments where he manoeuvred the ball.

"Perez is a player we scouted at Tenerife throughout last year. He was being courted by some big clubs, particularly Porto who don't sign anyone unless they are a good player. That really underlined what we had seen. He's been a great buy for us.

"I think he just loved the way we were so determined to bring him to the club, and of course the fact he would be playing in front of 54,000 Geordies every week at the third best-supported club in the country, or whatever it is we are. It's a big magnet for any young player, I would think."