Swansea beat Arsenal - as it happened

1. Gomis heads in late Swansea winner
2. Swansea complete double over Arsenal
3. Arsenal miss chance to close gap on Man City

Goodnight

Arsene has a point... but Chelsea don't usually lose matches like that, do they? Anyway, credit to Swansea. That's a decent three points. I'm off now, but stay tuned to the BBC Sport website for plenty more football and, I suspect, the odd bit of KP. Thanks for all your contributions. Night!

Manager reaction

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, speaking to Sky Sports: "We were a bit unlucky with the goal. There are a lot of positives. This kind of game you play 20 times and win 19 times.

"In patches our domination was top quality. You have to learn from defeat and we take encouragement from a defeat like that. Swansea deserve credit for their defensive display but they probably had the fewest passes in our half of any team here this season."

The player to cover the most ground tonight? Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelandic playmaker was in a more withdrawn role too. That's a great testament to his manager.

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Scorrick: Who has the best return on investment this season? Spurs on 58 points or Swansea on 56?

Abdul Said: Maybe Arsene should not have substituted Francis Coquelin, he is probably the best player to protect his back four.

Sule Sadiq: I've lost all respect for Garry Monk. Swansea parked the bus. This is worse than the train robbery.

Manager reaction

Reuters

Swansea manager Garry Monk, speaking to Sky Sports: "We worked all week on our plan. The players were magnificent and carried it out to the letter.

"I've tried to make the team adaptable. There's no one way to play - as a team you have to be able to adapt and today was a perfect example of that.

"We didn't have a fit striker to choose from the start but I knew if it was tight in the last 20 minutes we could push for a winner."

On the prospect of qualifying for the Europa League: "What will be will be? I don't focus on that. Why shouldn't we push for that? Today showed what we're about and we'll see where the last two games take us."

Remember, Swansea sold Wilfried Bony to Manchester City in January. Since he was sold, Swansea have won eight Premier League games, drawn three and lost five. Not a bad return.

BreakingBREAKING NEWS

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Big, breaking news from the world of cricket...

Our colleagues at Test Match Special have tweeted: "We understand that Kevin Pietersen has been told this evening that he won't be picked to play for England again."

More to follow on the BBC Sport website.

We asked you to vote on who will win the Premier League next season. Lots of you got involved... and here are the results. Not many backing City or Liverpool.

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Gomis touch map

Sixteen minutes on the pitch, three touches, one goal.

opta

I should also point out that Swansea completed a league double against Arsenal for the first time since the 1981-82 season. Those were the days of Robbie James, Leighton James and Bob Latchford.

To be fair to Arsenal, that Swansea goal came from nowhere and they ran into an inspired Fabianski in the second half. Seventeen of their 22 shots came in the second half.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"There's a really good turnout from the Swansea fans tonight and they have seen history. It's been a feature of their season. Everything has gone to plan. They have been really impressive."

So... Arsenal miss the chance to go level with Manchester City in second and Swansea close in on Southampton. What a season the boys from south Wales are having.

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The only other two teams to do the double over Arsenal in the Premier League era? West Ham (2006-07) and Chelsea (2009-10).

FULL-TIME

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The Emirates is emptying quickly as Arsenal lump it forward... and there it is, Swansea have done it. Three points and the double over Arsenal. Maybe they won't be winning the league next season after all.

Arsenal are getting desperate now and a low cross into the box is cut out by Fabianski. Swansea holding on well... another Aaron Ramsey shot being charged down.

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Phil Neville did say last week that Arsenal are a goalkeeper short of a title-winning team. Would David De Gea or Thibaut Courtois have kept that out? It wasn't the firmest header in the world. Four minutes of injury time.

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Peter Collins: Ospina should, really should have been saving that. It wasn't that difficult for him. He's better than that.

A couple of you pointed out my slip of the keyboard earlier. I referred to Swansea manager 'Garry Mink'. My bad... the man who is on his way to masterminding a double over Arsenal is anything but a "semiaquatic, carnivorous mammal of the Mustelidae family". I got that last bit off the internet!

League One result

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Game over at the County Ground - and Swindon come out on top after the highest-scoring match in play-off history. It finishes 5-5 on aggregate, with Swindon edging Sheffield United 7-6 on aggregate.

They'll meet Preston in the final for a place in the Championship on 24 May.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"It's definitely a goal, clearly over the line. The ref is holding is hands out as if to say 'there's nothing I can do about it'. Ospina palmed it out, but it was too late."

GOAL

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Smash and grab. Swansea catch Arsenal cold, with Jefferson Montero putting in a cross from the left and Bafetimbi Gomis heads home. Or does he? Yes... it's a goal. The linesman's arm is buzzing. David Ospina's attempt to scoop the ball from behind the line are in vain.

Arsenal 0 Swansea/Technology 1.

Neil Taylor has been Swansea's weak link tonight, with all of Arsenal's best play coming down the right. The full-back almost gives the ball away to Jack Wilshere in the middle of the park but recovers just in time.

League One latest

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UNBELIEVABLE drama in the League One play-offs. Since we last mentioned it there have been three more goals. Sheffield United have just scored twice in a couple of minutes to make it 5-5 on the night against Swindon, meaning the Blades trail 7-6 on aggregate. One more goal takes it to extra time.

Brilliant, brilliant game. Seven minutes of added time being played -follow it here.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"He won't get a better chance all season. Somehow he has played it straight at the goalkeeper."

How has he not scored there? Or there? First Fabianski denies Alexis Sanchez from close range and then Santi Cazorla in similar territory. Swansea bring on Mo Barrow.

Reuters

A shot from Aaron Ramsey, but he's stretching and it's easily dealt with by the keeper.

SUBSTITUTION

Everyone is penned back for Swansea now as Arsenal begin to apply the squeeze. Arsene Wenger is getting agitated on the touchline and Bafetimbi Gomis is brought on for Swansea, in place of Ki Sung-yueng. A positive change from Garry Monk.

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Matt Wortley: Wilshere & Walcott on...the Arsenal medics are warming up.

Theo Walcott from six yards out... a stabbed shot... at the keeper. Groans.

Jack Wilshere is throwing himself into everything. I suspect he's one of those people who gets competitive playing Monopoly. He's added to Arsenal's intensity though. Got to be a breakthrough soon.

SUBSTITUTION

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Jack Wilshere... how good is he? I rate him, I rate him highly. But I read the papers and they say Manchester City are interested and could pay £30m. Is he worth that much? Either way, he's straight into the action here and drives down the Swansea left before firing into the side-netting. Arsenal have also brought on Theo Walcott.

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Eddie: Could do with a Flappyhandski moment here from Lukasz to grab all 3 pts. He owes us at least that much.

SUBSTITUTION

Time for Jack Wilshere. Francis Coquelin gets the hook.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"That was a loose bit of defending from Swansea. Cazorla was given far too much time, but it was Fabianski to the rescue."

CLOSE!

Santi Cazorla is a magician. He's got three players around him in a space the size of a phone box (kids, ask your Mum and Dad) and he still manages to get a shot away. Straight at the keeper though.

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A goal is coming. Trust me. Aaron Ramsey finds the side-netting this time. End to end.

SUBSTITUTION

Time for a change. Angel Rangel is off and Jazz Richards is his replacement. Good name.

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A low shot from Olivier Giroud from just inside the area is straight at the keeper, and the first attempt on target for the Gunners.

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Thomas Mottershead: Arsenal play some nice passing football but they're too slow in the process! Gotta pick up the pace!

Sachin Sadier: Arsenal are finally showing showing signs of life, driving forward attacking the goal.

Swansea have been wonderfully organised at the back tonight, but now they have opened up a bit more they are equally as impressive going forward. Ki Sung-yueng, who must be one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League, is pulling the strings and bringing the two wide men into play.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

Reuters

"These goalkeepers haven't had an awful lot to do, but their concentration levels are fantastic. That was very brave from Ospina."

Jonjo Shelvey crosses into the Arsenal box and David Ospina hurts his arm in cutting out the centre. All of a sudden, this game has opened up.

League One latest

Where's the remote? I think we're all following the wrong game.

In less than 20 minutes since half-time, there have been another two goals at the County Ground, where it's now 4-3 to Swindon (6-4 on aggregate) against Sheffield United, who have just given themselves another glimmer of hope through Steven Davies's header.

Minute-by-minute coverage of that one is available here. You have permission to turn over.

Arsenal beginning to get on top. First Hector Bellerin gets behind and his cross is cut out, then Alexis Sanchez bursts into the box and fires into the side-netting. Both chances coming down the right.

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The good, the bad and the ugly from Hector Bellerin. The Arsenal full-back wins the ball, gallops forward, then loses the ball and is exposed and out of position. When Swansea eventually work the ball to Ki Sung-yueng on the edge of the box, the midfielder's shot trickles wide.

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Wales Sport at Emirates Stadium

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"Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was effusive in his praise for Garry Monk before the match, writing in his programme notes that the Swansea boss had enjoyed an "absolutely amazing" first full season in charge.

"Wenger might have been frustrated after that goalless first half, but perhaps such a tactically astute display would earn similar plaudits from Jose Mourinho.

"One suspects a disciplined, stifling performance like this would get a seal of approval from the Chelsea manager."

Are Swansea just playing to their strengths? They sold their leading scorer to Manchester City and his replacement is just returning from injury and only fit for a place on the bench. The visitors continue where they left off and defend deep.

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Waqas: How about a Dyer XI versus a Cole XI match? It'll be better than 'El Classico'.

KICK-OFF

Come on lads, let's have a deluge of goals. Remember that 21 of the last 22 goals in this fixture in all competitions have been scored in the second half.

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Dan in Darlington: They could play against the Food XI. With players like Plantanias FC's Yaya Banana

Looking at the combined heat maps of both sides, it looks as though there's large parts of the pitch which haven't seen the ball yet this evening. Makes it easier for the groundsman at least. Less turf to pat down with a giant fork.

Opta

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Not the best game, is it? Arsenal have made more than double the number of passes that Swansea have attempted - 392 to 181. Not that it's had any benefit. This is a good test of any future Arsenal title credentials. Can they churn out a 1-0 win in games like this?

Pearson joins Leeds (not Nigel!)

Here's some news from our Leeds United reporter Adam Pope:

"Leeds United have appointed Adam Pearson as executive director. Pearson, who currently owns Hull FC rugby league club has recently left Sheffield Wednesday after a brief stint on their football management team.

"He was formerly owner of Hull City and helped oversee the move of the football and rugby league clubs to the KC Stadium. He also had a spell at Derby County.

"It's a return to Elland Road for Pearson where he was formerly commercial director. His remit is to help United chairman Massimo Cellino in all aspects of the club."

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"That Montero chance was the best of the first half. We've got the perfect storm. Arsenal are confirmed in the Champions League, Swansea are organised. Arsenal haven't got the quality to open them up."

HALF-TIME

Come on Jefferson, you're better than that. The winger gets the ball 25 yards out and with the Arsenal defence backing off swings a wild boot and the shot hits the stanchion. And that's half-time.

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Anon: The Dyer XI could play the Paul Robinsons.

Stick your name on in future, please. We're only using this because it's so good.

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All of a sudden, we have action. Alexis Sanchez chips a pass 40 yards from inside his own half and Lukasz Fabianski just gets to the ball before Aaron Ramsey. Good interchanging of roles from the Gunners.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"It was a good effort, on the turn. Williams was happy to let him hit that, it was not troubling the keeper. We're struggling to come up with anything better than that."

That's better. Ashley Williams drops off and Olivier Giroud is given time to spin and flash a shot just wide.

I hate to be so negative, but Swansea just had the ball in the final third and in two passes had returned it to whence it had came - their own centre-back. Let's just go toe to toe, lads. It's the end of the season, all targets have been met.

Just to illustrate that point, take a look at these heat maps, which show how little Swansea (on the right) have had the ball in the Arsenal half compared to the Gunners (on the left), who have had plenty of possession in enemy territory.

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Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Wales Sport at Emirates Stadium

"Hey, Bobby, what's French for 'uneventful'?"

It's not quite what Thierry Henry said to his former Arsenal team-mate Robert Pires in that iconic car advert of yesteryear, but it could be what Henry is uttering to his friend at the moment.

The two Frenchmen are at the Emirates tonight, and one suspects the Arsenal greats will be less than impressed by this goalless first half.

Olivier Giroud has just popped up in his own half and carried the ball forward. He can't be accused of taking it easy. Swansea are well organised though and a shot from Santi Cazorla inside the box is blocked by Ashley Williams.

League One latest

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It's half time at the County Ground and Swindon - who were four goals ahead on aggregate after 17 minutes - might be a little anxious as they have their half-time cuppa.

Sheffield United have scored twice to reduce the deficit to 3-2 on the night - and 5-3 on aggregate. Plenty more goals in that one you suspect.

You can follow all of the second-half action with Caroline Chapman here.

YELLOW CARD

A yellow card for Jonjo Shelvey for a foul on Alexis Sanchez - that's nine for the season if you're keeping a tally.

Who would the Dyer XI play? Forget Smith, Jones etc. There have been a lot of Wallaces, Beckfords and Sturiddges down the years. Not too many Vennegoor of Hesselinks though.

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Tony Armstrong from Chelmsford: Paul Dyer ex Colchester United full-back from 70's era. Who became their chief scout after retiring from football.

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Arsenal are yet to have a shot on target. Only two teams have stopped them having one in the first half of a Premier League home game this season (Chelsea & Everton). Another feather in the cap of Garry Monk? Sorry to bombard you with stats by the way... it's that or talk about the weather.

"Lads, I'm wide open. Er, lads....?"

Jefferson Montero - he of the go-faster hair stripes - is a lonely man this afternoon out on Swansea's left wing.

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Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"This is difficult to commentate on, because the game is set. From minute one, we've had no change."

I'll be honest. This has a testimonial feel to it. Feel free to go and make a brew... we'll be here when you get back.

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Peter Nincompoop: The team could be called The Dyer Straits

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Olivier Giroud looks to have run off his back problem, which is just as well for Arsenal - he's run further and faster than any other Arsenal player so far in this match. He's covered 2.91km at an average speed of 6.99km/h in case you were wondering.

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Vishnu Ladwa: Another 'Dyer' is Alex Dyer who plays for Ostersunds FK. He also played for Northampton Town.

George Jenkins: With regard to the Dyers, presumably Danny has to be involved?

Andy Fletcher: Name a team full of Dyers? Easy, Newcastle Utd.

The free-kick is floated in and Alexis Sanchez hits the turf under the challenge of Neil Taylor. Penalty? The ref's having none of it.

Federico Fernandez goes through the back of Olivier Giroud, and the French striker goes down clutching the base of his back. Looks a sore one that. Free-kick's in a decent position though.

"Lads, we're bunching!"

Who hasn't heard that cry on the parks on a Sunday?

And that is exactly what Arsenal are doing this evening - not too much width from the Gunners so far, as this average position graphic shows:

BBC

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Jefferson Montero has two tramlines on the left side of his head, the side of the pitch on which he is playing. Are they go faster stripes? As you can probably guess from my lame jokes... there's not much happening out there.

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Aran in London - regarding Rory (19:39) it's not necessarily about numbers, just look at Atletico last year. Madrid and Barca had substantially larger squads and arguably better players but Atletico still won it.

I momentarily forgot Dyer's first name a moment ago. Was it Lloyd, Bruce, Kieron, Danny... nope it's Nathan. Can we get a team of Dyers together? That's your task for the night. Go.

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Wales Sport at Emirates Stadium

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"A brisk start to the game has made for a lively atmosphere at the Emirates. Arsenal's run of nine wins and a draw from their last 10 matches means their fans are in chipper mood, while Swansea have sold out all 3,000 of their tickets in a noisy corner behind their goal.

"The visitors are undoubtedly underdogs tonight but, as their supporters were happy to remind anyone who would listen before tonight's match, one of their finest away days came at the Emirates.

"Two goals from Michu - remember him? - gave Swansea a memorable 2-0 win here in December 2012."

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MirrorImages: Chelsea, because they're this season's champions and because of the way they've been this season (impressive).

Ulysses Salmon: Chelsea or City. United & L'pool to fight for 4th. Arsenal in either group depending on whether they buy proper or mess it up.

Such is Arsenal's dominance of possession, defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin is stationed in the middle of the Swansea half. The visitors are hoping to catch the Gunners on the break through Jefferson Montero and Nathan Dyer.

Arsenal are being allowed to pop the ball about at will. There's just no pressing from Swansea, who break a sequence of 25 or so straight Arsenal passes when Jack Cork cuts out a ball down the middle.

Six Arsenal players are yet to give away the ball, while seven Swansea players have made just one pass each. Make of that what you will.

The heat maps below show where players have had possession for each team - Arsenal on the left, Swansea on the right.

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Ashley Williams comes off second best in a 50-50 challenge with Olivier Giroud. He limps to the sidelines and throws a couple of pills down the hatch. Paracetamol, most likely. Looks like he'll soldier on.

Ten minutes in, here's what the number crunchers make of it all...

Opta

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Jonjo Shelvey's scored a few corkers in his time and he's not afraid to try his luck from 45 yards out, but this time his lobbed effort is not on target. I'd wager that David Ospina had it covered anyway.

League One latest

No goals here yet - but what a game in the League One play-off semi-final second leg!

Nineteen minutes gone and there have been FOUR goals. Swindon raced into a 3-0 lead, but Sheffield United have just hit back to make it 3-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate.

You can follow minute-by-minute coverage of that game here.

Join the debate at #bbcfootball

DrKip: Chelsea or Man U to win next season. Like Liverpool, Arsenal will always be pretenders to the throne.

Will: Southampton. Koeman will work magic again in summer and take saints to the next level.

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Jefferson Montero gave Arsenal the runaround in the reverse fixture at the Liberty and he stretches his legs down that left flank early on but ends up running down a cul-de-sac when others fail to get forward in support.

An early chance for Arsenal when Aaron Ramsey chips a ball across the box but Olivier Giroud heads over.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"Looking at it in the early stages, I'm not how much Swansea have come to win this game."

There's a lot of empty seats inside the Emirates early on. Have a few given this fixture a swerve? A nice, lazy evening in the garden instead? There's nothing lazy about Jonjo Shelvey's early thunderous challenge on Alexis Sanchez. That's a 'I'm here and mean business' type of tackle.

Steve Claridge

BBC Sport

"There is improvement from Arsenal and there is a way forward. It's been a long time coming, but there's finally something for people to hang their hats on. A Cup final and finishing second would be a good season, an improvement. People aren't asking them to win everything, but to be serious contenders."

KICK-OFF

Arsene Wenger - suit on, hair nicely trimmed - surveys the scene next to a track-suited and gum-chewing Steve Bould. Match under way.

Let's rock and roll then. Should be a decent game this - two teams who play decent football free from the shackles of anything other than an end-of-season flourish.

Manager view

More from Arsene Wenger: "I believe it's important that we finish as close as possible to Chelsea. That's the target. It's difficult to know how strong each team will be next season. That's why it's important we are consistent from now to the end of the season."

Manager view

Swansea manager Garry Monk, speaking to Sky Sports: "I told the group my ambitions at the start of the season and part of that target was to beat our points tally. The door is still open for more and that's what we'll try to do.

"Tonight we have to be very good defensively but we will also try to play. We need to try to impose our game on Arsenal."

The two teams line up side by side in the spacious Emirates tunnel. They stride out to the sound of pleasant applause, Jonjo Shelvey pointing to somebody or something in the crowd. "Look, there's my Dad."

Manager view

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, speaking to Sky Sports: "The team has done well and there are no injuries. I have players who are now fully fit like Walcott, Wilshere and Gibbs so it's a difficult decision to remain unchanged."

I recognise that security guard outside the Arsenal club shop...

PA

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George in Uppingham: Completely disagree with Rory (19:39). Even though Chelsea have good players in all positions, Arsenal's team are settling for the first time in years and finally starting to find some consistency. Arsenal have a chance, but early games will count!

PA

There's lots of talk about KP in the BBC Sport newsroom. And rightly so.

I wonder how some of the great Premier League managers would have handled this?

There'd be no jetting off to India mid-season with Sir Alex in charge.

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Chris Bloomfield: Clearly Leicester will win the league next season...ridiculous form at the minute!

Ryan McKechnie: Gotta be Bournemouth! It just seems right!

Theo Walcott starts on the bench for Arsenal tonight, and the England striker is yet to agree on a contract extension beyond the end of next season.

Arsene Wenger is anxious to get the 26-year-old's signature - believing the ex-Southampton player's best years are still ahead.

"Being 26 to 32 is the best age as a striker and I wouldn't like to miss that golden age," he said. "He can be transformed. He is naturally gifted to play in this position."

League One action

I should also point you in the direction of our dedicated Football League live text. It's League One play-off action tonight, with Swindon hoping to hold onto their narrow lead over Sheffield United. Join Caroline Chapman here.

You following the game tonight? Debating whether to tune into Eastenders instead? What if I told you that 21 of the last 22 goals in this fixture have been scored in the second half of the match. Not that we don't want you to stick around, of course.

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Rory: I can't believe that 41.5% of people really think Arsenal can win the league. They have a couple of good players but are still specialist failures. Chelsea have at least 2 outstanding players in every position! Arsenal have no chance.

Don't worry Rory, still plenty of time left for people to vote...

Would qualifying for the Europa League be a poisoned chalice for Swansea manager Garry Monk, like it was his predecessor Michael Laudrup?

The manager admits he has mixed feeling about qualifying for the competition via a high league finish.

"I don't want to stop anything that could be exciting for the club or the players," said Monk. "But of course what comes with that is a lot of work in the summer.

"I am very mindful of the experience we had last season of being in there and how it affected us."

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Home comforts

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Join the debate at #bbcfootball

Sion Edmonds: Phil Neville looks like a member of Take That with those highlights in the picture at 19:11...

Zlatan's lucky escape

Reuters

Another story which caught me eye is in the London Standard. It concerns Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who was apparently almost killed by one of Sweden's most notorious murderers... and all because he parked his Ferrari in a bad way.

Peter Mangs, who was jailed for two murders and eight attempted murders in 2010, wrote in a new book: "I thought there would be a proper hullabaloo in the media if the gent in question were to be shot."

Mangs went home to get his pistol but, thankfully, Ibrahimovic was gone by the time he returned.

KP in the runs

Taking a couple of diversions from tonight's game, let me first point you in the direction of Kevin Pietersen, who has smashed 326 to give Andrew Strauss a massive headache and leave sports editors up and down the land 'holding the back page'. The latest on that is here.

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Substance and style

BBC

If Swansea win tonight, they will go within a point of seventh-placed Southampton - the team who, until a couple of months ago, had Champions League aspirations. It's their most successful season in their history, in terms of Premier League points at least.

So how good is Garry Monk? It it all down to the Swansea manager? Throwing in his style of play too... surely Monk is a potential England manager of the future? Let me know your thoughts, Swansea fans.

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Mark Harrison: If Man City can get rid of a bunch of ageing players, it could lead the way to young blood wanting to win even more.

Paul Dudgeon: Chelsea because they will strengthen the squad which is already the best in the Prem!

Taylor: Manchester United - the team is settling, it's only a matter of time with the summer signings coming in too.

Vote

So following Arsene Wenger's comments about Arsenal's title prospects next season, we want to know who you think will win next season's Premier League?

Vote now at the top of the page. Terms and conditions can be found here and voting will close at 22:00 BST.

New defender, Arsene? No thanks

If Arsenal were to challenge for the Premier League title next season, where should they strengthen? Phil Neville told 5 live that it should be a goalkeeper.

It certainly won't be a defender... at least judging by Arsene Wenger's latest comments.

Speaking about the central defenders at his disposal - Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Calum Chambers and Gabriel - Wenger said: "Four is enough.

"(Mathieu) Debuchy can play there, (Nacho) Monreal can play there, so you can say we are not out to buy a central defender. And Gabriel will be a great central defender, believe me."

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Wales Sport at Emirates Stadium

BBC

"Lukasz Fabianski divided opinion during his time at Arsenal, but it seems the Swansea City goalkeeper made a lasting impression on at least one Gunners fan.

"The Poland international left Arsenal to join the Swans last summer and has enjoyed a fine first season at the Liberty Stadium.

"A string of solid displays have eased the memories of some mistake-ridden performances for Arsenal which earned him the nickname 'Flappyhandski' - not that this particular supporter would've referred to Fabianski in such a way."

Swansea fans know more than Arsenal's?

BBC

Have you tried our new BBC Sport predictor?

Dartford FC fans have had the greatest success with their predictions so far, averaging 63 points with their weekend predictions. However, with Lawro predicting three scores accurately from the nine Premier League fixtures so far, along with three correct results, he would have scored 120 points.

Swansea City fans are currently ahead of Arsenal in the predictor league, so can you help your team rise in the table by predicting tonight's scores by playing here.

At the end of tonight's game, you will get a video message from BBC Sport's presenters, including the likes of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, rating your predictions performance.

Incidentally, the Arsenal team from back in 1994 read like this: D Seaman, L Dixon, N Winterburn, D Hillier, S Bould, T Adams, J Jensen, I Wright, K Campbell, R Parlour, E McGoldrick.

John Jenson... I had six swaps of him which I could never shift in the school playground sticker exchange.

Arsene Wenger should certainly see some fluency from his side next season if he continues to pick the same XI. Back in 1994 - the last time Arsenal kept the same team for five games in a row - Friends was aired for the first time and the Channel Tunnel reopened. Like Wenger and Arsenal, another great example of Anglo-French unions.

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And then there's Arsene Wenger. He says Arsenal can challenge for next season's Premier League title if they complement their free-flowing football with the steel to win when not at their best.

"You cannot play 38 games in the same convincing style," said Wenger. "You need balance so if you are not at a level of fluency you can still win."

A 'wow' performance

PA

So, are Arsenal going to be genuine title contenders next season? You can vote via this page.

This is what Phil Neville had to say last week, when he saw the Gunners dismantle Hull City in the manner of a surgeon: it was precise, it was brilliant and it was effective.

"That was the best 45 minutes I've seen Arsenal play since the days of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit (1997-2000)," said Neville. "It was a 'wow' performance. They popped the ball about, they had runners in behind, the work-rate, the togetherness, the vision... I just thought it was magnificent. I think this is a different Arsenal team. We've seen them play beautiful football before, but that was a winning-big-trophies type of football."

Dafydd Pritchard

BBC Wales Sport at Emirates Stadium

"You can usually rely on Arsene Wenger to take a novel approach to his programme notes, and tonight's match against Swansea is no different.

"As well as praising Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny and Swans manager Garry Monk, Wenger writes about his love of politics 'because I sometimes look at it like a strategy and a game as well'.

"And to persist with the political theme, the Gunners manager notes Arsenal have won their first match after each of the last three general elections."

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So, what were you doing in 1994? What was better in 1994, other than Arsenal's back four and the size of Mars bars?

Let us know by tweeting #bbcfootball, sending a text to 81111 or posting to the BBC Sport Facebook and Google+ pages.

BreakingBREAKING TEAM NEWS

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Before we go any further... let me tell you that Arsenal are unchanged for the fifth game in a row. Aaron Ramsey is fit to play. The last time they did that? January 1994.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud. Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Gabriel, Flamini, Wilshere, Rosicky, Walcott.

Swansea have been forced into one change from the 2-0 win against Stoke, with midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson pushed up into an attacking 'false nine' role following an injury to Nelson Oliveira, the striker on loan from Benfica. That means Ki Sung-yueng is recalled in midfield, while forward Bafetimbi Gomis is only on the bench having returned from a hamstring injury.

Swansea: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Shelvey, Cork, Sigurdsson, Montero, Dyer. Subs: Tremmel, Richards, Britton, Grimes, Barrow, Emnes, Gomis.

Firing up the barbecue tonight? Lucky you. Save us a sausage.

I'm right though, aren't I? We do always reach this time of the year and start predicting glorious times ahead for the Gunners?

May musings

BBC

Every May, it's the same...

We start talking about a new era in English cricket and suggest that this summer can't be as bad as the last winter.

We are 'surprised' when the United Kingdom entry into Eurovision finishes bottom of the pile.

Dad reckons he's a dab hand at cooking. But only if it's on the barbecue.

Oh yeah... and we start talking up Arsenal's chances of winning the league next season. Every year. Without fail.

You've got to love May.