Arsenal travelled to Swansea City this evening knowing that a win would send them to the top of the Premier League.
It took until the second half, but they gained the lead through German youngster Serge Gnabry, before Aaron Ramsey doubled their advantage soon after.
The home side reduced the arrears late on through Ben Davies, but despite applying some pressure, they were unable to score an equalising goal.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
4.33pmAfternoon all. It's not a bad way to end Saturday's Premier League action, is it? We've got two of the best passing teams that the division can boast - Swansea City and Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.
4.36pmWe may still be just under an hour away from the start of this contest, but the teams new is already starting to filter through. Let's begin with the Arsenal team...
4.37pmARSENAL XI: Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Wilshere, Ramsey, Flamini, Ozil, Gnabry; Giroud
4.39pmThat is pretty much what was expected from Arsene Wenger. Theo Walcott is out until next month because of stomach surgery, which in turn has seen German youngster Serge Gnarby keep his place in the starting lineup. In fact, the Gunners are unchanged from last time out against Stoke City, so we get another look at Mesut Ozil in an Arsenal shirt.
4.42pmAnd now let's have a look at how Swansea will start this fixture...
4.45pmSWANSEA XI: Vorm; Tiendalli, Amat, Flores, Davies; Canas, Shelvey, de Guzman, Dyer, Routledge; Michu
4.49pmSo, captain Ashley Williams has not recovered from a muscular injury and he will be a big miss at the back for the Swans. Further up the pitch Michu will play as a lone frontman, who will be supported by Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge. It means that Wilfried Bony will have to settle for place among the substitutes. Full list of who is on the bench coming up...
4.52pmSWANSEA SUBS: Tremmel, Alfei, Taylor, Britton, Pozuelo, Vazquez, Bony
ARSENAL: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Arteta, Monreal, Bendtner, Jenkinson, Miyaichi
4.55pmOne player that Arsenal are bound to be wary of today is Michu. Reports even claimed that Wenger was keen to sign the Spaniard during the summer months. The Frenchman has also recently paid tribute to the Swansea attacker, comparing him to an Arsenal legend:
"I see him like a little bit, position-wise, like a Bergkamp, more than an up-front striker. They can play with both strikers because Michu's the kind of striker who is a midfielder as well. He can play both positions, that's why they are 4-4-1-1 or you can call that a 4-4-2 when Wilfried Bony plays."
5pmOf course, he also did this against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last season. The coolness of his finishing is just scary:
5.04pmOf course, the away side have a striker in decent form themselves. Olivier Giroud took some time to settle in last season, but he's hit the ground running this time around. He's got five goals in his last eight outings, four of which have come in the Premier League. With Williams absence today, he's sure to fancy his chances of adding to his tally.
5.09pmIt wasn't the best of preparation for this match where Swansea were concerned during the week when they exited the League Cup - the competition that they won last season - to Championship side Birmingham City. However, winger Dyer is keen for his teammates to put that result behind them today:
"We've got two strikers who can score goals and we've got midfielders who can score goals We just have to brush the Birmingham defeat off as soon as possible and get going again. We've got so many games coming up that we can't dwell on that.
"Obviously it was disappointing to lose. We had a lot of chances in the first half and we have to make sure that when we get a chance, we're clinical."
5.15pmThe Birmingham loss aside, Michael Laudrup has done a fantastic job at Swansea it must be said. It's something that his opposite number, Wenger, agrees with: “Michael Laudrup has stabilised the club in the Premier League. I think at the start they had the technical level to cope with the demands anyway. You can last one season on enthusiasm but, after that, you need to rely on real quality and that's what they had.
"But now they are a team where the level of expectation is higher than the year before. So, of course, everybody wants them to be performing in the top seven or eight. I think they have the quality to do that. Overall they buy well and they play attractive football. This is a very, very good team."
5.20pmTalking of Laudrup, he has been talking about Arsenal's signing of Ozil recently: "I have to admit I was very surprised when I saw he had left Real Madrid as he is a fantastic player. Arsenal is a great club too but with Real Madrid you are playing in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of the Champions League.
"I was also surprised with the way it happened on the last day of the transfer window as I did not imagine a player with his quality would be changing team at the last moment, but he did and you have to say well done to Arsenal.
"Even before signing Ozil, the strongest part of their side was the midfield with Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla and after adding Ozil there is so much quality. Fortunately Cazorla can not play against us, but they are still very good in that area."
5.25pmRight, here come the players. There's a great atmosphere inside the Liberty Stadium, as there often seems to be. Not long now until we are off and running.
1 minGAME ON! Hosting Swansea, attacking from right to left in the first half, get this encounter started. It should be an entertaining contest.
5 minNot too much to report on during the opening five minutes it must be said. Swansea have seen more of the ball, but they haven't created a chance of note with it. Their only effort has come from Jonjo Shelvey, who fires well over the crossbar from 30 yards out.
8 minA jeer from the home faithful goes up every time Aaron Ramsey gets on the ball. He may have only been a Cardiff City player during his younger days, but these supporters don't forget!
13 minStill no chances to speak of, but Arsenal are now starting to see much more of the possession. Kieran Gibbs looks dangerous from left-back and gets forward well to drill in a cross. Giroud doesn't react quickly enough, though, and the ball rolls out for a Swansea throw.
16 minCHANCE! What a nightmare this would have been Swansea supporters. Flamimi plays the ball square 25 yards from goal for Ramsey, who goes for an instant shot. He keeps it low and it's close enough to worry Michel Vorm in the Swansea goal, but the ball eventually drifts a yard wide of the target.
21 minJack Wilshere can be a feisty little chap at times can't he?! The Arsenal midfielder has just fouled Dwight Tiendalli on the touchline and then in disgust at having a free kick awarded against him, he decides to flick the ball away. Other referees may have cautioned him, but credit to Mark Clattenburg, who deemed a chat between the two to be enough - probably a final warning.
25 minThere is an interesting battle starting to develop between Swansea winger Dyer and Gibbs. There are not too many full-backs in the Premier League that could keep pace with Dyer, but Gibbs is making a good fist of it. On two occasions the Swansea man looked to be through, but Arsenal defender has retreated well to snuff out the danger.
29 minA heart in mouth moment for Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny as his heavy touch allows Michu to slide in. The two then battle on the byline, with Michu flicking the ball to Wayne Routledge. He goes for goal, but the ball skids wide of the target. It wouldn't have counted anyway because the ball was deemed to have gone out of play by the linesman following Michu's challenge on the keeper.
34 minSwansea are certainly the better of the two sides right now. They are probing, but still cannot find a way through to carve out a decent chance. In contrast, Wenger is likely to be disappointed with how his side have performed so far. We've seen very little from either Wilshere or Ozil.
36 minA tweet from the Premier League which sums up the match so far really: "With 35 mins played, there have been no shots on targets so far at the Liberty Stadium."
40 minAnother tweet, this time from Stan Collymore: Both sets of defenders doing very well at the Liberty. Would like to see one or two more running with ball at feet to open things up!" That is what you would expect from the likes of Ozil and Wilshere, but neither have delivered, yet!
44 minSwansea have a free kick in a dangerous position, about 25 yards from goal...
45 min...but Jonathan de Guzman sums up the entire half as he balloons the ball halfway up the stand behind the goal. Meanwhile, there is bad news for Arsenal as Giroud is down and rolling around. He looks to be in some pain. There will be two minutes of stoppage time by the way.
45+2 minCHANCE! Giroud is back with us and he really should be celebrating the opening goal. For the first time the Swansea defence is opened up and the Arsenal striker moves into the penalty area. He then shoots low and left footed, but the ball drags a couple yards wide of the target. You'd expect much more from him in that position.
45+3 minHALF TIME: Swansea 0-0 Arsenal
6.22pmWell, having talked the potential of this game up, it's been a little bit of a let down so far. Swansea have been the better side in possession, but it's Arsenal that created the best of the chances right at the end of the half.
6.25pmAs mentioned, Swansea, like always, have been neat and tidy when they have the ball, but haven't posed much of a threat in the final third of the pitch. If anything, it looks as though Michu could do with some help up front. Perhaps the introduction of Bony at some point might be worth considering.
6.30pmFrom Arsenal's point of view, they need more out of Ozil and Wilshere in particular. The latter of that duo is playing on the left and he does not look either comfortable nor happy in that position. The Gunners also, perhaps predictably, miss Walcott's pace. He provides them with such an outlet in tight matches such as this one.
6.33pmWorryingly, Arsenal's biggest goal threat off the bench is Nicklas Bendtner!
46 minSECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Anyway, Arsenal get us restarted. Let's hope it is a much better second 45 minutes. A shot on target would be nice!
51 minSomeone that has started this half well for Arsenal is youngster Gnabry. He is the only player on the field right now that is looking to get the ball down and run at defenders. It might not always come off, but it's positive play. He's also just had the game's first shot on target, but it is easily collect by Vorm.
54 minSwansea have been extremely frustrating thus far. Just now they strung together a move that must have involved around 15 passes and the ball was eventually worked out wide to Ben Davies on the left. His cross hit Bacary Sagna, though, and the chance was gone. The story of their performance up until this point.
58 minGOAL! Swansea 0-1 Arsenal (Gnabry)
58 minWhat a typical Arsenal goal that was, scored by their best player today. It's a greatly disguised pass by Ramsey, which frees the German. He then shows composure well beyond his years to drill the ball across Vorm and into the bottom corner of the net. Great goal from the Gunners.
60 minCHANCE! Arsenal are moving through the gears now and Ozil really should have a second. He moves into the penalty area and commits Vorm, but his finish lacks conviction and the Swansea keeper is able to save with ease.
61 minGOAL! Swansea 0-2 Arsenal (Ramsey)
61 minLaudrup reacts to Gnarby's goal by bringing on Bony, but before he gets a touch of the ball, Arsenal go 2-0 up. It's another team goal, as Giroud fakes to shoot and slots in Ramsey. He then goes beyond Vorm, before firing the ball into the roof of the net. Is there a more in-form midfielder in European football right now than Ramsey? There can't be many. A long way back for Swansea for now.
64 minSUBSTITUTION: A second swap for the Swans as Laudrup introduces Spanish attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo into the action. He has replaced Routledge, who has had a quiet evening.
68 minA stat from Infostrada Sports on Twitter: "Serge Gnabry (18 years and 76 days old) is the 2nd youngest ever #EPL goalscorer for Arsenal, behind Cesc Fàbregas (17-113 on 25 Aug 2004)."
70 minSAVE! That's better from Swansea, who at last work Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. Dyer is the player with the shot as he drills one goalwards from 20 yards out. It's a powerful effort, but one that the Polish stopper is able to just tip around the post. The resultant corner comes to nothing, but perhaps a sign of intent from the home team.
75 minCHANCE! A big opportunity for Bony, who shows none of the clinical instincts that he did in Holland. It's Wilshere that makes the mistake when he underhits a back pass, allowing the Swansea striker to run through. He looks nervy, though, and as the angle narrows, Szczesny comes out to block.
78 minSUBSTITUTION: An impressive outing from Gnabry, who has played three times this week, comes to an end. He's been replaced by Mikel Arteta as he steps up his search of match fitness following a spell on the sidelines with an injury.
80 minBOOKING! Some frustration from De Guzman, who hacks out at Wilshere as the Arsenal playmaker looked to move down the line. The Dutch international takes his deserved punishment without an argument.
82 minGOAL! Swansea 1-2 Arsenal (Davies)
82 minWell, well - it's all set up for a grandstand finish at the Liberty Stadium. It's an unlikely scorer as well, as full-back Davies cuts in from the left, before picking out Bony. Davies carries on his run and as Bony flicks the ball into the area, the defender gets their first and beats Szczesny with a volley. A smart goal and now we have a game on!
85 minBOOKINGS! Wilshere is taking a lot of punishment from the Swansea players at the moment. This time it's Chico that is booked for a late challenge on the midfielder, before Canas receives the same card for bringing down Ramsey on the halfway line.
88 minPENALTY APPEAL! A huge cry for a penalty from the home supporters as Sagna boots the ball into the hand of his teammate Flamini. A few Swansea players join in the appeals, but Clattenburg waves them away. It's completely unintentional by Flamini, but some referees may well have given it. Meanwhile, Nacho Monreal has come on for Ozil.
90 minRight then, Swansea have four minutes of stoppage time to salvage something from this game.
90+2 minSUBSTITUTION: Another switch from the Gunners and it is a defensive one. Wilshere is the player that has departed, with Carl Jenkinson coming on in his place. It's worth mentioning that Wilshere appeared to be limping as he exited the pitch.
90+3 minBOOKING! Arteta's first real involvment sees him receive a yellow card for leaving his studs in on Michu. He looks bemused, but it is the correct decision from Clattenburg. The resultant free kick is wasted by the Swans. Not long left now.
90+5 minFULL TIME: Swansea 1-2 Arsenal
7.25pmSo, Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League table. You'd have to say that they deserve the points, despite a spirited performance in the closing stages from Swansea. That's all we have time for from the Liberty Stadium, but check back shortly for our analysis of the match. Until next time, goodbye.
