Graham Guns Arsenal at Liberty

Danny Graham landed the knockout blow as Swansea edged a five-goal thriller against Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium.

Robin van Persie put the Gunners ahead in the fifth minute but the Swans were level 11 minutes later via Scott Sinclair from the penalty spot after Nathan Dyer had been fouled by Aaron Ramsey in the box.

Nathan Dyer then handed Brendan Rodgers' side a 57th minute lead but Theo Walcott restored parity on 69 minutes.

But Graham slotted home from a tight angle less than a minute later to hand the hosts a victory which sends them up to 10th in the table, while the Gunners sit in fifth.

Swansea boss Rodgers had called on England manager Fabio Capello to visit South Wales to watch his side in action, with Dyer and Sinclair having been linked with a call-up to the national squad, and with the Italian in attendance the duo could not have done much more to enhance their aspirations in an enthralling encounter.

Arsene Wenger had recalled Van Persie to his Arsenal side after his recent extended break, and it did not take the Dutchman long to get back in the swing of things.

Andrey Arshavin's pass carved Swansea apart, and the striker made no mistake as he checked before firing past Steven Caulker and goalkeeper Michel Vorm from a tight angle for his 22nd goal of the season.

Knocked wind

The breakthrough initially knocked the wind out of Swansea's sails but they were level after 16 minutes.

After sharp play down the left by the excellent Joe Allen, Dyer went down under Ramsey's challenge for referee Michael Oliver to award a penalty. Sinclair converted into Wojciech Szczesny's left-hand corner to maintain his 100% record from the spot this term.

The game was living up to predictions of an entertaining contest and the Gunners could have re-established their lead just two minutes later as Ramsey skipped past Vorm and pulled the ball across the six-yard box, only for a fortunate ricochet off Angel Rangel to land in the goalkeeper's arms.

The visitors continued to carve out the clearer chances, and Van Persie should have done better when played in just before the half-hour mark. Swansea captain Ashley Williams was caught hopelessly upfield after Leon Britton had been dispossessed by Yossi Benayoun, the Israeli's pass found his team-mate in acres of space but Vorm stood up well to repel his right-footed shot.

Arsenal could have mirrored their first-half start but failed to make the most of two presentable chances in the opening moments of the second period.

Walcott blazed over after being located down the right channel by Van Persie, while Arshavin was equally wasteful after being teed up in space on the edge of the box.

But there was no such let off at the other end when Dyer put Swansea ahead after 57 minutes.

Ramsey was easily robbed by Wales team-mate Allen and the midfielder picked out Dyer for the winger to shoot high into the net and give Swansea a merited lead.

Wenger had seen enough and Thierry Henry was sprung from the bench along with Tomas Rosicky as the ineffectual Arshavin and Benayoun made way.

Swansea were having their best spell of the game but they were made to pay for a poor lapse in defence as Johan Djourou's pass split Neil Taylor and Williams for Walcott to clip the ball over Vorm and level after 69 minutes.

But the parity lasted less than a minute as substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson's pass saw Graham race in and make the most of Szczesny's hesitancy in advancing from his line to put Swansea back in front.

Per Mertesacker should have levelled barely two minutes later but the German defender horribly scuffed his effort wide from close range, then Ramsey aimed his bullet header from Walcott's cross straight at Vorm as Arsenal threw numbers forward.

The Gunners' last chance came when Rosicky drove to the edge of the Swansea box and forced Vorm to beat out his drive before gathering Laurent Koscielny's follow-up as the home side held out to spark delirious celebrations at the final whistle.

Va Va Voom Puts Gunners Through

Thierry Henry made the perfect return to Arsenal when he emerged as a substitute to score a late winner in the FA Cup third round tie against Leeds United.

Henry, back in Arsenal colours for the first time since he left for Barcelona in 2007, scored his 227th goal for the club with 12 minutes remaining amid emotional scenes at the Emirates.

The 34-year-old - back at the club on a two-month loan from New York Red Bulls, where he was recently honoured with a statue - had only been on 10 minutes when the magical moment arrived.

Henry took a pass from Alex Song in his stride in the area before steering a composed angled finished tantalisingly out of the reach of Leeds United keeper Andy Lonergan with his right foot.

It finally broke the stubborn resistance of Leeds and was the signal of an outpouring of emotion as Henry pumped his chest in celebration after racing to hug his mentor Arsene Wenger on the touchline.

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny raced the length of the field to join the celebrations while Henry later indulged in a spot of impromptu cheerleading as he urged the supporters who worship him to even greater backing for Arsenal in the closing stages.

It was the perfectly-scripted finale to a fiercely-fought contest that needed Henry's Midas touch to defeat a Leeds side that battled in a manner that did manager Simon Grayson and their magnificent travelling support great credit.

At the final whistle, with the first task of his temporary return to the club completed, Henry raised his arms to the heavens in relief and joy before falling into the arms of his Arsenal colleagues and taking the acclaim of an elated crowd.

Henry's presence, even on the bench, enlivened the Emirates Stadium when he came out to warm up and later when his name was announced to rapturous applause.

And the 45 minutes that followed only increased the appetite and anticipation for his return as Arsenal dominated but had no success in breaching a resilient and well-organised Leeds defence.

With leading scorer and captain Robin van Persie rested, attacking duties fell to Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh, the pair combining in the opening moments only for the Russian to fire wildly over the top.

Sebastien Squillaci then headed narrowly wide and Aaron Ramsey was unable to navigate a way around Lonergan after he was played into the area by Arshavin.

Leeds United's big chance, in a half they spent mainly on the retreat, came when Luciano Becchio found space in the box but shot wastefully off target.

Arsenal's defensive resources have thinned out in the face of mounting injuries - and they were depleted further before the interval when Francis Coquelin pulled up with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Nico Yennaris.

The momentum remained with Arsenal after the break as Lonergan saved well low to his left from Mikel Arteta after he was set up by Chamakh and Arshavin fired across the face of goal after picking up Zac Thompson's misplaced pass.

Henry's increasingly energetic sprinting along the touchline in readiness for his appearance drew a loud reaction from Arsenal's fans and he was finally introduced with 22 minutes left, replacing Chamakh. Theo Walcott also came on for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Predictably he was given a hero's welcome as he set about the business of attempting to help Arsenal break down a fine Leeds defence as they once again proved stubborn FA Cup opponents for The Gunners, as they did here at the same stage last season.

And the moment Arsenal had been waiting for came with 12 minutes left as Henry gathered Song's pass in his stride before sparking scenes of ecstasy on and off the pitch with a perfect angled finish.

Leeds refused to bow in the face of such euphoria and almost snatched a replay in the closing stages as Szczesny saved well from substitute Mikael Forssell.

This, however, was Henry's night and Henry's story. Now Arsenal fans will hope he can write fresh chapters before returning to America.

Henry Poised For FA Cup Comeback

Thierry Henry is poised to make his second debut for Arsenal against Leeds in their FA Cup third-round tie at Emirates Stadium.

Henry, Arsenal's all-time leading scorer, has rejoined the London club on loan from New York Red Bulls.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said: "[Henry] could make anything happen and that is a fantastic attribute that Arsene Wenger has for spotting players.

"The pace and chances he used to create, he has to be one of the best."

The Frenchman, 34, who has joined on a two-month loan, scored 11 goals in his five seasons against the Yorkshire club.

But Grayson admitted he does not expect Henry to be at the same level as he was during his first spell at Arsenal.

The Leeds boss added: "He has a different experience of playing in America but it is probably fitting that he comes back and has a couple of months with Arsenal.

"We don't expect him to be like he was but he will still be a considerable threat if he plays."

Wenger hopes his Arsenal side have learnt from last season when they face Leeds. The teams met at the same stage in 2011 - when the Gunners needed a replay to overcome the Championship side.

The Arsenal boss said: "We have the experience of last year when we couldn't beat them at home, so let's hope we can do it this year.

"We just lost a game in the league at Fulham which gave us a lot of regrets, so we want to respond quickly."

Although Robin van Persie will be missing for the Gunners, after being granted time off for a family holiday in Dubai, Wenger admitted he will otherwise name his strongest team.

"I will play a strong side, a normal side," he said. "Our target is to win the next game and the next game is the FA Cup."

Arsenal go into the game on the back of two disappointing results, first a 1-1 draw with Wolves before they were beaten 1-0 by Fulham.

Leeds on the other hand will be buoyed by their recent win over Burnley, when they came from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to a winner seven minutes into injury time.

The win ended a run of three successive defeats and Grayson believes past experience will help them at the Emirates.

"We are not nervous when we go into these games because the players feel comfortable in the atmosphere that they are involved in over the course of the season by being a Leeds United player anyway," he said.

"It is a privilege to play for Leeds United and a privilege you have to be able to handle."

A Cesc Fabregas penalty in injury time earned the Gunners a 1-1 draw last season, before Arsenal won 3-1 at the second attempt in the replay.

Henry Confirms Arsenal Loan

Thierry Henry has joined Arsenal on a two-month loan from New York Red Bulls.

The former Arsenal captain, 34, has been training with the club during the Major League Soccer off-season.

The forward will play for the club during January and February, with striker Gervinho absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Henry, who is eligible to play in Monday's FA Cup match at home to Leeds, said: "When it comes to Arsenal my heart will always do the talking."

The striker was famous for wearing the number 14 shirt, which Theo Walcott currently uses. Henry will now be Arsenal's number 12.

Manager Arsene Wenger added: "I am very happy. It was my desire and Thierry's desire.

"We will have Thierry for January and February, then he will go back to the United States.

"I am sure during these two months he will be a massive asset to the team in the dressing room and on the pitch.

"He can be relaxed, not under too much pressure and be a tremendous help to the team."

Gazidis Gives Wenger Dreaded Vote

Arsenal will not sack manager Arsene Wenger, according to chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

The Gunners have lost three of their opening five Premier League games and are just one point above the relegation zone in 17th.

But Gazidis said: "Arsene Wenger is not broken. To see him portrayed as an idiot is damaging - not to him or the club but to the game.

"[Sacking him] is a route we are not going to go down."

Gazidis added: "He didn't suddenly become a bad manager or out of touch. That's nonsense."

Arsenal's 4-3 loss at Blackburn on Saturday means they have made their worst start to a season since 1953, with their only league win coming at home against newly promoted Swansea.

But, speaking at the Sport Industry Breakfast Club in London on Tuesday, Gazidis backed Wenger to improve the club's fortunes.

He told BBC Sport's Dan Roan: "If we get into short-termism we will do more damage to the club. He's frustrated but very, very focused on putting things right and is as positively engaged as ever to drive the club forward.

"The club is not in crisis. There's no division in the club. We work together."

Wenger sold Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively during the summer transfer window.

The Frenchman had little time to replace them - though he did bring in Mikel Arteta from Everton and Chelsea's Yossi Benayoun, plus Andre Santos from Fenerbahce and Werder Bremen's Per Mertesacker shortly before the deadline.

Gazidis said: "We've made a slight adjustment by signing some more experienced players and we're very happy with who we've brought in.

"If we went out and spent all our money we would make bad decisions, so we've been restrained.

"The club is focused on a responsible, sustainable model. Football's going that way and people are trying to get where we already are. We represent the future of football.

"We will be unmoved in the way we do things and will not be swayed by talk of a crisis. We need to stick together. A lot of the public angst comes from the fact expectations are so high."

Wenger cited a lack of "concentration, communication, co-ordination and individual urgency" as the reason Saturday's defeat at Ewood Park, which saw them score two own goals through Alex Song and Laurent Koscielny.

The 61-year-old said afterwards the club's season now comes down to how they react.

He said: "Our season depends on how well we respond to this disappointment and how quickly we cut out mistake.

"When you score an own goal, you have to look at yourself. We gave away [needless] goals.

"We feel we have given this game away, not that we have lost the game. There is nothing worse in our job than having that feeling.

"[But] I personally want to focus on the positives because there is huge potential in this team. We had 22 shots on goal, 61% of the possession."

Carry On Wenger....

Arsène Wenger vowed to carry on despite labelling Arsenal's start to the season "terrible" following another defeat, shipping four goals to struggling Blackburn Rovers.

The 4-3 setback at Ewood Park on Saturday left Arsenal with just four points from five league games.

They remain without a Premier League away win in seven attempts and have now conceded 12 times in their last two domestic away matches.

And Wenger did not hold back after watching his side twice blow the lead against a Blackburn Rovers side that had begun the day rooted to the foot of the table.

"At the moment we are not capable of focusing for 90 minutes from a defensive point of view," said the bitterly frustrated Arsenal manager.

"When you are 2-1 up with the quality that we have, it is important that you don't give cheap goals away like we did."

Regarding his side's start to the season, Wenger added: "It's terrible. It's just not good enough and of course we are very frustrated.

"The number of goals we have conceded is just not good enough. On the other hand I believe the group will take off. But it's important we get good results."

Wenger said Arsenal were still nursing the psychological wounds inflicted by Manchester United in an 8-2 mauling at Old Trafford three weeks ago.

"At the moment defensively we are fragile because our confidence is gone due to what happened at Old Trafford," he said.

But Wenger brushed off suggestions that he may be tempted to consider his future at the club, where he was appointed manager 15 years ago this month.

"Speculation is part of modern life. My future is focusing on what I do well, which is give my best to the club," he said. "What can I do? Not talk too much."

Arsenal were on course for a first Premier League away win since April 10 when goals from Gervinho and Mikel Arteta put them 2-1 ahead at half-time at Ewood Park.

But Blackburn, without a win since the final day of last season, staged a remarkable comeback to storm into a 4-2 lead.

Former Everton striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu, who had scored his side's first, made it 3-2 after Arsenal's Alex Song had put through his own net to level the scores.

Another own goal by Laurent Koscielny made it 4-2 before substitute Marouane Chamakh scored a late consolation.

About 250 Blackburn fans marched before the game in protest at coach Steve Kean following Rovers' poor start to the season.

"I was disappointed with that," said Kean, who only took charge last December. "But even the people who did decide to demonstrate were fully behind the team when they came into the ground.

"I think 99 per cent of fans decided not to demonstrate. Hopefully the one per cent of fans who did demonstrate will go home happy after seeing what the lads are trying to do.

"I thought we were excellent and caused Arsenal all sorts of problems. The desire to win got us the points.

"Our second-half performance showed what we've got in that dressing room, which is 100 per cent team spirit. The boys were really working hard for each other.

"We've got character in the side. We've been unfortunate not to have more points but we've got character and we showed that last season.

"To play against Arsenal is so difficult. You have to run for the ball and they gave everything. But the most important thing was to get three points and it's a very good feeling. I think we deserved to win."

Blackburn lost defender Michel Salgado with a hamstring injury in the first half but Kean is confident the former Real Madrid fullback is not facing a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Wenger Determined to Keep Duo

Fabregas and Nasri

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has underlined his determination to keep captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the club.

The Gunners rejected an initial bid from Barcelona for Fabregas and BBC Sport understands they received a near-£20m offer from Manchester United for Nasri, though the Gunners deny this.

"Our position is the same, we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him," said Wenger.

"Samir Nasri is exactly the same."

Wenger, speaking about the French midfielder to www.arsenal.com, added: "We will do everything we can to keep him."

Nasri is expected to travel with the squad this weekend when they fly to Malaysia for a tour of Asia.

But Arsenal said Fabregas has a muscular injury and is likely to be left behind.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful of recruiting Nasri, and has left his offer for the 24-year-old - which was made within the last fortnight - on the table.

Arsenal say no official bid was made, just an expression of interest.

Nasri has so far refused to extend his Gunners contract, which has only 12 months to run.

The Arsenal manager is determined not to sell Nasri to United but knows the player could leave for nothing if he sits out the last year of his deal.

Chelsea and Manchester City have also been linked with Nasri, and Wenger is reluctant to see one of his key performers - a player he would like as a cornerstone of a rebuilt Arsenal team - move to one of his Premier League rivals.

Ferguson, however, is determined to strengthen his midfield after the retirement of Paul Scholes and with Ryan Giggs coming to the end of his career.

Tottenham's Luka Modric and Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder have been touted as possible Ferguson targets, but the fact that United have made a firm offer for Nasri suggests they are optimistic that a deal can be done, despite Wenger's determination not to sell - and especially to Old Trafford.

Arsenal have offered Nasri an improved, long-term deal at the Emirates and were confident he would sign towards the end of last season, but doubts have grown throughout the summer, encouraging suitors that they can prise him away from north London.

No Quiet Holiday for Arsenal's Wenger

Wenger  has much to think about

If Arsene Wenger was hoping for a quiet summer in the Alsace he will have been disappointed as the club keeps coming up in the news, with most of the attention naturally about his players. 

Samir Nasri has spent the past few weeks sharing with all those who follow Arsenal that he has not made up his mind whether to stay, which will be part of the talks about his future with the over the cling weeks – as he is out of contract in 12 months. 

“There is not much to say apart from don’t listen to all the rumours and everything that is written or said,” Nasri told the club’s magazine. 

“Earlier in the season I spoke with the boss and we said we would talk during the summer, which is what we are going to do.” 

A lack of ambition at the club triggered Alisher Usmanov, the Uzbek billionaire and Arsenal shareholder, to state his view,  that self-interest among the board members is limitng the club's chances on the field. 

"If the role of a board member is to oversee a trophyless period while making significant personal profits and asking fans to pay inflation-busting ticket price increases then, no, I would not want to be on the board.” 

Arsenal's season really ended following their Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham last February, with their challenges in the Champions League, FA Cup and Premier League also crumbling at an early stage. 

Usmanov is of the opinion that Wenger needs to be given the financial backing to bring in experienced players to complement the talented young players they have on their books. 

"The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players. This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far. 

One of those players on the books became part of the story again, when the Barcelona president Sandro Rosell warned Arsenal they can expect a bid of less than the €40 million the Catalan club offered for Cesc Fabregas last year - if the European Champions decide to pursue the player again this summer. 

"If last summer we offered €40 million for Cesc, and since then there has been wear and tear, now he's worth less," Rosell said. 

As part of their future planning Fabregas is undoubtedly molded to fit the Guardiola system at Camp Nou, and as the year's tick by on Xavi, replacements will be need. Albeit Iniesta and Pedro are a few years younger at the moment. 

With other positions needing to be filled in the squad - in goal and defence - the departure of Fabregas would be untimely to sya the least for Wenger. 

Over the past five years Arsenal have seen Ashley Cole leave, along with Kolo Toure, Emanuel Adebayor, Aleksandr Hleb, and Mathieu Flamini.

When Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004, and the more recent FA Cup win in 2005, the stalwarts  were Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljunberg and Robert Pires – all of whom have also gone.

For the moment Wenger will be planning for the pre-season, which  kicks off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 11, in a game against a Malaysia XI in the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

It will be followed by a trip to Hangzhou, in China, where they will play against Chinese Super League side, Hangzhou Greentown on Saturday, July 16.

Plus Ca Change at Wenger's Arsenal

Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's philosophy needs only minor tweaking for them to challenge for the Barclays Premier League title.

The Gunners finished 12 points behind champions Manchester United following an end-of-season collapse that highlighted the psychological frailties that continue to haunt them. Wenger understands the "disappointed love" of Arsenal fans, some of whom have turned on the Frenchman, but insists the team is only five per cent away from becoming winners.

"It's something that's easy to correct," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online. "We need to improve the size of our squad. We need a bigger variety in the height of our players."

He added:"The criticism has been sharper this year because of the impatience of people. People are used to us being in the Champions League so we have to give them more, but we're not capable of doing that.

"People love what we do but they want us to be rewarded so that they can be convinced we do things the right way. They want proof that we do things the right way.

"For our fans the frustration was that we were so close to convincing everybody of how football can be great, but in the end not being able to deliver.

"I would call it disappointed love. It was cruel and sometimes you get excessive responses to that. I share that and understand it.

"But that doesn't mean we have to change our philosophy or the way the club is run.

"We get it 95 per cent right, but we must gain that five per cent because it's so frustrating to flirt with success like we have done.

"The fans are unhappy that we didn't win the Premier League, but we are close.

Wenger Believes Captain Fabregas to Stay

Arsene Wenger has insisted that he will do his utmost to keep Cesc Fabregas at the North London club beyond the summer. 

The Spain international has been linked on a number of occasions with a move to Barcelona with the La Liga champions expected to renew their attempts over the summer to attract Fabregas to Camp Nou.

But Wenger is adamant he will "fight very hard" to ensure his star man stays put. 

"That's a question I've heard already a few times in a press conference and I expect him to be here," the Frenchman told reporters.

"I will fight very hard to keep him here. You have always to fight when you have a player of that quality, you must always fight to keep your players, of course."

It has been suggested that Fabregas could be keen to leave the Emirates Stadium in pursuit of trophies, with the Gunners without silverware since 2005

"What guarantees you that if you go somewhere else you will win trophies?" responded Wenger.

"The biggest pride for a captain is to be committed to his club and deliver trophies with his team. A player who changes his club every time he is frustrated or when he doesn’t win a trophy, goes nowhere. I believe the quality of sports life is to be committed to your club and not just to move out when it does not go as well as you expected.

"Cesc Fabregas played 22 games this season out of 38 and we expect him to play between 30 and 38. That will make a huge difference to our efficiency as well."