Clement: We deserved more

Paul Clement felt his players deserved more after Swansea City were beaten 2-1 at Arsenal.

The Swans emerged with credit but no points on a day when Arsenal had to fight back after going behind to claim victory.

Sam Clucas’s first Swans goal put Clement’s men ahead in the 22nd minute, and perhaps the only disappointment at the break was the fact that Jordan Ayew missed a chance to double the lead shortly before the half-time whistle.

Arsenal then levelled just six minutes into the second period through Sead Kolasinac, and the winner came seven minutes later when Aaron Ramsey scored at the near post.

The Swans battled manfully as they tried to find a response, but a lack of attacking threat saw them beaten for the third time in a week.

Despite the result, Clement felt he could not criticise his players for their efforts on a day when they pushed the Gunners close.

“We have played in games this year where we have not performed and not got a result,” said the Swans manager.

“But I can’t say we haven’t performed at a decent level today, and maybe deserved bit more than we got.

“Maybe we will play at a similar level in the not too distant future and get the result we’re looking for.”

The Swans kept Arsenal at arm’s length in the first 45 minutes, and snatched the lead thanks to a well-crafted goal on the counter-attack as Tammy Abraham fed Clucas and he finished well.

Arsene Wenger’s team offered more going forward in the second period, although in truth it was a 13-minute spell straight after half-time which cost the Swans a result.

“I thought we were worth a point,” Clement added.

“We played well in the first half and we took our chance on the counter-attack, which is where we thought our opportunities would come.

“It’s always going to be a difficult test against an Arsenal side with so many quality offensive players – you have to be so focused for the whole game.

“But we didn’t get the details right in that period after half-time.

“I thought they had a bit of fortune with the first goal. The ball bounced off a few of our defenders before it fell to the left wing-back.

“But we were too open for the second goal. We were too open and we made some mistakes.”

Clement rued a chance that got away just before half-time, when Jordan Ayew’s persistence earned him a shooting opportunity but he was denied by Petr Cech.

“It was a big chance,” he added.

“2-0 at half-time would have been a totally different situation – these are the fine margins that decide games.

“If that had gone in. maybe we would have got a different result.

“What I liked about today was that we were always in the game, right up until the last moment.

“When we have got someone like Tammy Abraham on the pitch you always believe you will get a chance, but unfortunately we didn’t get it today.”