Fede: Brighton is massive for us

Federico Fernandez admits it is all eyes on Brighton for Swansea City after Saturday's frustrating defeat at Arsenal.

The Swans produced a creditable performance as they gave Arsene Wenger’s Gunners side a fright at the Emirates Stadium.

Sam Clucas’s first Swans goal put Paul Clement’s men in front, but Sead Kolasinac levelled soon after the break and Aaron Ramsey netted what proved to be the winner just before the hour.

Having beaten Huddersfield a fortnight ago, the Swans have lost back-to-back league games against Leicester and Arsenal, while there was another defeat in the Carabao Cup against Manchester United.

And Fernandez concedes that Clement’s side must now deliver against the Seagulls next Saturday.

“Brighton is a massive game at home,” the Swans defender said.

“I don’t think we’ll lose any confidence from the Arsenal game because we know how hard it is to get a result at the Emirates.

“We were very close to getting something, but now it’s time to focus on the next game, which we have to look to win.

“We did well against Huddersfield in a game where we felt we needed to win and now we need to do the same thing again against Brighton.

“They are a team who we expect to compete with and we have to fight. We will work hard all week to make sure we are right for Brighton and then we have to produce a performance.”

Clement felt he could not criticise his players after a spirited effort at Arsenal.

For a while it seemed they would get something on a ground where Wenger’s team have not dropped a point all season.

“In the first half we were in good shape,” reckoned Fernandez. “We were very tight between the lines and we scored a really nice goal. Before half-time we had another clear chance.

“Then in the second half they scored twice in 10 minutes. We tried to play more on the front foot but it was too late in the end.

“It’s disappointing we because we wanted to be better with the ball at the start of the second half, but they got some chances and they were clinical.

“We tried to stay in the game for 90 minutes. We tried to create a chance but it was difficult for us. Now we have to focus on Brighton.”