Swansea City have become the second team this year to prevent Arsenal from scoring a first-half goal at the Emirates in tonight's 0-0 half-time draw.
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After winning nine of their last 10 games, the Gunners came into the contest as one of Premier League's form teams, and three minutes elapsed when they threatened to make inroads toward another win.
A free-flowing move saw Aaron Ramsey stand up a cross for towering striker Olivier Giroud, but the Frenchman's header failed to test Lukasz Fabianski on his return to the Emirates.
Praised by Arsene Wenger in the build-up, Garry Monk watched his troops slowly but surely develop a foothold and Jonjo Shelvey forced David Ospina into a smart save on eight minutes.
Both sides cancelled each other out for large periods of the half with the hosts dominating possession, but City's stubborn back four refused to give Arsenal an opportunity to hurt them.
All eyes were on referee Kevin Friend shortly before the half-hour mark when Alexis Sanchez went down inside the area under a challenge from Neil Taylor, but Friend rejected the penalty appeals.
After failing to slice through Swansea, Wenger's charges resorted to shooting from range and Giroud fired well wide of the target on 42 minutes to cap a frustrating first half for the Londoners.
Shane Callaghan
