The performance of the Premier League weekend came at the Emirates by a Welsh side that is showing no signs of the often talked about ‘second season syndrome.’
As Arsenal fans left their red seats at the Emirates in disgust at another drab home performance, Swansea City fans were left exuberant by their team’s brilliant victory in London on Saturday.
The 2-0 scoreline didn’t flatter the Swans, as they outplayed and outclassed the Gunners from the first minute to the 90th minute.
Michael Laudrup has continued the excellent work left by his predecessors Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers.
Is it safe to say now that Swansea are a stable Premier League side?
Spanish bargains
While the European transfer market has been inflated with some astronomical fees in the last few seasons, Swansea have done their business in stylish and calm fashion.
Laudrup has made some brilliant signings on the cheap, using his knowledge of the Spanish transfer market from his time managing Real Mallorca in La Liga.
The £2m signing of Michu from Rayo Vallecano has to be seen as the signing of the season.
He has been a revelation and settled so quickly into the top flight, scoring a hatful of goals and wowing supporters across the UK with his electric performances.
The two goals he scored in the dying stages at Arsenal at the weekend were finishes of class and confidence.
If Fernando Torres had been one-on-one, you’d back him to send the ball ballooning into Row Z rather than hit the back of the net.
Once Michu (pictured) was in on goal, those at the ground must have know he was going to score.
10 goals already in the Premier League, he has proved to be every penny well spent by the club.
The loan signing of Jonathan De Guzman from crisis club Villarreal has also proved to be an astute piece of business.
The Dutchman gets the job done quietly, without taking too many plaudits.
Despite losing Joe Allen to Liverpool and Scott Sinclair to Manchester City in the summer, these players haven’t been missed at all because of the way Laudrup has replaced them.
The arrivals of Michu and De Guzman, along with Chico Flores in defence has made them a better team and it is also making their financial position look very strong in today’s uncertain economic climate.
Injuries haven’t helped
Swansea’s impressive form has also come about despite some crippling injuries to some of their first-team.
Welsh left back Neil Taylor was one of the best players of the season last term but he suffered a horrific broken ankle against Sunderland at the beginning of September.
His season is already over but 19-year-old Ben Davies has become a more than adequate replacement.
Although the club missed Taylor’s presence initially on his injury, Davies has shown that there is plenty of strength in depth in the left back position.
He signed a new contract in November and has made his international debut for Wales off the back of some very good form.
Danny Graham’s campaign hasn’t really got going as he has been troubled by illness and Michel Vorm is still on the sidelines with a groin injury he picked up against Manchester City in October.
The Dutchman was in my view, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League last season apart from Joe Hart and made few errors.
He had an indifferent start to this campaign but again, Gerhard Tremmel has come in and done the job that has been required of him.
While Vorm is still number one choice when he eventually gets back to full fitness, it will be encouraging for Laudrup to have a strong deputy backup in goal, something that other Premier League clubs like Chelsea, West Ham and Fulham most definitely don’t.
Laudrup has had to battle injuries and an indifferent run of results in September which saw the club only collect one point from four matches raised some questions, but he didn’t panic and his hard work as a manager is starting to shine through.
Liberty fortress
Swansea have built their model around that of Stoke City, just with a bit more attractive look to the way the Potters traditionally play their football.
Chairman Huw Jenkins has insisted that he wants football to be played in the right way, not the way of just chucking the ball forward to the tallest centre forward you can find available.
Like Stoke, Swansea have turned their home ground into a fortress.
Only Everton have left Wales with all three points this season. Reading and Sunderland might have taken scoring draws away with them and Liverpool got a 0-0 stalemate last week, but the fact is Swansea don’t lose at home.
They have also improved on their away form this campaign. They gave Manchester City a close run before narrowly losing at the Etihad, thrashed QPR 5-0 on the opening day and have now triumphed in recent weeks at Newcastle and Arsenal.
Last season, only Everton, Norwich, Newcastle and Manchester United won at the Liberty and three of those defeats came when safety was pretty much guaranteed under Rodgers.
So, can Swansea continue their status of being a top half club?
I don’t see why not. They have good players, an excellent young manager, a chairman who shows no sign of panic and supporters who have stuck by them in the good and bad times throughout their chequered history.
Swansea City are a breath of fresh air to the Premier League. They have become a solid mid-table club and with the race for fourth so close this season, don’t rule them out in the European reckoning.
Along with Norwich, Swansea have proved already that there isn’t any sign of the ‘second season syndrome.’
By Simon Wright – Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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