JAN 21 — Football has always thrown up surprises with some incredible performances by a team, be it in domestic leagues or in the international scene.

This is more so when the team that captures the hearts of football fans is a lesser-known team. And that’s how it was with Swansea City’s performance when they beat Arsenal on Sunday.

Arsenal are often portrayed by the English media as playing Barcelona-style football. However, on that fateful January evening, the Gunners were given a lesson on how football should really be played.

Both the home side and Arsenal took to the field with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Subsequently, however, the visitors just could not control the tempo and aggression in their opponent’s overall performance.

Swansea’s players were aggressive with the ball and stumped the Arsenal players’ passing rather quickly whenever they (Swansea) lost the ball.

By aggressive, I do not mean a reckless form of approach in their play, but instead, the extreme courage the Swansea players showed as they worked hard both in attack and defence.

Swansea City manager Brendan Rodgers was also wise to change tactics at half-time. He replaced defensive midfielder Kemy Agustien, who did his job well, with attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

From then on, the Welsh side started taking almost absolute control in the middle.

I think Rogers was brave enough to make this change when he realised from the first-half action that the Arsenal midfield mainly comprised attacking midfielders, and were the type who are not likely to sit back or cover the defence.

Frankly, aside from Alexander Song, Andre Arshavin, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Yossi Benayoun are all players who typically like to charge forward. So, with the change in tactics, Swansea were able to practically paralyse Arsenal’s movement.

This weekend Arsenal has the opportunity to showcase a style of football a-la Swansea and with that, try to regain some pride against a Manchester United side that had thrashed them by eight goals to two at Old Trafford last August.

This Arsenal team has certainly changed since the start of the season, but the defeat to Swansea, who displayed the type of game that is the desire of Arsene Wenger, shows the Gunners now rather blindly searching for some identity.

Swansea, meanwhile, will be visiting Sunderland to face a team that is tough and robust even though they lack any big name players in their squad.

However, the Welsh side’s playing style should be enough to ensure that they leave the Stadium of Light with at least one point.

Liverpool, who seem to be so blunt at Anfield, should get all three points against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. That is provided manager Kenny Dalglish does not turn his team line-up upside down like he did against Stoke City last Saturday.

A consistent selection of the best players in their respective favourite positions can result in victory for the Reds.

Meanwhile, the biggest game this weekend will be played at the Etihad Stadium, where the best two teams this Premiership season, in terms of playing style, will clash.

However, Emmanuel Adebayor, Manchester City’s stepchild who is on loan to Tottenham Hotspur, will not be able to help the Spurs as per English Premier League (EPL) rules for players on loan.

That aside, this will be a match showcasing among the best players in the EPL this season.

With Man City showing some weakness lately, and the thoughts of Spurs going back to that 1-5 defeat to Man City at White Hart Lane in August, a draw would be a result that most fans of both teams would not dispute.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.