First-half goals from Zak Ansah and Serge Gnabry gave Arsenal Reserves a comfortable win over the Swans' second string.

There was also a blow for Swans midfielder Ferrie Bodde who limped off in the opening minutes with a knee injury. The Dutchman, who was continuing his comeback from a long-standing knee problem, is set to have a scan on Thursday, although the new injury is in his other knee.

Alan Curtis's side failed to really get going on a bitterly cold evening at Parc y Scarlets and were undone by a Gunners side playing with real confidence.

Ansah tapped home from six yards to give Arsenal the lead midway through the first half before Gnabry headed into an empty net after a good save from Jose Moreira.

And the Swans had the Portuguese keeper to thank for keeping them in the game in the second period as he kept out two stinging efforts from Oguzhan Ozyakup.

Curt named a youthful side as the first team had played Chelsea the night before while the Youth took on Manchester United 24 hours after this game.

Once again Alan Tate captained the side as he continued his comeback from injury, and he was joined in the starting line-up by Bodde.

Stephen Dobbie joined a youthful looking front line that contained both Gwion Edwards and striker Rory Donnelly, and defender Jazz Richards returned to action after his recent absence through injury.

For the visitors, Nico Yennaris and Ozyakup both featured for the Gunners' first team when they suffered defeat at the Liberty last month while Thomas Eisfeld - signed from Borrusia Dortmund recently - also started.

Swans: Jose Moreira, Jazz Richards, Joe Walsh, Darnel Situ (Ben Davies, 45), Alan Tate, Ferrie Bodde (Jordan Smith, 2), Casey Thomas, Kurtis March, Gwion Edwards, Stephen Dobbie, Rory Donnelly.
Subs not used: Ashley Elsey, Corey Francis, Connor Roberts

Arsenal: Emiliano Martinez, Nico Yennaris, Jernade Meade, Craig Eastmond, Martin Angha, Elton Monteiro Kyle Ebecillio, Oguzhan Ozyakup, Zak Ansah (Philip Roberts, 70), Thomas Eisfeld (Josh Reed, 45), Serge Gnabry (Jordan Wynter, 77).
Subs not used: Zachari Fagan, James Shea

Attendance: 982

On a bitterly cold evening in West Wales, the Swans were forced into making an unwelcome early substitution. After Ferrie Bodde went down under an innocuous looking challenge, the sight of the Dutchman hobbling off wasn't pretty for Swans supporters.

Following that setback the home side looked to lose their rhythm in the opening ten minutes as Arsenal created the game's first two chances as both Kyle Ebecillio and Oguzhan Ozyakup shot wide.

However, the Swans began to settle into their usual fluid best but it wasn't long before Arsenal took the lead after 22 minutes.

After a wonderful move that involved three players, Ozyakup fed new signing Thomas Eisfeld inside the box and after his shot was palmed away by Jose Moreira, Zak Ansah was on hand to tap home from six yards.

As the Swans looked to find a route back into the game, Kurtis March volleyed over from a dangerous free-kick from Stephen Dobbie and Gwion Edwards saw his effort deflected wide.

With the clock edging closer to half time the Swans were lucky not to concede a second. After March gave away possession cheaply inside his own half, Ozyakup and then Ansah saw their shots beaten away by Moreira.

But it proved to be a stay of execution as the visitors doubled their advantage in added time as Serge Gnabry headed home after Ansah's effort was well saved by Moreira.

Half-time: Swans Reserves 0 Arsenal Reserves 2

The Swans made one change at the break, youngster Ben Davies coming on to replace Darnel Situ.

And after just five minutes of the restart the Swans nearly found themselves three goals behind. After an attempted clearance was charged down, Gnabry went through on goal but his effort was excellently saved by Moreira.

Arsenal had another opportunity to extend their lead on 57 minutes when Joe Walsh's poor backpass was seized upon and Josh Reed shot tamely at Moreira. And the Portuguese keeper had to be at his best just two minutes later as he flung himself to his right to keep out Gnabry's drive.

The visitors continued to press forward and their efforts were nearly rewarded with a third when Ozyakup slipped in Ebicillio, but the winger could only skew the ball wide when well placed inside the box. Just a minute later Ozyakup was the next to have a go, his 25-yard shot flashing inches wide of Moreira's left-hand upright.

It was heading for a one man show in the final stages as the Dutchman went through on goal once more after more sloppy play from the home side, but he somehow managed to put the ball wide from six yards.

The closest the Swans came to reducing the deficit came when Tate headed over from a Dobbie corner. And it nearly got worse for the hosts in stoppage time when Ozyakup fired a fraction over after a powerful run.