It says something about the style at Swansea when they are classed as better than Arsenal

It may sound a pipe dream but Swansea City have a higher ranking than Arsenal - at least according to Prozone who rank the Swans the best passers in the English leagues.

ProZone are a British e-learning and learning technology company, which provides managers with an in-depth view of individual and team performances.

It also monitors the passes and runs of every player along with a full list of stats of their involvement.

Prozone is something that Roberto has used since winning the League One title but he was surprised to see the Swans at the top of the table for pass completion.  He believes that a Premier League team should make around 300 passes a game with an 80 per cent accuracy - Arsenal make around 500 with that kind of accuracy.

Last weekend against Sheffield United the Swans made 556 passes with a completion rate of 89% - compared to 170 from their opponents at just 80% completion.

"It is a great compliment," Roberto told the Evening Post. "You look at Arsenal's style of play and it is a great target to strive to beat.

"To out-pass them is a great compliment to our style.

"But it is important we are ourselves and not based on the way another team plays.

"Against Sheffield United we had almost 90 per cent pass completion - there is a lot of work behind it.

"But the results are very, very pleasing.

"Last season, playing against Forest and Leeds - big football clubs - and to win League One playing football really killed the suggestions that you can't do it playing football.

"That has been my fight since I arrived in 1995. Nobody would have said I'd have a 13-year career in the lower leagues because of my style.

"Not many managers think you can get out of League One playing football.

"To be able to show you can be successful playing football at that level was very satisfying.

"We proved it can be done and we are continuing the good work in the Championship.

"Time-wise you can get information in 30 seconds that could take you seven or eight days, because it is analysing every aspect of the game," said Martinez.

"It allows you to build something and the comparison between performances at home and away.

"They are very important, but you need to use them wisely and well. They are not the total focus.

"They are something to fall on to if you need to.

"You can set standards and methods, that's why Prozone is important.

"Other teams will rely on percentage football and stats to win games rather than themselves.

"In football there are small details which prove to be big differences.

"Our style hasn't changed at all since Charlton, but the activity of the passing style, amount of possession, how we can control phases of play - the stats show we are better off now.

"The improvement could be one, two or even five per cent, which doesn't sound much, but it will make a massive difference in the next 23 games."

Photo: Action Images

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