Swansea City moved out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since November thanks to a shock 3-1 victory over Arsenal on Tuesday night.
Two Sam Clucas goals and one for Jordan Ayew – thanks to a horrendous mistake from Arsenal stopper Petr Cech – helped boost the Swans’ survival hopes in South Wales, while Gunners fans will be desperately praying the club can get the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang deal over the line on transfer deadline day on Wednesday following a toothless performance.
Defeat came despite the away side taking the lead, Nacho Monreal sliding in to put Arsene Wenger’s side ahead. But Clucas, who scored his first Swans goal in the reverse fixture at the Emirates, a 2-1 defeat, levelled soon after.
Calamitous goalkeeping from Cech then saw the industrious Ayew slot home to put the hosts 2-1 up. And they sealed the win late on when Clucas fired a loose ball home after Arsenal failed to clear a corner.
Here, we rate the performances of Arsenal’s misfiring Gunners:
Petr Cech – 4: A goalkeeping great of the Premier League era is now looking a shadow of his former greatness. Could do little to stop Swansea levelling, but will not want to see his miss-hit clearance for the second. Conditions were slippery but not as much as Cech’s standards have slipped.
Hector Bellerin – 6: The right-back showed plenty of guile going forward as he caused Swansea problems down the right-flank. Was not found wanting doing his defensive duties either. There were far more players in blue more culpable for defeat.
Laurent Koscielny – 6: Didn’t do much wrong and came to Arsenal’s rescue on more than one occasion with some vital blocks and slide tackles. The problem is that when you’re being given the runaround by Sam Clucas, it’s time to ask serious questions.
Shkodran Mustafi – 5: Performances stagger from solid to worryingly bad from game to game. Can at times look imperious, but at others like a clown. Although Cech was at fault for the goal, the German was not blameless, allowing Nathan Dyer to fluster him as he panicked and put his keeper under unnecessary pressure.
Nacho Monreal – 7: Is arguably Arsenal’s most reliable defender. Not only is he solid going about his duties, but has added attacking flair to his game this season, and even a goal-scoring threat. Ghosted in fantastically at the back post to send a composed finish past Lukasz Fabianski. Two goals and two assists mean he’s contributed to four of his side’s last five goals.
Aaron Ramsey – 6: Has only just returned from injury but didn’t look too rusty and was his usual creative and probing self in midfield, paying little attention to the boos the home fans directed his way as a former Cardiff player. Crucial slide tackle denied Clucas a tap-in in the first-half.
Mohamed El Neny – 6: Was solid and dependable as a shield in front of the Arsenal back four, although with his defence floundering in the face of a deluge of both rain and swashbuckling Swansea attacks, found himself a little at sea at times.
Granit Xhaka – 6: Despite the result, this was the type of game the Swiss relishes. A midfield battleground was established between the two sides and the combustible Xhaka asserted himself in challenging conditions and a hostile environment, although he faded late on.
Mesut Ozil – 7: The type of game where the German might have been found wanting, but he was the creative hub for the Gunners, finding team-mates with intricate passes and lofting in a brilliant cross that found Monreal at the back post for the Gunners’ opener.
Alexandre Lacazette – 5: Hasn’t done too much wrong since a summer arrival, but with news of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s impending arrival, we should have expected a far more energetic performance from the Frenchman. Looked a bit leggy and in need of a break, perhaps he will get it soon.
Alex Iwobi – 6: Forced a save from Fabianski in the opening 45 but was largely anonymous, an all too familiar criticism pointed the young Nigerian international’s way. After that early effort, faded badly in the second-half.
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Henrikh Mkhitaryan – 6: Delivered a dig to former coach Jose Mourinho before the game by professing his desire to play more attacking football at his new club, but didn’t get much of a chance to have an effect. Had a chance to mark his debut with a goal but upon reaching Ozil’s insightful cross, the unmarked Armenian headed tamely at Fabianski.
Olivier Giroud – 6: Emerged from the bench with his side chasing the game, to cheers and songs from the away support. It’s likely to be the last time he hears so kindly from them again.
