Arsenal analysis: Aubameyang must hit the ground running as Henrikh Mkhitaryan's role becomes clearer

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James Olley31 January 2018

Swansea climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time in three months as Petr Cech's dreadful clanger helped condemn Arsenal to a 3-1 defeat at the Liberty Stadium.

Cech's scuffed kick allowed Jordan Ayew to roll home a 61st-minute winner after Sam Clucas had put Swansea on level terms, instantly cancelling out Nacho Monreal's first-half opener.

Clucas claimed his second three minutes from time to finish off Arsenal, who hope to add to their squad before Wednesday night's transfer deadline with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to swell their striking options.

James Olley assesses the key talking points for Arsenal...

Aubameyang must hit the ground running

PA

Arsenal are eight points off the top four after another deeply flawed away performance which highlights the need for fresh impetus in attack and reinforcements at the back.

While the latter is no guarantee - a last-ditch move for West Brom’s Jonny Evans is the most viable option - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is due to complete his medical tomorrow ahead of a club-record deal in the region of £55million.

It cannot come soon enough. Arsenal lacked the character and quality to compete here against Swansea side who began the night bottom of the table but ended it outside the relegation zone.

Arsenal are now eight points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Their top four hopes are fading fast. No pressure, Auba.

Mkhitaryan’s role becomes clearer

Getty Images

Wenger hinted that Henrikh Mkhitaryan could play in a role rarely seen throughout his career to date and so it proved when making his Arsenal debut for the final 30 minutes here.

Mkhitaryan played on the left side of a tight midfield three and almost scored with a header 15 minutes from time, just failing to generate enough pace from Mesut Ozil’s cross.

It remains to be seen whether this is his long-term position, especially having thrived in a more advanced left-wing position or as a number ten earlier in his career but Wenger seems, initially at least, intent on turning him into something approximating Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City.

Xhaka watches it all unfold - again

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Granit Xhaka has made a dreadful habit of allowing runners to escape him as Arsenal conceded costly goals - Watford and Bournemouth away, to name but two - and he added to that unwelcome catalogue of mistakes here.

Moments after Nacho Monreal’s opener, Mesut Ozil gifted Alfie Mawson possession and as Arsenal’s midfield backed off, the Swansea defender waited for Sam Clucas to make a run into the box.

Xhaka simply let Clucas go past and he beat Petr Cech to prolong the goalkeeper’s wait for his 200th Premier League clean sheet.

Xhaka is not a defensive midfielder by design but his poor work without the ball cost Arsenal dearly again.

Giroud deal is going to the wire

AFP/Getty Images

Wenger has made a habit of including players who are in the middle of negotiating a move away - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is perhaps the ultimate example - yet it was still something of a surprise Olivier Giroud travelled to Wales this evening.

Chelsea are confident of securing a deal worth between £18million and £20m for the 31-year-old and with the deadline fast approaching tomorrow, Giroud may have expected to have been freed up to finalise what is an important move for him in a World Cup year.

Even more bizarrely, he played the final 14 minutes here, to a rousing reception from the travelling Arsenal supporters.

Yet with Giroud’s move linked to Borussia Dortmund’s pursuit of Michy Batshuayi, which in turn will see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang move to Arsenal, the merry-go-round has not completed its journey just yet.

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