Highlights
CECH FATE

Swansea 3 Arsenal 1 match highlights: Petr Cech makes howler as Sam Clucas double helps Welsh side climb out of drop zone

Survival boost for Carlos Carvalhal's side as they fight back from Nacho Monreal's opener through Jordan Ayew and Clucas

Sponsored by

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG appeared at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground last night ahead of a medical today.

Assuming he was fully aware of what was going on in south Wales, the Gabon international striker could have been forgiven for hailing a cab to Luton Airport for an immediate flight back to Dortmund this morning.

Advertisement
Petr Cech's howler gifted Swansea a vital win at the Liberty StadiumCredit: Getty Images

Arsenal delivered yet another shocking away performance in the Premier League. It is now just three wins in 13.

Petr Cech delivered one of the most embarrassing moments in a fine career to hand Jordan Ayew the second with a monumental cock-up before the outstanding Sam Clucas grabbed his second of the game late on.

The evening took a surreal turn when with just 14 minutes left, Wenger desperate to turn the game around, unleashed Olivier Giroud, the player set to sign for Chelsea today to allow Aubameyang’s £55million transfer.

New signing from Manchester United Henrikh Mikhitaryan had already made his debut, a minute before Shkodran Mustafi delivered a nasty backpass to Cech who sliced his clearance.

Advertisement

Yet this latest loss away illustrated that Arsenal’s problem are not merely up front, even though they are about to sign one hell of a talent.

Advertisement

Equally, Giroud will still be a loss and Arsenal’s fans sung his name throughout the first half although they would not have expected the Frenchman to play considering he is about to sign for another club and curiously, a London rival.

Swansea should get real credit as they deserved the win and it is now 10 points from five games for new boss Carlos Carvalhal.

Wins over Liverpool and now Arsenal will give this team every confidence that they can escape the drop and the Liberty Stadium, a miserable place to be for the first half of the season, was once again a lively place yesterday evening.

Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal netted to give the visitors the leadCredit: Getty
Advertisement
Monreal slid in to convert a brilliant pass from Mesut OzilCredit: Getty Images
Clucas fired home to level for Swansea before half-timeCredit: PA:Empics Sport

Equally, Arsenal’s loss cannot be purely down to Cech’s horrific moment. The midfield, particularly Granit Xhaka, delivered a poor performance.

The arrivals of Aubameyang and Mikhitaryan are welcome but this team still needs some major surgery if it is to challenge again.

Advertisement

Equally, the fourth spot and a Champions League place is disappearing into view which makes the Europa League even more important.

Swansea were unchanged from the 1-0 win over Liverpool eight days earlier while Jack Wilshere was missing for Arsenal due to illness.

Clucas netted a second to seal the win for SwanseaCredit: Getty Images
Swansea's players celebrate going two goals ahead through ClucasCredit: REBECCA NADEN
Advertisement

It was certainly a surprise to see Giroud on the bench but also slightly odd Lee Mason was given the game to referee just two days after taking charge of Cardiff against Manchester City.

It is not as though he was being rewarded for doing a great job along the M4.

Swansea were the better team creating most of the chances yet Arsenal opening the scoring with only their second attempt.

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech gifts Jordan Ayew and Swansea the lead after a howler of a mistake

MOST READ IN FOOTBALL

GRINCH KYLE
Love rat Kyle Walker didn't give Xmas gifts to his kids with Lauryn Goodman
JOR NOT PLAYING WELL
Reason Jorginho lost form after fiancee's showdown with beautician
Buk stops here
Saka posts picture from hospital bed after Arsenal star undergoes surgery
TOUGH DECISION
Stoke announce iconic Prem hardman as caretaker boss after Pelach is sacked

It came from an outstanding pass from Mesut Ozil and Nacho Monreal was completely unmarked to stick his leg out to score past Fabianski, although Kyle Naughton appeared to be fast asleep.

Advertisement

You would have expected an away team to keep things tight for a couple of minutes but then, this is Arsenal we are talking about.

Maybe Ozil was still thinking about his cracking pass as he switched off and lost possession when under pressure from Martin Olsson.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on to make his Arsenal debutCredit: AFP
Mkhitaryan and Mesut Ozil collide in the second half at the Liberty StadiumCredit: REUTERS
Advertisement

Mawson had plenty of time with the ball, picked out Clucas and he took one touch to steer the ball away from Laurent Koscielny before sliding the effort past Cech.

Clucas, a £16.5m arrival from Hull last summer, had scored only one other goal for Swansea was in the 2-1 loss at the Emirates and it was also from a similar type of move.

Equally, Xhaka deserved a rocket for allowing Clucas to jog past before accepting the pass and levelling.

Yet that was nothing compared to Cech’s clanger which came just a minute after Mkhitaryan was handed a debut as a replacement for Mohamed Elneny.

Advertisement

Although Arsenal keeper’s will rightly taking the blame, Mustafi, although under pressure from Dyer, should have dealt with the situation quicker.

Olivier Giroud claps the Arsenal fans after they lose to Swansea - Is he saying goodbye?
Mkhitaryan suffered defeat on his first appearance for ArsenalCredit: REUTERS
Olivier Giroud came on as a sub on what could be his last Arsenal appearanceCredit: REUTERS
Giroud appeared to wave goodbye to Arsenal fans at full-timeCredit: AFP
Advertisement

He sent a backpass to Cech which skidded along the surface, the keeper failed to make a proper connection and the ball came out to Ayew who could not believe his luck. He will not score an easier goal than that all season.

With 14 minutes left, Giroud replaced Iwobi but he could not end his Arsenal career in famous fashion.


DEAL ME IN Get the latest transfer news as Arsenal get ready to snap up Aubameyang


Instead, it got worse for Arsenal when Mustafi deflected the ball into the path of Clucas who swept the ball into the net.

Another shocker from Arsenal and the only good thing was that the game was not being shown live on television for Aubameyang to watch.

Advertisement
Olivier Giroud, Alexandre Lacazette and Petr Cech compete against Twitter trolls in scorpion kick challenge
Advertisement
Topics
Advertisement
machibet777.com