As he awaits the finalising of his transfer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will doubtless have watched his new team from one of the finest hotel suites London has to offer, anticipating the most generous contract the club have ever agreed, and wondering just what he has let himself in for.
What will have been clear to Arsenal’s putative record signing is that the club is emerging from the Alexis Sanchez era currently looks a great deal like the old one that lost games at critical points of the season against less-celebrated opposition nurturing a greater hunger. This defeat to Swansea City, bottom of the Premier League at the start of the night, felt like a shattering blow to Arsene Wenger as he tries to navigate an unprecedented January window of change.
It was a fabulous performance from Carlos Carvalhal’s team, and for their new manager who has taken ten points from 15 including wins over Liverpool, Watford and now this, breathing new life into the team. But Arsenal are stuck in the same old story and this one feels that much worse, coming at a time when they are making bold decisions about all personnel other than their long-serving manager.
With Aubameyang still awaiting the completion of his transfer, Wenger saw no alternative in the closing stages to turning to the substitute Olivier Giroud who is expected to move to Chelsea before Wednesday’s deadline. He spoke wistfully later of the decision to sell Giroud and that he never doubted the commitment of the Frenchman being summoned from the bench by a club that no longer wants him.
Carlos Carvalhal reckons Swansea City have breathed life into their Premier League survival bid after a rousing victory over Arsenal.
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