Arsenal came from behind to see off a stubborn Swansea side to move back into the top four

Swansea immediately set their stall out to defend, with Paul Clement's side sticking ten men behind the ball in the early exchanges.

But while the hosts did the early running, it was Swans who took the lead with their first venture forward, as Tammy Abraham slipped a loose ball behind the defence to Clucas, who slotted home.

The Swans went into the break 1-0 up, but it took only six second half minutes for Arsenal to level, as Sead Kolasinac fired past Lukasz Fabianksi.

And the Gunners went ahead before the hour-mark when Kolasinac found Aaron Ramsey who slotted home from close range.

Here are five talking points from the Emirates. ...

1. Same old Arsenal

Ramery fires home (
Image:
Dan Mullan)
Kolasinac celebrates his equaliser (
Image:
Getty)

The fans were saddling up to get onto the backs of the players by midway through the first half and rightly so. Don’t get carried away with the victory. Had Swansea taken their many chances during the first half they’d have been out of sight. Arsenal stuck with the team that saw off Everton 5-2 last Sunday.

The front three of Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez looked to repeat the damage they inflicted at Goodison Park six days ago, when they played together as a trio for the first time and all scored. But for Per Mertesacker’s early header during the first half, however, they created little until Sanchez tested Fabianski minutes before the interval. They were complacent, Swansea were wasteful and Arsenal were lucky to be let off the hook.

2. Abraham's frustrations

Tammy Abraham had a frustrating afternoon (
Image:
Shaun Botterill)

How frustrated must the on-loan Chelsea striker have been at half time? Not just because greedy Jordan Ayew failed to square the ball to him for a tap-in seconds before half time. In the ninth minute, Tom Carroll - with the chance to put Abraham through - dithered. In the 32nd minute Abraham had sent Jordan Ayew down the right and raced into the box for the return - only for the ball to be floated too close to the keeper. Then there was that chance three minutes before the break when Abraham raced through the middle - only for the ball through to him to be overhit when he could have been one on one with Petr Cech. He is a potentially high-class striker whose speed of thought is not yet matched by the players around him. If Swansea are to build this season that needs to change.

3. Ayew overshadowed again

Jordan Ayew in action (
Image:
Dan Mullan)

It has to be tricky for him living in the shadow of his more talented, high-profile brother. This afternoon was a case in point. Shortly before big bro Andre netted his third goal in two games across London at Crystal Palace, Jordan’s poor decision making changed the course of this game.

After robbing Per Mertesacker in the box, he should have squared the ball, a minute before half time, to an unmarked Abraham. Instead he went himself and Petr Cech made the save. For all the attacking quality at Arsene Wenger’s disposal, 2-0 would have been tough for Arsenal to come back. Instead, Ayew was made to pay a harsh price for a poor choice.

4. Cracks still there for Arsenal

Clucas celebrates his winner (
Image:
Dan Mullan)

They say that pride comes before a fall and this result enables the smug board that dismissed the fans at this week’s AGM to continue enjoying their Bollinger. There are cracks below the surface however. A better side would have exposed them. Arsenal’s very presence in the Europa League renders the claim put forward by the club this week that they are “over-achieving” a nonsense. Next weekend they go to Manchester City. Let’s see whether they overachieve up there.

5. Cech still has it

Petr Cech shows appreciation to the fans after the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton (
Image:
Julian Finney)

There really is life in the old dog yet. But for the 35-year-old warhorse Swansea would have put Arsenal in all sorts of trouble. It clearly is time for Wenger to start thinking about a long-term successor with 23-year-old Matt Macey on the bench. David Ospina, currently injured, has angled for a way out in search of regular first-team action for the last two seasons. He will surely try again in January. Wenger needs to make sure he has some options at his disposal.

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