Arsenal's top hopes were hit with a huge blow in south Wales, as rejuvenated Swansea helped themselves to a 3-1 victory at the Liberty Stadium.
Swansea had started the brighter of the two sides but were shocked just after the half hour mark by Nacho Monreal's recent attacking renaissance, the Spaniard sweeping home Mesut Ozil's pass to give the visitors a scarcely-deserved lead.
Within two minutes however the home side were level, Sam Clucas firing past Petr Cech after being allowed to run by Granit Xhaka.
With Arsene Wenger unhappy at his side's performance, the Frenchman handed Henrikh Mkhitaryan his debut just past the hour mark.
But the Armenian saw the home side take the lead just seconds later, a Petr Cech miskick falling straight to Jordan Ayew, who scored.
Ayew then destroyed Shkodran Mustafi late on to tee up Clucas for his second, ensuring victory for Carlos Carvalhal's men.
Follow all the action, as it happened, below...
Swansea XI:Fabianski; Naughton, Van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Clucas, Ki, Fer, Dyer; Ayew
Subs:Nordfeldt, Bartley, Carroll, Routledge, Narsingh, Bony, Abraham
Arsenal XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Elneny, Xhaka, Ramsey; Ozil, Iwobi, Lacazette.
Subs: Ospina, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Mkhitaryan, Nketiah, Giroud
5 talking points
Oliver Giroud couldn’t save Arsenal after being deployed from the bench by Arsene Wenger despite a deal being agreed with Chelsea before the match.
Sam Clucas bagged a double for Swansea as the sorry Gunners left south Wales with nothing but grief from their travelling fans.
Nacho Monreal opened the scoring on 33 minutes for Arsenal but it was all down hill from that point with Clucas finding the equaliser less than 60 seconds later.
A Petr Cech howler led to Jordan Ayew slotting the second and Clucas blasted home the third late on.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan made his debut off the bench after his move from Man United and could soon welcome former Dortmund team-mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the Emirates.
Here are five talking points from a night to forget for the Gunners.
PLAYER RATINGS
An outstanding performance saw Swansea City move off the bottom of the Premier League table as they saw off lacklustre Arsenal 3-1 at the Liberty Stadium.
Arsene Wenger’s side were well off the pace during the first half hour, but took an undeserved lead when Mesut Ozil’s clipped pass was turned home by Nacho Monreal.
Within two minutes however the hosts were level.
Mesut Ozil was easily dispossessed and when the ball was slipped through, Granit Xhaka allowed Sam Clucas to run free, and the midfielder turned home.
GOAL! Swansea 3-1 Arsenal (Clucas)
Game over.
Arsenal all over the place defensively.
Clucas nets again. His second. Ayew shrugged off Mustafi easily and Clucas was the only man moving in the area - terrific finish.
That’s three points for the Swans’ now.
Here we go!
Last action hero?
Big cheers from the Arsenal fans for Giroud.
Giroud coming on.
*Money on late winner*
Almost three for Swansea
Excellent effort!
Big Carlos doesn’t care for Arsenal’s poor defending mind.
He’s delighted.
GOAL! Swansea 2-1 Arsenal (Ayew)
Oh dear Petr.
Oh dear oh dear.
The hosts lead and it’s Jordan Ayew who takes the credit.
Arsene Wenger is berating Nacho Monreal for taking a quick throw and putting his team under pressure.
But it’s Petr Cech with the major mistake.
He slices his kick from a backpass, straight to Ayew who scores.
Dismal.
Brace yourselves folks.
It’s almost time for Mkhitaryan.
The Armenian is preparing for his debut.
Arsenal showing more intensity at the start of the second period.
They need to as well. Simply not quick enough in the opening half.
Swansea’s game plan remains clear; sit back, wait for a mistake/sloppy pass, then hit quickly and direct on the counter.
HT: Swansea 1-1 Arsenal
That’s the half-time whistle.
Swansea have been very, very good thus far.
They’ll feel they should be in front perhaps.
Arsenal didn’t really get going, but a brilliant pass from Ozil and Nacho Monreal gave them the lead.
However, Ozil’s dilly-dallying allowed Swansea to nip in and when Granit Xhaka didn’t track Sam Clucas, the latter scored.
1-1 at the break...Mkhitaryan and Giroud continue to look on.
Not sure he’ll last that long Crossy!
Poor defending from Xhaka on the goal
Dire from Granit Xhaka on the Swansea equaliser.
Allows Clucas to just run off the back off him.
Well, not even the back...in front!
Really poor from him.
GOAL! Swansea 1-1 Arsenal (Clucas)
Wowsers!
An immediate reply from the home side.
Their heads didn’t drop and within 90 seconds of falling behind, Sam Clucas has levelled.
1-1. Game on!
GOAL! Swansea 0-1 Arsenal (Monreal)
Perhaps it is scarcely deserved.
But Arsenal have the lead.
And again, it’s Nacho Monreal!
The Spaniard has been key in attack in recent games - notably against Crystal Palace - and he’s scored here.
Brilliant pass from Ozil.
Arsenal have had a warning at one end.
And now Iwobi has gone close at the other.
It’s starting to open up. (thankfully).
Giroud getting ready...
Oh, hello!
They’ve lacked an attacking focal point thus far.
Lacazette has been ineffective.
How about you Henrikh...
Enjoying things thus far?
Penny for your thoughts Olivier?
Not a particularly great start from the away side.
They’re trying to play through tight spaces...but are finding the hosts a tough nut to crack thus far.
No penalty!
Carlos Carvahal wanted a penalty.
Swansea midfielder Sam Clucas wanted one.
The crowd wanted one.
But it was a brilliant challenge from Mohamed Elneny. Excellent last-ditch tackle from the Egyptian.
Decent start from Swansea
Decent start from Swansea this.
Nathan Dyer is very busy in and around Jordan Ayew, who is ploughing a lone furrow up top.
#Scenes
Seems Arsenal fans aren’t keen on Olivier Giroud departing.
He’s on the bench and set to join Chelsea.
Arsenal sacrificing their plan B.
Mkhitaryan prepares
Mkhitaryan makes his debut from the bench tonight.
Expect to see him at some point.
He’ll be wearing the No.7 shirt.
Snow!
Snow joke in south Wales.
See those footsteps.
Yep, snow!
Pre kickoff snowfall in Swansea.
Arsenal in blue
Blue shirts for Arsenal tonight.
Why couldn’t they be in red?
Don’t tell me it’s because there’s some white in their kit. Because that’s simply ludicrous.
Recent form - Arsenal
January 24: Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea (EFL Cup)
January 20: Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (Premier League)
January 14: Bournemouth 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)
January 10: Chelsea 0-0 Arsenal (EFL Cup)
January 7: Nottingham Forest 4-2 Arsenal (FA Cup)
Recent form - Swansea
- January 22: Swansea 1-0 Liverpool (Premier League)
- January 17: Swansea 2-1 Wolves (FA Cup)
- January 13: Newcastle United 1-1 Swansea (Premier League)
- January 6: Wolves 0-0 Swansea (FA Cup)
- January 2: Swansea 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Here come the Swans.
How confident are they tonight of landing three points?
They’ve been much improved of late - can they continue and make it one loss in eight on a wet night in south Wales.
Kick off is 30 minutes away.
Arsenal youngster exits
Arsenal have confirmed that young midfielder Marcus McGuane has agreed to join Barcelona for an undisclosed fee.
McGuane, 18, made two appearances for the Gunners in the Europa League earlier in the season.
He is an England youth international having played at under-17, under-18 and under-19 level.
Barcelona have put a €25million release clause in his deal at Camp Nou and he’s inked a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Catalans.