Arsenal Vs Swansea City: 5 things we learned

SWANSEA, WALES – JANUARY 30: Samuel Clucas of Swansea City scores his sides third goal during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on January 30, 2018 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not the solution, but he will help

Like every year during the January transfer window, this game was played with a spectre hanging over it: Arsenal are inching closer and closer to the seemingly inevitable signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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The Gabon international is most definitely an exciting addition. He is one of the very best strikers in world football, with a tremendous goalscoring record over an extended period of time. He is proven at European level. He arrives with a pedigree and a calibre that only elevates a stalling and stagnating squad. He is an undoubted improvement on what is already there. But he does not actually solve the issues that plague this current team.

He is not, for example, a stifling, steely, hard-nosed defender. He is not, for example, a rangy, ground-gobbling, ankle-snapping, game-breaking defensive midfielder. He is not, for example, a sound, safe, reliable and yet agile goalkeeper. He is not, for example, a chalk-on-your-boots, get-to-the-byline whippet winger.

That does not mean that he will not help. Of course, a player of his ability will benefit this team. But there is so much more that needs to be done; there are so many more issues that need to be addressed and positions that need to be improved. I have very little confidence that any of them will be.