Arsenal Fan View: Three points from a welcome victory at the Liberty Stadium for the Gunners

Anything Spurs can do then.

Both North London sides recorded 4-0 victories yesterday, with Arsenal doing so away from home at the Liberty Stadium. It was a nice change of pace to win a game that wasn’t ground out, with the players responding well to a whole week’s rest. Here are three main talking points in wake of the goal rush against Swansea:

Mesut Ozil was a bigger miss than it seems

The Gunners midfield was in much better shape yesterday, and in no doubt due to the return of one man. The German maestro ran the show against Swansea and his holding midfielders did well to weather the initial storm for his side. That left him to pull the strings by coming deep repeatedly and have a very convincing effect on the proceedings. Credit must be given where it’s due, and Ozil has rightly earned it this time. Over the course of the last two weeks, the lack of creativity in the final third was fairly conspicuous and nothing Aaron Ramsey or Granit Xhaka did made it any better. Mesut’s unseen work on the pitch is what makes this Arsenal side tick when there is staleness in their attacks and sure enough, gets the best out of their attackers.

Returning Welbeck means Arsenal are top-heavy for the run-in

For a second January running, Danny Welbeck made his return to Premier League football after almost a year out for Arsenal. It was nearly a déjà vu situation, with his spectacular shot only just tipped over by the retreating Lukasz Fabianski. With Lucas Perez putting in a good shift every time he plays and Giroud’s form getting better every game, the return of the silky footed Welbeck only adds to the versatile firepower for this Arsenal side. If the Frenchman’s ankle issue does become a larger than anticipated concern, it would be the perfect time for ‘Welbz’ to come in and cover for him. Since Giroud has been largely restricted to the bench himself, the pressure on Danny to perform should not be too much, although his touches suggest he is ready to make up for lost time. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and the soon to return Theo Walcott should ensure there are more than enough options for Arsène Wenger to reinvent his attack anyway he likes.

Arsenal with Sanchez up top is a whole different dynamic

There is little doubt left in this now, but Olivier Giroud is the most underrated forward in the Premier League. His consistency goes back to April of last year, having scored in every league start he’s made since then.

However, in the last half an hour of the game, we saw the Arsenal play like they were at the start of season and with some style. Alexis Sanchez in the centre opens up this Arsenal side to free flowing and unpredictable attacking quality. Mesut Ozil gets his freedom, and the wingers on either side of the Chilean begin making the most of this new fluidity. Both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi grew into the game after Giroud’s substitution and it was in principal due to Sanchez pulling defenders out of position all over. While it would be a big blow to the team to lose someone in form like Giroud for a bit, returning Sanchez to play at number nine will surely be the best alternative. Additionally, that would ensure he’s not taken off before 90 minutes, meaning less of his adorable sulking liking to that of a 10-year old who just wants to keep playing.