please log in to view this image English Premier League 15th Sun Dec 2012 KO: 16:00 Liberty Stadium please log in to view this image Arsenal travel to the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea City in this Sunday afternoon fixture. Both teams go into this game after victories in the FA Cup. Arsenal beat Leeds United at the Emirates while Swansea saw off Barnsley at Oakwell. Swansea have been in good form in both the league and the cup and are unbeaten in their last four games. In fact, they only have been defeated once at home in the league. That was against Manchester United, Swansea have showed that they are a tough team to break down and have held the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham. Their style is similar to Arsenal’s and their manager Brendan Rodgers is a firm believer of this type of football. So both managers share something in common. Arsenal beat Swansea at the Emirates earlier in the season thanks to a goal from Andrey Arshavin who took advantage of a rare Michel Vorm mistake. Arsenal fans watched and savoured a moment that will live long in the memory when they witnessed Thierry Henry score on his comeback against Leeds. He might be involved against Swansea with the absence of Gervinho and Chamakh due to the African Cup of Nations. Swansea City have surprised many people with their performances in the top tier, many would not have expected them to be as good in defence as they have. Michel Vorm is one of the key men for them at the back and he has been up there with the very best in the Premier League with his performances. Ashely Williams has also been another impressive player. He can play from the back and is still a tough defender. The Welsh International has settled in to a higher level better than expected. Left Back, Neil Taylor has also done well and has been recently linked to Arsenal regarding a possible transfer. But without a doubt the two danger men from Swansea are Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair. The two wingers have had a great time and with their pace and trickery they have caused Premier League defences all sorts of problems. With Arsenal’s problems at full back well known this could be a battle in the game. The Swansea players will be no doubt giving the ball to their wingers as many times as possible to test the makeshift full backs. Scoring goals has been the biggest problem for Swansea this season; they have only scored 20 goals which puts them in the bottom of five in terms goals scored alongside the likes of Wigan, West Brom, QPR and Everton. They have failed to score in at least 9 games which is the highest number of games without scoring in the league. But at the same time they have only conceded 23 goals which is less than the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea. Danny Graham was the man that was expected to get the goals but he has had a very indifferent time in the Premier League. He has so far scored 5 times in the league but with the service from wingers like Sinclair and Dyer he would have expected to get more than that. Arsenal in contrast do have a forward who can find the goal with ease. And that man is Robin Van Persie, who was rested and given a mini-holiday after the Fulham game. Van Persie had an outstanding 2011 and he will be looking to get off the mark for 2012 against Swansea. Arsenal are just a point behind Chelsea in fourth place and will be looking to try and put pressure on them in order to get back in that Champions League spot. In the previous league game Arsenal lost to Fulham at Craven Cottage and it was a very disappointing result and a pretty shocking performance in the second half of that game. With the race for fourth being so tight its vital that Arsenal avoid slip ups like that again. With Gervinho at the African Cup of Nations, a spot in the first team is available and the likes of Rosicky, Arshavin and even Henry could play on that left hand side. Andrey Arshavin, the man that got the winner against Swansea earlier in the season has had a very poor season, he has looked lethargic and low on confidence. But this game could be a chance for him to get back in favour with the manager and fans alike. This might be his last chance so Arshavin if given the nod will have to deliver. The problems at full back only seems to get worse by the week, Francis Coquelin was the latest player to get injured while playing at full back. But Johan Djourou is available after serving his one match suspension against Leeds. With Manchester United to come after this game, Arsenal need to start finding some form and a win here will not be a bad start, Swansea have only lost once at home so it’s going to be a hard test but Wenger will need his players to be ready for it and make sure they get the vital three points from this fixture. Teams News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Swansea City: Played: 10 Wins: 6 Draws: 1 Losses: 3 For: 13 Against: 11 GD: 2 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 1 - 0 Swansea City Arsenal 2 - 1 Swansea City Swansea 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 0 - 2 Swansea City Swansea City 2 - 0 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 1 Swansea City (League Cup) please log in to view this image Mangers Views: Arsene Wenger on Henry and Van Persie: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Result: please log in to view this image
I'm worried about their wingers. i think they may overrun our makeshift defence, and Danny Graham does offer a physical prescence, something we usually struggle against. Prediction 1-1
Yeah, we REALLY need to strengthen. This current side is better than Chelsea's and Liverpool's, but if they strengthen, we are ****ed. This game? 1-1 until 70th minute, and then someone will come on and score another goal to save us... and it won't be Mr Van Persie...
team will be like you said but Arshavin instead of Rosicky. Rosicky is still ill a bit, like Mertesacker, but Merty will play even if he's not fully fit because no one else can really play there.
It will be a tough match, like any other game in the epl but i will be really angry if we don't get 3 points here, people can point to the fact that man utd and spurs struggled here but that isn't an excuse for us not to get a result, and in fact with the way swansea play we really should be able to win comfortably if we don't do anything stupid at teh start and take our chance because swansea are an open side and we will get space and chances.
Yeah, just seen that. Rosicky seems to 'ill' a lot these days. He will surely leave in the summer. I thought Rosicky would be over his illness by now but he seems to be struggling so its between Henry and Arshavin then.
It all depends on Pace. If Arsenal set a high tempo they can force Swansea to chase & open them up. If Swansea dictate, Arsenal are in trouble.
^^ set the pace very fast from the start and keep it up all the way through the game. at around 60-70 mins bring on Henry and Oxo to RW and LW and let them destroy tired defences. do this even if we are winning 2-0, because that way we can completely shut the game out.
Spurs 0 - 1 Wolves Chelsea 1 - 1 Villa Man Utd 0 - 0 Bolton Liverpool 0 - 0 Stoke Watching the Wolves game. Seeing how Frimpong is playing.
Frimpong gets booked. More for his stupid reaction after the foul. Needs to ****ing learn. But that is why he is on loan I suppose.
