Swansea v. Arsenal match thread

Swansea City​

v.​

Arsenal​

Barclays Premier League​

Sunday 9th November 2014 - 16:00​

Liberty Stadium​

For the avoidance of doubt the kick-off is 4pm on Sunday

Tomorrow’s game has already been discussed to a minor extent on another thread so here’s somewhere to carry on in the correct place.

This is probably my favourite fixture of the season as it sees two attractive teams go head-to-head and is often described as a game for the purists. I suspect there will be those amongst us who no longer think this is the case (with respect to Swansea that is).

PGFWhite:
“Playing at home is an advantage but we have only won once in four attempts since we got promoted to the PL:
Sun 15 Jan 2012 – Swans 3 – 2 Arsenal (PL)
Sun 06 Jan 2013 - Swans 2 – 2 Arsenal (F.A. Cup)
Sat 16 Mar 2013 – Swans 0 – 2 Arsenal (PL)
Sat 28 Sep 2013- Swans 1 - 2 Arsenal (PL)”

(The 3-2 win over Arsenal under Rodgers is one of my all-time PL highlights at the Liberty Stadium.)

I imagine the Swansea line-up will be something like:

.....................Fabianski...............
Rangel.....Fernandez.....Williams.....Taylor
...............Ki..........Carroll...............
Dyer..........Sigurdsson............Montero
..........................Bony..................

Shelvey is suspended, so Carroll is the obvious replacement. As usual, it’s any 2 from 3 with the wingers and the rest of the team picks itself.

Roofjack:
“My biggest plus against Arsenal is they have 8 players out.Another ‘good timing’ game against a top club. Arteta ,Kolscielny ,Ozil ,Giroud ,Sanogo ,DeBuchy , Ospina and Diaby. Also, Walcott comes back for his first start of the season and Wilshere returns from sickness.”

I’m not convinced that Walcott will be starting, so their line-up could be:

.....................Szczesny.................
Gibbs..........Mertesacker.......Monreal.......Chambers
Oxlade-Ch.......Ramsey....Wilshere.....Cazorla
..............Welbeck..........Sanchez

The game sees Fabianski lining up against his former club for the first time. Sanchez has scored 7 times in the PL this season and has 11 goals overall. Will Arsenal have a hangover from letting a 3-0 lead disappear against Anderlecht in mid-week?

I think there will be goals in this game. The bookies seem to think a Swansea win or a draw is the most likely result. I’ll go for 2-2.

 

With Arsenals defensive problems I think we can win this. I'm going for a 2-1 victory but will be more than happy with a point.

 

Great post AD.

I've been keeping an eye on the Arsenal board this week and quite a few fans think they'll lose tomorrow. But like most of the bigger clubs I always believe the way to hurt Arsenal is to hit them hard and fast by breaking quickly when you get the ball.

Unfortunately, although we have the capability to do that we don't - or do it rarely. We're far too ponderous in the build up and whereas some of our goals have been excellent - the ones involving Bony and Siggy spring to mind - I think Arsenal will be too canny for that.

For that reason I'm going for a 0-2 loss. As always I hope I'm wrong. A point would be fab, three fantastic.

 

Thanks again Aswan superb

My heart says a win for us by my gut drops when I see the proposed Arsenal team, they have a superb squad dripping with gems and diamonds.

Arsenal is the model for a fluid, passing style of footy in the prem, imo, and is the model we aspire to. Saying that they are not invincible. Press and pressure them from midfield and their game can disintegrate. With us at home though, it may be them pressing us, I can't see both teams 'going for it'

If we win I'll be impressed, happy and surprised but I fear the best we can hope for is a draw earned ugly or otherwise.

Score 1-1

 

Based on the league table .... Arsenal is a peer. This match will "discuss" that proposition and the result and manner in which the game is played will either dispel that notion or reinforce it.

I have liked Arsenal's squad from the get go this season. The addition of Sanchez and Welbeck compliment the likes of Ramsey, Ozil, Wilshire and with the return of Walcott if they ever get everybody healthy and the best on the field at one time they would be a treat to watch.

Michu and Bony have provided the silver bullets to slay this dragon in the last two years. Can we play with them, can we stay with them - if so then we have the means to cause trouble and get a result.

A big game for Carroll if he plays ... or maybe Fulton. I'd prefer to see Jazz behind Ki, but he's injured.

 

close match with a late 1-0 win for the swans...

 

We have the benefit of playing an open offensive game with Arsenal, and both teams keep the ball well, I think we will edge it with the home advantage so I will go with a 2-1 win for us, need to up our game in the midfield though as Arsenal are strong there, if we don't we could see a draw game again............

 

2 - 0 Swans

 

I think we have matched Arsenal well since coming up to the Premier league, but it cannot be said we 'should' win this game, as Arsenal are playing very well, and had a great season last season, and with Ramsey back and the quality they have all over the field, we really need to keep the ball tomorrow, if we can do that then we can win otherwise I see a draw on the cards, heaven forbid should we lose........

 

Although Arsenal have only lost one single game in the League this season, the fans are expecting a very difficult encounter away at Swansea tomorrow evening. The Gunners have struggled to win games which was epitomised by Tuesday’s farcical draw with Anderlecht and we can expect more defensive blunders tomorrow. Swansea are just two points behind Arsenal at the moment, but their home form can hardly be bettered by any team except Chelsea. They have had one 1-0 defeat (to Southampton) but five wins and a draw from the rest, including five clean sheets. No wonder their manager Garry Monk is much more relaxed than Arsene Wenger.

“Of course, when you look at the table you’d say we must be doing something right,” said Monk in the the South Wales Evening Post. “The team are on track in terms of where I want them to be. They are progressing nicely and taking on a lot of information. “They are trying to put that into action and at this moment they are performing at a very good level. - http://www.justarsenal.com


Opposition view!.....................

 

We always have a good game against the Arsenal home an away so im expecting the same tomorrow. The Arsenal are one of the biggest teams in the premiership with players to match so we will have to be at our very best to win and i believe we have the players to do it just as long as the ref is fair and not blowing his whistle at every tackle and dishing out yellows willy nilly..

 

What score line you going with Dai?

 

1-0 .....

 

2-2

 

I'd be delighted with a point from this fixture, but I'm going to stick my neck out and say we're going to score early, Arsenal will chase the game and we'll score a late second.

2-0 to the Swans

 

I'm going for a Swans win!! Bony to get the winner.

 

Are you coming up for the match never, or are you trimming your oaks?

 

My proirty for this game is a spirited and discpline game with us holding our own in all departments.For this game , points are optional .Rather a good performance and lose than play so so and get a point .Not very confident on this one .

 

I'd go with;

------------- Fabianski ---------------
-------- Fede -------- Ash -----------
Rangel ----------------------- Taylor (he's improving, slowly)
------------------ Ki -----------------
----------- Siggy --------------------
-------------------------------------
Dyer ------- Routledge ------ Montero
-------------- Bony ------------------


Lots of pace, skill and creativity playing off Bony....wouldn't usually advise playing Siggy anywhere other than the no. 10 spot but Arsenal's midfield make it possible in this game imo.
Ki needs to keep tabs on Ramsey. Fernandez needs to marshall Sanchez. Both of our full-backs need to be on top form.
If I were manager the game plan would be to give the ball to Siggy (the playmaker) as early as possible when we win possession and let him thread passes through to the front 4.
We need to be less predictable regarding the ball up to Bony (our opposition are all expecting this outball and double/triple up on Bony to snuff it out (see Stoke 2nd half).
I believe Siggy putting 1 of the 3 wingers away is the solution for this game. Play it up to Bony only when it's on (I'm looking at you Ashley Williams! Ash needs to keep it short and on the deck, he's been gifting too much possession away recently.
If it went well and we went ahead I'd bring Carroll on for either a winger or Siggy and Jazz for one of the full-backs.

 

I've heard that Fernandez might be injured. Anyone else heard this?