please log in to view this image ............................................... please log in to view this image Swansea City................................... vs ...................... Arsenal Liberty Stadium Swansea Sun 15-01-12 16:00 PM KO For links to watch the game online, click HERE Welcome one and all to the match thread for the game between Swansea City and Arsenal. It seems like so long ago now that Michel Vorm's uncharacteristic error cost us dear in a close match at the Emirates, gifting Andrey Arshavin a goal with a wayward throw for the only goal of the game. Since then the Swans have gained confidence and secured, for the time being at least, a lower mid-table slot while Arsenal have been joined by Chelsea and Liverpool in a sort "chase pack", trailing in the wake of both Manchester clubs and Tottenham Hotspur. The lofty position of their north London neighbours is not lost on Arsenal fans, and adds further fuel to the fire which drives their push up the table, while the Swans will perhaps be looking at this game as an opportunity to take their first big "scalp" of the season, and while it's undoubtedly true for any team at any point in the season, both teams really need the three points from this game. The Match; Last time out in the league, Swansea managed to secure a crucial first away win of the season, 2-0 at Aston Villa. One of the final hoodoo's the Swans had suffered with gone, and four goals at Barnsley will also have gone some way to allaying fears about the squad being a touch goal shy. The Swans have made three signings so far this transfer window and it's possible Josh McEachran will join on loan from Chelsea at some point early next week too, and he'll join other new recruits Darnel Situ, Rory Donnelly and Gylfi Sigurdsson in trying to fight their way into the squad. Sigurdsson is the most likely to feature, as the others are regarded more as prospects, but you can never rule out anything and there could be a spot on the bench for either. Arsenal's form of late has been patchy, and they've only managed to score more than one goal once in their last 7 games. As mentioned and obviously, Thierry Henry will certainly add something but what that is remains to be seen. The Premier League is a tough place to be and it'll be interesting to see how long it takes him to get up to speed. Before the win against Leeds came a loss at Fulham to a late Bobby Zamora goal, which was preceded by a 1-0 win over QPR on New Years' Eve, and it's looked, at times, like if Robin Van Persie doesn't play well then Arsenal really struggle to create chances. The Swans have had similar problems at times too, and it's possible that the two teams will cancel each other out, much like large portions of the reverse fixture back on the 10th of September. Swansea secured a well-earned victory in Yorkshire against Barnsley in the FA Cup last weekend, and Brendan Rodgers strong team selection could be construed as wanting to create a "winning feeling". It could also be construed as taking the cup seriously, or both, who knows, but with few injury problems the biggest headache the Northern Irishman will have is who to pick in midfield. Augustien has impressed every time he's started and will be confident of a start, and after a period of heavy squad rotation it will be interesting to see who is retained in midfield against a side likely to match us man for man across the field. Arsenal had returning messiah Thierry Henry to thank for seeing off their own Yorkshire based FA Cup opponents last time out, although they got to do it at home in front of their own fans, who no doubt had a good day out seeing the mercurial Frenchman turn out in Arsenal colours once again. Henry aside, the performance wasn't a great one and against Swansea Wenger will expect his team to triumph in a battle of ground-based possession football, as, realistically, there's cause for concern if a club with aspirations like Arsenal's can be beaten at what is plausibly describable as "their own game". Their reliance on Robin Van Persie will hopefully be negated slightly if Henry is up to speed straight away, but other players need to help take the responsibility off the prolific Dutchman as if anything were to happen to him it could be troubling times indeed. Prior Form; (most recent at top) Barnsley 2 - 4 Swansea City FA Cup Aston Villa 0 - 2 Swansea City Premier League Swansea City 1 -1 Tottenham Premier League Swansea City 1 -1 QPR Premier League Everton 1 - 0 Swansea City Premier League Arsenal 1 - 0 Leeds FA Cup Fulham 2 - 1 Arsenal Premier League Arsenal 1 - 0 QPR Premier League Arsenal 1 - 1 Wolverhampton Premier League Aston Villa 1 - 2 Arsenal Premier League Team News Swansea received a boost after it emerged both Alan Tate and Ferrie Bodde played 45 minutes of a reserve friendly with Hereford. They are returning from a broken leg and cruciate damage respectively, and while Tate will be back in contention for a place sooner the return of Bodde could be huge for the club if he returns anything like the player he was before his injury. Aside from that there's little to report and the squad looks fully fit. Arsenal...well... where to start. Jenkinson, Santos and Wilshere are all out for a while and stand no chance of featuring, while Sagna, Gibbs and Coquelin are closer to a return but will still miss out. Vermaelen and Diaby both face late fitness tests but may well miss out too, leaving Arsenal with few options for the trip to South Wales. If you believe what you read at JustArsenal.Com (and I do, they probably know more than me about the Gunners) Djourour and Mertesacker could both be unavailable too, leaving Arsenal's backline with a decided lack of experience. Trivia; - "Courtesy" of Opta Completely guessed lineups; Swansea Vorm Rangel Taylor Williams Monk Britton Augustien Allen Sinclair Dyer Graham Arsenal Szczesny Miquel Yennaris Koscielny Song Arteta Ramsey Rosicky Walcott Park Van Persie Key Battles; Scott Sinclair vs Arsenal's right-back At time of writing there seemed to be real injury problems in defence for Arsenal, and up against a player playing out of position Sinclair should make the most of his pace and capitalise on any space he is given. Sinclair loves to cut inside onto his stronger right foot but needs to expand his game and get past his man on the outside more often, as he has the pace to get in behind and do damage. Against a patched up backline he should be approaching the game in confident mood, and while he may find himself matched in the pace department a lapse of concentration would be less damaging for Sinclair than it would be for the full back.
Brendan Rodgers ahead of the game; Arsene Wenger before the game; Thierry Henry with some kind words about Swansea; Club links From http://goonerholic.com/?p=4457 - an article on Jack Kelsey, Swansea born goalkeeper for Arsenal during the 1950's, before he went on to run the first club shop. He was later joined at Highbury by Mel Charles, brother of John, for a then-British-record transfer fee of £43,500 plus two players. Sadly for Mel his time at Arsenal was dogged by injuries and high expectations due to his transfer fee and hugely successful sibling, and he was eventually sold to Cardiff for £28.500, in an effort to recoup the money paid for him. Mel's first wages at Arsenal were £20 a week, and his signing on fee upon joining was £20 as well! How times change... Analysis; Before the Aston Villa game I was feeling positive on the back of the Spurs game, and while preparing this article I'd started off confident before a nagging sense of "surely I can't be confident going into a game against Arsenal" kicked in. The more I looked at it, though, the more the home win is possible. Arsenal really do have a lot of injuries, and if big players don't put in big performances the Swans could be asking questions of a very youthful Arsenal side all over the pitch. Swansea's likely front three will be Dyer, Sinclair and Graham, and they will be looking to link with the midfield to drag players like Miquel out of position. Combine the potential lack of experience with some of the players playing in a position which is perhaps not their first choice and there is definitely the makings of some defensive errors, especially given the Swans high pressing game. In midfield, Arteta & Ramsey will be the engine and they're going to be up against Leon Britton and, I'd imagine, one of Kemy Augustien or Mark Gower. Personally I prefer Augustien but whoever is selected alongside Leon will need to have a solid ball retentive 90 minutes if the Swans are to get anything from this game. The Swans are likely to be faced up with a 4-5-1 system similar to their own, and I'd imagine Rosicky will play in the advanced midfielder role, but Leon Britton has proved adept at disrupting play through the attacking midfielder this season so Rosicky will have to be at his best to get past the former Arsenal youth-teamer. Robin Van Persie is going to be up against Caulker & Williams, who have started to look like they could have a really, really strong partnership. Both big, mobile bruising centre backs who have the ability to play their way out of trouble too, they'll face possibly their sternest test this season when they go up against RVP, and they'll need to be on absolute top form if they're to keep him along with his partners in crime, whoever they end up being, out. I'd imagine it's going to be Walcott and Gervinho (although this is partly because I refuse to believe Thierry Henry may start a competitive fixture in Swansea) and they'll be looking to get in-between fullback and centre-back and try and cause havoc in the home defence. I think this game has the potential to be a complete feast, in all honesty. However, it also has the potential to be a very tame 0-0. Arsenal's depleted ranks leave them strongest in attack, so surely the best way of deflecting heat from their weakened defence is by throwing everything forward? Both teams will be looking to set off at a high pace, playing crisp passing football while in possession and pressing high up the field when chasing the ball, and I think if either team scores early we could see a game with quite a few goals. The winner on the day will be the team who's passing was more accurate and more incisive, as there's likely to not be too much of a clash of styles. The game could well be won by one moment of brilliance by one player, but with the Swans solid home record thus far, and Arsenal's recent form net setting the world alight, Swans fans can go into this game realistically hoping for a result. Iechyd Da. Scott
Brilliant article yet again! One thing though...isnt Gervinho off with the Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations??? Given, that according to BBC, he is their top assist provider, this would be a good things for us.....the fact that it would most likely be Henry to replace him, then maybe not!! Can't wait for this game....genuinely think this is a great chance for us to take a big scalp, especially if their defence is going to be as makeshift as it appears it might be!!
I might be known as a pessamist but tell me how we're 4/6 to win at a place where Swansea have only lost once all season (reigning champions) and conceded just 4 goals ? The price just defies belief, make Arsenal favs mayeb but odds on ? We have just drawn at home to Wolves and lost at Fulham. Great day to be a Swansea fan, you can lay Arsenal at a gift of a price and cheers your own team on....
Arsenal are likely to be: Chesney Djourou Mertesacker Koscielny Miguel Song Arteta Ramsey Theo RvP Arshavin The Swansea wingers could cause serious trouble here. I'd expect Arsenal to be a bit more defensive than usual and rely on the pace of Theo, distribution of van Persie, and directness of Arshavin to cause problems.
They're just a well organised team, they don't excite a great deal but they're solid especially at the back and are better than 90% of the teams that usually come up from the Champs. I don't see many goal, 0-0 is a runner though I'm hoping we nick it 1-0....
Hard to say we don't excite but maybe that's because I'm biased and get excited whenever we've got possession. Which is a lot. No disrespects to Arsenal but I feel that without Vermaelen (not clear if he's likely to play) they are weak at the back. The guy is immense. RVP is total class and we have to hope he has an off day because I don't see much threat from elsewhere. As others have said, if he doesn't perform, then Arsenal don't either. I genuinely think this is one we can nick 1-0. Won't be too disappointed with a point though. Great thread as usual Scott.
Arsenal are one of the great clubs that is well run by a great manager that to me is only second to sir alex. they started the season uncharacteristically poor due to some of the players they lost but arsen has transformed them in a short time and now they are back where they belong near the top.....as a kid growing up i supported the arsenal as my second club and still do to this day but obviously when we play them i want us to win every time. with this match on sunday you have to look at our form at home where we only lost to man utd 1-0 and even then we had our chances to win that match....I have this down as a tough match against an arsenal side much better than when we played them at there place and i cant see many goals in it, so i have gone for a draw 1-1.......welcome to all the gunners who will be coming to the liberty and i hope i can share a pint with you outside the ground......good luck with your season...
Koscielny has performed amazingly this season thus far. Since the start of last season he's been incredible, and his stats this season are just as good as Kompany - rated as one of the best in the Premiership. Vermaelen won't play, but he'll be a bigger miss at LB than CB! The issue for Arsenal will be the full-backs and whether the front 3 gel - can RvP continue his form, is Arshavin interested, and can Theo find some form.
yes there are gooner, you cant miss it mate, you will see swans and arsenal fans mixing outside having a pint. its very safe and you will be welcomed like we do against every premiership team......there are only a couple of teams that are not welcome for obvious reasons and they are lower league anyway....
I don't want to sound snobbish but i doubt anyone on our coach will want to drink with you South Walians
Might be a stern test for Arsenal's makeshift full-backs. Swansea play some very nice stuff, keep a lot of possession and have some tricky widemen in Dyer and Sinclair. Graham adds a little bit of directness that's been missing at times, in my opinion. They gave us (Spurs) a very tough game at the Liberty, so I'm hoping that they'll do us a favour and get something against Arsenal on Sunday. Be interesting to see our loanee Caulker up against van Persie, too. Should be a good game, played in the right manner. Good luck Swansea and thanks for another well written article, Scottswan.
van persie is the only player that im worried about to be honest, to me he is the player that is a class above anything we have got at swansea. i hope caulker, and the rest of the defenders can cope with him, we do have a great keeper though and that will help..........i hope......
I'd say similar things Dai. I'm worried about Arsenal as a whole, but not as worried as I was by Spurs, but if RVP plays every time the ball gets to him it's going to be squeaky bum time. The guy is class, and Vorm may well get a lot of opportunities to reaquaint himself with his international team-mate Robin!
