Arsenal will line up without Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla this weekend: however our midfield is still one of the best the Gunners have seen in recent times.
Sitting pretty at the summit of the Barclays Premier League – unbeaten since day 1 of the season- Arsenal have hardly broken sweat in the games since. A trip to Wales awaits Arsene Wenger’s boys after the kids’ midweek penalties triumph over West Bromwich Albion.
The league’s second highest scorers have taken 12 points from 15 as opposed to Swansea’s mediocre 7 leaving them coasting in mid-table.
Mirror image cup ties
The midweek Capital One Cup games threw up an interesting perspective of the two sides. On one hand, Arsenal played a severely weakened side for the game at the Hawthorns, the match finishing 1-1 AET only for the Gunners to emerge victorious on penalties against an impressive West Brom.
On the other hand, Swansea played a surprisingly strong team at St Andrews for the 3rd Round tie with Championship strugglers Birmingham City. Despite changing the entire back 5 of Vorm, Rangel, Williams, Chico and Davies, to the unfamiliar group of Tremmel, Tiendalli, Amat, Monk and Taylor – the Welsh side put out a team with its eyes set on victory.
Integral players Jonjo Shelvey, Wilfried Bony and Jonothan de Guzman all started but were slaughtered by a Birmingham side unrecognisable from the one which played in the Premier League just 2 years ago. The 3-1 defeat sent the 700-odd Swansea fans home in disgust and highlighted the importance of a big game at the Liberty this weekend.
Team news
Despite the widespread resting in midweek, both teams are suffering from important injuries. Swansea captain Ashley Williams is a big doubt for the weekend after picking up an ankle injury in the draw with Liverpool a fortnight ago.
Jordi Amat is expected to fill in yet again, however Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez remains sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Arsenal have similar concerns, with Theo Walcott set to miss the first game of his lengthy spell in the stands. The England international returned from Germany yesterday after a “successful” abdomen operation but will not be back until the game with Norwich next month.
Serge Gnabry deputised for Walcott against Stoke last week sufficiently, however the midfield injury list does not end there.
The ridiculously in-form Aaron Ramsey faces a late fitness test on a thigh injury that threatens to end his unbelievable goalscoring run, as does Mathieu Flamini who has a shoulder injury.
Mikel Arteta returned for his first game of the season on Wednesday however is unlikely to be match fit for a game like Swansea. Similarly Tomas Rosicky could return in order to prepare him for the Napoli game next week.
Arsene-al forever
Still boasting a midfield containing Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere, Arsene Wenger entailed how he has been humbled by the backing of owner Stan Kroenke ahead of the trip to Swansea:
"I am very honoured to have the support of Stan Kroenke - that is a huge confidence vote," Wenger said.
“I don't know where the last 17 years have gone. I always said our job is work like you are here forever and know it could end every day. What I would like to do as long as I am here is do my best because I love this club.”
Expected line-up
ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna Koscielny Mertesacker Gibbs, Flamini Wilshere, Gnabry Ramsey Ozil, Giroud
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