On the eve of the 17th anniversary of Arsène Wenger’s appointment as Gunners manager the team travels to Swansea City’s Liberty Stadium for today’s teatime game (kick-off 5.30pm BST), hoping to stretch their away win club record to 12 consecutive victories in all competitions—and maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal are the only team in Premier League to have scored in each of their five fixtures so far this season; their shot conversion rate—20.4%—and shooting accuracy—61%—also lead the statistics table; and Olivier Giroud has already notched up four Premier League goals, while record signing Mesut Ozil leads the goal assists chart.

Confidence is justifiably high despite the number of walking wounded the club is carrying. The only real area of concern remains defence: Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in their five Premier League games to date.

With both teams operating open, free-flowing passing games, this is a mouth-watering fixture and is close to call—last season’s two league games between the clubs both ended in 0-2 victories for the visiting team.

Gunners injury news

Aaron Ramsey (thigh) and Mathieu Flamini (shoulder) will undergo late fitness tests, but Wenger expects them to be fit to take part in the match.

Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yaya Sanogo remain injured, while Tomas Rosicky is still short of fitness.

The opposition

Like Arsenal, Swansea suffered an opening day defeat (losing 4-1 to Manchester United) but have since bounced back strongly and are unbeaten in three, thanks in no small part to Michu rediscovering his goalscoring touch; his effort against Crystal Palace last week took his season’s tally to five.

However, Swansea’s form remains a little patchy: they have taken just a single point from their two home games so far this season, and a second-string Swansea line-up lost at Championship side Birmingham City in the Capital One Cup earlier this week.

The Swansea captain Ashley Williams is highly unlikely to make the game. The Welsh defender has an ankle injury, so Michael Laudrup will probably recall Jordi Amat. Swans winger Pablo Hernandez also misses out, due to a hamstring injury.

Key men

Ozil v Michu. The new Bergkamp (assists) v the new Bergkamp (goals). Should be tasty.

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