Swansea vs Arsenal Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Arsenal travel to Wales on Saturday afternoon to take on Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium looking to maintain their push for a top four finish.

We get back to domestic action this weekend following Wednesday’s Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich. It was a battling display to beat the German’s 2-0 in their own back yard but we must now focus on the next ten games and overhaul Chelsea and/or Tottenham or we wont be making any more trips to the Allianz Arena again next season.

It’s never easy the weekend after a European game, especially away from home, but Swansea could be a good game for us as they’ve just come off the back of their League Cup win and have little to play for in the league with their Premier League status all but secure for another season.

We head into the game five points off fourth-placed Chelsea and seven off third-placed Tottenham but hold a game in hand over our north London rivals, so victory is vital this weekend if we’re to maintain hopes of a top-four finish.

Swansea beat us 2-0 at the Emirates back in December so revenge will also be in order this weekend.

Team News

Bacary Sagna and Lukas Podolski both missed the Bayern game through injury and will once again miss out this weekend, meaning Carl Jenkinson will continue at right back while Santi Cazorla is likely to play on the left wing.

Kieran Gibbs aggravated his thigh strain in midweek and is likely to miss out but his absence is counteracted by the return of Nacho Monreal – who was ineligible against Munich. Jack Wilshere is out after picking up an ankle knock against Spurs so there is a place in midfield up for grabs. Aaron Ramsey was preferred in midweek but I’d like to see Abou Diaby come in to give us some ‘legs’ in the middle.

The big decisions for Arsene Wenger is whether to recall Wojceich Szczesny and Thomas Vermaelen after dropping the duo in midweek. Personally, I think Lukasz Fabianski and Laurent Koscielny did well enough to keep their places and I hope the boss agrees.

Swansea are sweating on the fitness of midfielder Leon Britton after he picked up a hip injury against West Brom last weekend. However, he’s making good progress and is expected to feature while Luke Moore is also likely to shake off a calf problem.

Manager Laudrup will continue to be without Chico Flores and Kemy Agustien who are out injured, while Neil Taylor is closing in on a comeback from an ankle injury after playing for the under-21’s on Thursday.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

Swansea have won their last three home games and are no doubt a dangerous side on their day, but I hope we take our attitude from Munich into our domestic form and really make a push for the top four. Another defeat this weekend and we could be out of it. Chelsea and Tottenham play home games with West Ham and Fulham respectively on Sunday so will be odds on to claim three points and we need to keep pace. I’m backing the boys to do it. Swansea 1-2 Arsenal

What would be your starting line-up for the game and whats your score prediction? Get involved in the comments section.