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.
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Teeve stephen tyolumun
March 15, 2013 at 7:49 pm
My team 2morow,in goal,fab should keep his place,the back 4 should remain except 4 Gibbs-monreal,in d midfield,Ramsey,arteta n tomas,attack-ox,gervinho n theo.carzola need a rest.my predictn 2 nil 4 arsenal
lukeemmanuel
March 15, 2013 at 8:11 pm
I fully agreed with that lineup and the formation. I go for three-one. No redcard, no injury.
temmy
March 15, 2013 at 8:47 pm
D formatn iz quite aiit
temmy
March 15, 2013 at 8:48 pm
3 0 arsenal winning
alagba
March 15, 2013 at 9:17 pm
szcsecenyshould back in the team nacho real per mater lorent kose arteta rosicky carzorlar alex/ox oliver gi gervinho
suleiman
March 15, 2013 at 9:40 pm
The attacks should be ox chambo,gervinho nd theo.
Ahmed oniwonlu
March 15, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Szecny,per marte,jekinson(sagna must not play for us again),kosc,monreal,arteta,carzola,diaby,ox,giroud,gervias. Subs;fabianski,ramsey,rosiski,coquellin,vermael,eisfield,walcot
Adedigba olusola shollex
March 15, 2013 at 10:43 pm
I dont even known whats realy happen to you all arsenal fans like me,why do u prefer diaby agaist rosicky?pls mr wenger if u want my prayer never use diaby at all,its only diaby i dont want to see tommorow on our stating lineups.
Goonerboyo
March 15, 2013 at 11:22 pm
Well boys while you are there and regardless of the result because hope we don’t qualify for the CL in order to rescue the club, here are some suggestions.
Surf on Rhosili beach ( voted best inUk 2013)
Climb the Black Mountain
Visit Carreg Cennen Castle, the most dramatic in Wales
Eat Welsh lamb from Swansea market, the finest in the world
Get your haircut at Pete’s Brynhyfryd
Enjoy the outstanding hospitality with its warm welcome guaranteed.
Goonerboyo
March 15, 2013 at 11:24 pm
And of course enjoy the game regardless of the result
T2T
March 15, 2013 at 11:31 pm
Fabianski
Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal
Arteta, Diaby
Cazorla
Walcott, Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Subs: Szczesny, Coquelin, Rosicky, Vermaelen, Ramsey, Gervinho, Arshavin
Gunner land
March 16, 2013 at 1:21 am
Fab, jeko, kos, mer, mon, arteta , coq, carzola, ox, theo, giroud. Only changes from the team that played against bayern are ramsey and rosisky . Wenger has under used coq. the boy is really a good player and his versatality is exciting.
taiwo arsenal
March 16, 2013 at 4:12 am
people should forget about the line up probably used by wenger & whoever used are arsenal players then most important things is to convert their chances to winning .up gunners! From taiwo arsena.