On Saturday evening, the Liberty Stadium will play host to two teams honed with some of the most attractive styles of football in the Premier League. With momentum, Arsenal travel to South Wales to take on Swansea City, who they faced on four occasions last season, with the Gunners winning two of these affairs in the League & in the F.A. Cup, respectively.
After one side advanced to the next round of the Capital One Cup, the other crashed out in surprise fashion in midweek. It took Arsenal, featuring various young faces, one hundred and twenty minutes plus a dramatic penalty shoot-out to knock West Bromwich Albion out at the Hawthorns, whilst League Cup holders Swansea were, against the odds, defeated by Championship outfit Birmingham City 3-1, looking unrecognisable to how they looked at Wembley just seven months ago.
Swansea’s start to the campaign has been somewhat inconsistent. Michael Laudrup’s boys saw off Malmö in a two leg Europa League qualifier, before losing three of their next four games and then going on to subsequently win three of their last five. Notable performances came against Valencia, at the Mestalla, where they won 3-0 in the Europa League and against Liverpool, at the Liberty, where they managed to nick a point from one of the most in-form teams in the league.
Arsenal come into this fixture expecting another positive performance. Wednesday’s win against West Brom marked their eleventh consecutive away victory and last season, Arsène Wenger’s side picked up three points in Swansea’s back yard. So far this season, the thirteen time champions of England have won all eight of their matches since suffering a painful home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
If the hosts are to enjoy any success they will need their number nine, Michu, to bring his shooting boots. Last season, the ex-Rayo Vallecano player scored twenty two goals in forty three appearances, including a late brace to defeat Arsenal at the Emirates, and hasn’t suffered from ‘second season syndrome’, scoring five goals in ten appearances this season. Wilfried Bony has already paid back some of his £12m transfer fee since joining from Vitesse Arnhem in the summer. Making seven appearances in all competitions, the Ivorian international has scored four, averaging more than a goal every two games. Up against Per Mertesacker & Laurent Koscielny, the 24 year old will have his work cut out, but won’t leave himself isolated. Departing Anfield for pastures new, ex-Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has made quite the impression since joining Swansea for £5m in the summer. Playing well in all of his first few appearances, the 21 year old endured a rather bittersweet night against his former club as he scored his first goal and made an assist, however played an integral part in both of Liverpool’s goals, leaving Shelvey with egg on his face, so to speak. Against a team playing in similar fashion to the style that he is accustomed to with Swansea, expect a fluid and productive performance from the East Londoner.
Never has one acquisition had such a large effect on team and fan morale at Arsenal than Mesut Özil’s arrival from Real Madrid. Swapping the Santiago Bernabéu for Emirates Stadium for a club record fee of £42.5m, the German International has a lot of hype to live up to. In his first two Premier League games, he has done just that, making one assist to help break the deadlock at Sunderland and three assists to see off Stoke City. It’s evident that his creativity knows no limits as the former Werder Bremen attacking midfielder has already created more goals than any other player so far this season. Someone who will particularly benefit from Özil’s many talents is Olivier Giroud. In his second season with Arsenal, the Frenchman has been, arguably, one of the most lethal strikers in the country, scoring five in seven appearances, sitting in joint-first on the domestic goalscoring table with Christian Benteke & Daniel Sturridge on four, respectively. Using Giroud as the focal point of the attack does seem like a successful game plan for Arsène Wenger. Returning to his home country, Aaron Ramsey will be feeling pretty good about himself as he is now one of Arsenal’s most important players, playing in truly scintillating form recently. It’s been remarkable how the 22 year old has vindicated the faith shown by his manager and the club since horrifically breaking his leg in 2010 and his performances this campaign are as good a barometer to see his development. With the invaluable addition of goals to his game, Ramsey has scored seven in eight this season, so it’ll be very interesting so see how prolific he will be as the season progresses.
Michael Laudrup will almost have a full squad at his disposal on Saturday evening. Ashley Williams & Pablo Hernández are questionable, but are the only doubts. Arsène Wenger, however, does not possess the same luxury as he is missing eight first team players: Tomáš Rosický (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Abou Diaby (knee), Theo Walcott (abdominal), Santi Cazorla (ankle), Yaya Sanogo (back) & Gedion Zelalem (undisclosed). Mikel Arteta, who was substituted at West Brom due to what looked to be an injury, is fit to play.
“I am looking forward to a very exciting game [tomorrow]. It’s great what Arsenal have done so far this season. We need to take our chances more often – we saw that in the cup in midweek and we were made to pay for that. The strongest part of Arsenal’s team is midfield, especially with Santi Cazorla & Jack Wilshere. Now, with Mesut Özil, they are a very strong side.” – Michael Laudrup
“I thought of course the season is long but as you have seen everybody at some stage or another has had a bad result and that allowed us to bounce back. But as well the group has shown mentally a positive response, what I didn’t worry about. But I thought some teams could have a perfect start. Swansea can play with two strikers because Michu’s the kind of striker who is a midfielder as well. He can play both positions, that’s why they are 4-4-1-1 or you can call that a 4-4-2 when Wilfried Bony plays. I see Michu like a little bit, position-wise, like a Bergkamp, more than an up-front striker.” – Arsène Wenger
Betting Tips
Fancy yourself as a betting man, or woman for that matter? If so, here are a few tips that might interest you:
1. Michu has scored five goals in all competitions so far and is Swansea’s top goalscorer. The Spaniard scored a brace against Arsenal last season and is 9/4 to score at anytime at the Liberty Stadium. Will he give Arsène Wenger another headache? BET ON THIS MARKET
2. Arsenal’s eleven game winning streak on the road has come under threat in recent weeks. Will the Swans be able to break their record and prevent the Gunners from gaining maximum points? BET ON THIS MARKET
3. Despite his influence on the creative scheme of things, Mesut Özil is yet to score for Arsenal. Think about the momentum it would give the team if he were to break the deadlock. He’s 19/2 to do so. BET ON THIS MARKET
4. Aaron Ramsey has been one of Arsenal’s most influential players this season, causing problems for the opposition in all areas of the pitch. The midfield metronome is 9/1 to win the man of the match award. BET ON THIS MARKET
5. With the likes of Wilfired Bony, Michu, Olivier Giroud & Aaron Ramsey featuring, it’s difficult to foresee both teams not scoring a goal. When one team scores, the other are likely to reply almost instantaneously and with odds of 13/20, you’ll be unlucky to lose money with this bet. BET ON THIS MARKET
