Planet Swans ArchivesIt doesn’t get any easier for the Swans at the Liberty with the visit of the Gunners coming on the back of Manchester United and Liverpool but with the draw with Liverpool sandwiched in the league between back to back away wins confidence will be high at the Liberty with a feeling that they can get something out of the game.
And some of that confidence will be gained from six meetings with Arsenal since promotion that have yielded two Swans wins and a draw as the two sides most renowned for their football style at this level once again go head to head in what should be a cracking game of football.
Arsenal looked as if they were in for a tough ride when they were defeated at home by Aston Villa on the opening day of the season but since then it has been four successive league wins and three in the Champions League although they did need penalties to get past West Brom in the Capital One Cup in midweek.
They have also won seven successive away games in the Premier League since losing at Spurs in March and that run ironically started here in Swansea with a 2-0 win that kick started their run at the end of the season that eventually saw them take their place in the Champions League for this season.
The Swans though – midweek defeat at Birmingham apart – are in good form and can already boast a good start to the season and if they can take anything out of tonight’s game it will be our best ever start to a Premier League season which, given the difficulty of the opening fixture list, will be some achievement for Michael Laudrup’s side.
Sadly though Ashley Williams again looks doubtful for the clash thanks to his ankle injury so once again we have Jordi Amat on standby should the captain not be passed fit. Pablo Hernandez remains sidelined through his injury so it looks like a straight fight between Nathan Dyer and Pozuelo for the place on the right in the team this time around. I think we will see Jose Canas in alongside Leon Britton in the midfield but, even as I type, that seems harsh on Jonjo Shelvey as well.
Our visitors have injury worries of their own with Santi Cazorla, Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo and Theo Walcott definitely out and Ramsey and Flamini facing late fitness tests.
For those unable to make the Liberty, the game will kick off at 5.30pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
