After such a comfortable 50 minutes at home to Anderlecht on Tuesday night, it was difficult to see how Arsenal could capitulate so easily. The injury to Mikel Arteta had an impact on the Arsenal team, after that they looked lazy, disorganised and rather fatigued. We must credit Anderlecht where it’s due, but to be honest, a team and club of Arsenal’s stature should not be conceding let alone not winning against an Anderlecht side who haven’t won in nine Champions League games. This time last year, Arsenal went to the Liberty Stadium and walked over Swansea quite comfortably in a 2-1 win and at that point Arsenal were flying, with Ramsey bang in form it looked like something special was on the cards for that season. Strangely, we have improved as a whole but we’ve not looked the same. Yes, you can complain about injuries which are a determining factor towards Arsenal’s mediocre start but with players of the calibre of Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sánchez and Danny Welbeck in the side, Arsenal should have commenced the season in much better form than they have. Although, I don’t think there is any problem whatsoever with the attacking force Arsenal possess, the shambles of a defence and protection from the midfield is ultimately what is making the whole team suffer.
SWANSEA
After a bright start, Swansea have hit a rough patch, winning just once in seven prior to today’s game. Wilfried Bony vowed this week to stay at the Swans after being linked to Liverpool and Tottenham in the summer, and Garry Monk has enjoyed the fruitful combination play of Sigurdsson, Dyer and Bony this season epitomised in their last home win against Leicester last month, Despite their recent poor run, the Swans have been defeat just once at home all season-Southampton the only team to visit South Wales and walk away with all three points and confidence is certainly something Swansea don’t lack at the moment. I expect Swansea to cause this shaky Arsenal defence problems, the pace of Dyer, the creativity of Sigurdsson and the awareness and movement of Wilfried Bony will trouble the Gunners.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal welcome back Jack Wilshere who missed the last two games through illness whilst Theo Walcott could start for the first time in ten months. Mikel Arteta has a mild hamstring injury and Mesut Özil and Mathieu Debuchy are both long-term absentees.
Jonjo Shelvey starts his second suspension of the season following a red card at Goodison Park last week whilst Jordi Amat and Dwight Tiendalli are back following respective knee and groin injuries.
PREDICTION
I think Arsenal have had two comfortable games defensively this season, against Aston Villa and Burnley-two sides both in the bottom six of the Premier League. But I think Swansea will cause them problems and Arsène Wenger’s ineptitude to bring in a defensive midfielder and centre-half will cost Arsenal, again. Swansea 1-1 Arsenal.
Alex Burns,
Football Writer
Occasional writer who follows the Arsenal home and away. Dennis is our greatest ever.
I love to watching them play as well, Alex.
This Arsene fc can not defeat the Swansea. Just a fulfillment of epl fixture for wenger and his flops