Swansea v Arsenal: Game Preview, Team News, Predicted Lineups

It's back to Premier League action this weekend after the FA Cup games of last week. Arsenal face a trip to play Swansea City at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, and it won't be an easy task for them. Arsenal dropped some very important points from winning positions over the festive period, and they need to get all three points to stay in touch with the race for fourth place.

Swansea have an impressive home record this season since their promotion last summer, and they will feel they have a real chance of getting a result from this game. They have only lost once at home so far this season in 10 Premier League games, and they have only conceded four goals in those games. That goals against record can only be matched by league leaders Manchester City, and it's one Swansea should be proud of.

In contrast to that, Arsenal have lost five of their 10 away games and conceded 22 goals in the process. No other team in the league has conceded more goals away from home than Arsenal, and that's certainly not a record for them to be proud of. Their early season away form was very poor, and they only took one point from their first four away games.

Since then, they have turned things around, and their away form had been very good until the festive period. The last minute defeat to Fulham was a big blow for Arsenal, and the sending off of Johan Djourou on the night didn't help them. The game against Swansea won't be an easy task, but they have the players capable of getting all three points.

Arsenal's biggest problems at the moment are their lack of fit full-backs and an inability to take their chances. There's very little that can be done about the situation with their full-backs, but hopefully, they can be more lethal in front of goal.

Wojciech Szczesny will keep his place in goal for Arsenal, as he is the best goalkeeper they have despite a couple of mistakes recently. Per Mertesacker is sure to start in central defence, and I think he will probably be accompanied by Laurent Koscielny. That should mean that Ignasi Miquel plays at left-back and Johan Djourou plays at right-back.

Those two are hardly the ideal candidates to fill the full-back roles, but injuries have left Arsene Wenger with little or no choice. Djourou missed the FA Cup game with Leeds United due to suspension, and he was replaced by Francis Coquelin.

Unfortunately for Coquelin, he picked up an injury in that game, and he will be out for a while. However, he did sign a new long-term contract with the club today, and he looks to have a bright future for Arsenal.

In midfield I expect Arsenal to go with the tried and trusted trio of Mikael Arteta, Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey. Until both Jack Wilshere and Abu Diaby return, Arsenal have to hope those three players can remain fit. They struggled in the second half against Fulham, but that was at the end of a hectic festive schedule.

The three of them should have made a full recovery by the time the game comes around on Sunday. Arteta was captain for the game with Leeds, as Thomas Vermaelen was injured and Robin van Persie rested. Song was not at his best in that game, but Ramsey was Arsenal's best player on the night in my opinion.

RVP will return from his break in Dubai to take the captain's armband, and lead the attack as well. He has scored 17 league goals already this season, and his continued fitness is of the utmost importance to Arsenal. The arrival of Thierry Henry might just take a little bit of the goal-scoring pressure off him, though.

Theo Walcott should start on the right side of the attack, and I think Andrey Arshavin will start on the left. Gervinho is playing in the African Cup of Nations for the next five or six weeks, and it gives Arshavin an opportunity to claim a regular place in the team. There is the possibility of Henry starting, but I expect him to be on the bench again.

Arshavin was magnificent when he first joined Arsenal, but over the last couple of years, his form has faded badly. He is often accused of not trying hard enough by the Arsenal fans, but he certainly gave his all against Leeds. He didn't have his best game that night, but he put in an awful lot more than he has done for a while.

The Swansea team is a little easier to predict, as they don't have quite as many injury problems. Michel Vorm has been a revelation in goal for them this season, and he will have to be at his best yet again to stop Arsenal. The rest of the defence should consist of Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Steven Caulker and the oddly-named Angel Rangel.

I expect Swansea to play five players in midfield, and Scott Sinclair and Natahn Dyer are the certainties to start in my opinion. Besides those two, I think Joe Allen and Wayne Routledge will both play with the other place between Mark Gower and Leon Britton. That should leave Danny Graham leading the attack all on his own.

Swansea play a very good brand of football, and every one of their players is comfortable in possession. It's not often that teams have more possession than Arsenal in a game, but it's a distinct possibility in this game. It's what they do with that possession that will be crucial for them.

Despite their excellent defensive record at home, they have struggled to score goals, and they have only managed 12 in their 10 home games so far. Arsenal might be short defensively, but they will still fancy themselves to keep a clean sheet. If they can do that, the three points will be there for the taking as long as they can become the fifth team to score away to Swansea this season.

Arsenal may have conceded a lot of goals away from home, but only Manchester City have scored more than them on their travels so far. If they can re-discover that goal-scoring form in this game, Swansea will have their work cut out.

Arsenal struggled to score against Leeds on Monday night, but the introduction of Henry changed that. They will have the option of bringing him on to play alongside RVP if they need a goal, and that could be too much for Swansea. No team has scored more than one goal away to Swansea, and I think it will be a low scoring game.

In the reverse fixture in early September, Arsenal managed a 1-0 win at home, but Swansea played very well. That was Arsenal's first league win of the season in their fourth game, and they have improved a lot since then. Swansea have improved too, and they have also grown in confidence as the season has progressed.

This game has all the makings of a very tactical one, with both teams enjoying long spells of possession. It might be decided by a defensive error or possibly by a moment of individual brilliance. I'm sure it will be a game for lovers of good football to really enjoy, though.

That's it for today.

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