Arsenal host Garry Monk’s Swansea side at the Emirates on tomorrow night as Arsene Wenger’s side look to solidify their pursuit of second place in the Premier League.
Arsenal form
Arsenal have hit a bit of a purple patch with five wins in their last six Premier league games the only blot is the home draw with Chelsea if not for a bad start to this campaign the title race may still be in full flow. By the time they kick off it may be the case that they have more ground to make up on Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City who play QPR this afternoon, the one thing that has been telling in recent weeks is the level of belief and desire within the Arsenal squad and they will be looking to keep up the momentum.
Swansea form
Not many gave Garry Monk’s Swansea a prayer this season and he has proved a lot of people wrong, Swansea have been a joy to watch they play the game how it was intended and have been a threat for large parts of the season. Going by recent form Swansea are the fourth best in the league winning four out of their last six league games and will be a team not to be taken lightly at the Emirates. They currently sit eighth in the league table and still have the possibility of european qualification to play for.
Team News
Arsenal
Aaron Ramsey is doubtful for Arsenal due to the ankle injury he picked up in the 3-1 victory at Hull City and will be assessed before kick off.
Wenger has Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott all back and apparently match fit which is a huge boost but with very little need to make many changes expect maybe Wilshere in for Ramsey. Arsenal have been unchanged for four games in a row.
Injuries
Arteta (ankle), Debuchy (hamstring), Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin), Welbeck (knee)
Probable Team
Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ozil, Wilshere, Sanchez, Giroud
Subs
Szczesny, Chambers, Gabriel, Gibbs, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott
Swansea
Marvin Emnes is expected to keep his place with Bafetimbi Gomis still sidelined with his hamstring injury.
Injuries
Carroll (ankle), Routledge (ankle), Amat (foot), Oliviera (ankle), Naughton (ankle).
Probable Team
Fabianski, Rangel, Williams, Fernandez, Taylor, Cork, Shelvey, Dyer, Sigurdsson, Montero, Emnes
Subs
Tremmel, Ki, Britton, Bartley, Tiendalli, Barrow, Fulton
Past Meetings
In this fixture last season it ended 2-2 with Arsenal just stoppage time away from taking all three points to be denied by a Mathieu Flamini own goal at the final whistle.
It is about as even as you can get between the two sides in previous encounters in the Premier League. There have been three played at the Emirates with one win a piece and a draw last season.
Prediction
All previous indications point to a very close game indeed but you would have to go with Arsenal to just do enough to take all three points, they are in form and have home advantage. Arsenal are unbeaten in their previous 10 home games winning nine of them.
Arsenal 3-1 Swansea
