Swansea City v Arsenal Sunday January 15th 2012

After an amazing cup tie and a full week off it’s time to return to the real business of Premiership football with a visit to The Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea.

Swansea Town was founded in 1912 and changed it’s name to Swansea City in recognition of the town being granted City status in 1969. Since 2005 they have played their home games at the Liberty Stadium which has an all seater capacity of 20,532.

Swansea have never won the either the old Football League title or The Premiership. Their highest finish in the top division came in the 1981/82 season when, after briefly heading the league they finished sixth.

The Swan’s most notable player is arguably Bob Latchford, who scored a hat-trick on his debut for them in 1981. Former Gunner Ray Kennedy played forty two games for them in 1982, scoring four goals.
Frank Lampard had a loan spell at Swansea, after signing professional forms at West Ham in 1995, scoring once in nine Second Division Games.

Currently managed by former Northern Ireland International Brendan Rodgers Swansea are in twelfth place, their home record of, won 4, drawn 5, lost 1 is not to be sneezed at. They have also only conceded four goals, a stat. that they share with table toppers Man. City.

Much has been written (too much?) about Arsenal’s injury situation so picking a starting eleven actually gets easier as there are less players to choose from.

In goal there is no question that Szczesny must start, even in the FA Cup Almounia got no farther than the bench.

With Djourou available, after suspension, he should return to the right back position alongside Meretesacker, who should be fit after a bout of sickness, Koscielny and Ignasi Miquel.

I expect Song and Arteta to play in front of the back four with Walcott, Ramsey and Arshavin behind the lone striker Robin van Persie.

Personally I would like to see Henry start, in place of Arshavin, though I’m pretty sure that Le Profeseur will restrict him to maybe the last half hour as a replacement for the Russian.

Szczesny

Djourou Meretesacker Koscielny Miquel

Song Arteta

Walcott Ramsey Arshavin

Van Persie

Despite the horrendous list of injuries that is not a bad line-up and with subs of the calibre of Henry and Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench will, hopefully, be strong enough to overcome Swansea City.

Final Thought

Arsenal are 100% in all competitions this season when Thierry Henry plays.



Dewch ar eich wiwer goch
(Come on you reds)

John in Norfolk