With the 3-3 draw against Anderlecht in the Champions League taking off the sheen of what has been a couple of good weeks at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger’s men will try to get things back on track with a win over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. With the international break coming after this match, Arsenal fans will be desperate for a win to go into the interlull with a sense of positivism. Arsene Wenger has already ruled out Mikel Arteta, who is another addition to Arsenal’s already huge injury list. However one good news is that Jack Wilshere is fit to play. Here at Soccersouls, we predict the Arsenal lineup that will face Swansea City.
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczesny
No surprise for this one. With David Ospina, the second choice goalie not set to be fit before the Manchester United match at the very least, the Pole Wojciech Szczesny is the default choice for Arsenal at the moment. Szczesny knows that he has to pick up the level of his performances and that is exactly what he will be hoping to do against Swansea City.
Defence: Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Kieran Gibbs
With Laurent Koscielny still not fit (Arsene Wenger has ruled out the Frenchman until atleast the match against Manchester United after the international break) Arsene Wenger will have to trust the same back four that lined up against Anderlecht. Although some improvements were noticed in the wins over Sunderland and Burnley where Arsenal managed consecutive clean sheets, all the sheen was rubbed off in the 3-3 draw with Anderlecht on Tuesday. It will be Per Mertesacker lining up at the centre of the defence with Nacho Monreal once again as Monreal will look to do his best in an unfamiliar role once again. Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs will line up on the right and left hand side of the Arsenal defence respectively.
Midfield: Mathieu Flamini, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez
With Mikel Arteta joining Arsenal’s ever growing injury list there can be no prize for guessing that Mathieu Flamini will be taking his place in the midfield as the enforcer. Jack Wilshere is back from his injury and will start with the Welshman Aaron Ramsey. Santi Cazorla will probably be given the day off given the form he is in which means that the impressive Alex Oxlade Chamberlain will get to show his skills from the right once more. Alexis Sanchez will thus have to start from the left but as he has shown countless times this season, the playing position hardly matters for the Chilean.
Forward: Danny Welbeck
With Olivier Giroud being miles ahead on his schedule back from injury, Danny Welbeck knows that he has his task cut out for him.