Arsenal clearly have some scores to settle with Swansea
For the second week in a row, we wait until Monday to do battle. With the EPL title in Chelsea’s hands, we turn our attention to finishing second, which would be our best finish since 2004/05 when we again finished behind Chelsea. Repeating that season, in which we also won the FA Cup, would position us as legitimate challengers to the Chelsea-Man City hegemony of the last few seasons. First, though, we have to fight our way past Swansea.

In any other year, a team in Swansea’s position might be counted on to start mailing it in. Sitting in eighth place, it would take an epic series of results to close the eight-point gap between them and Liverpool to finish fifth. However, Chelsea’s Europa League spot, earned by winning the League Cup, will go to the sixth-place finishers, and that brings us to the paradox.

Should Arsenal win the FA Cup, this would earn us a Europa League spot – but this would go to the seventh place finishers. While that’s currently Southampton, Swansea are within a stone’s throw of them – just four points. Will this give Garry Monk’s outfit any further motivation?



Swansea do look a bit brighter than those above them; Southampton, Tottenham, and Liverpool have each staggered and stumbled enough to inspire the Swans to dream. This weekend already, Southampton and Tottenham have lost in ignominious fashion, and this opens the door for Swansea to move to within a point of the Saints and two of Spurs. If those circumstances aren’t enough, it’s worth remembering that this squad did kick us when we were down early in the season, winning 2-1 in November.

While they might lack the fight or verve they showed, we shouldn’t underestimate them. Their 4-2-3-1, with old friend Lukasz Fabianski between the sticks, has been strong enough to earn them some vital wins over bigger clubs. I, for one, am always a bit nervous when I see Ki Sung-Yueng; the Korean midfielder seems to have a knack for finding a stunning goal. The former Spur has been pulling strings for the Swans, notching 10 assists on the season.