Arsenal will be the hosts for Swansea’s first
Premier League game of the Bob Bradley era with the visitors looking to once more prove themselves to be the Gunners bête noire.
Only one of the last five meetings between these two sides has gone the way of Arsene Wenger and the Welsh side have developed an infuriating tendency (for Arsenal fans at least) to burst their opponent’s bubble at the most inopportune of moments.
Last March’s 2-1 win at the Emirates, when a mutinous home crowd turned on their players at half-time, effectively ended Arsenal’s title bid whilst drawing Swansea clear of the relegation mire. This season’s first meeting comes too soon to have such ramifications but it could also set the tone for both side’s league campaigns.
Continuing their five match Premier League winning run by overcoming their customary banana skin would offer credence to Wenger’s belief in the maturity of his current squad. For Swansea another victory over Arsenal might just remind supporters that some things can still remain the same in the era of American ownership.


•TEAM NEWS
Francis Coquelin and Lucas Perez missed Arsenal’s last match, an unconvincing 1-0 win at Burnley, but are expected to be available for Wenger by Saturday, though it seems likely that the striker will be confined to the bench. His fellow forward Olivier Giroud is still out with a big toe injury.
Coquelin may start though to do so Wenger would have to break up the burgeoning partnership between Granit Xhaka and Santi Cazorla, a decision that would doubtless prove contentious among supporters.
Aaron Ramsey’s ongoing recovery from a hamstring injury seems to be a slow one and he is expected to miss Saturday’s match with Arsenal facing a fixture list that requires them to negotiate eight matches in 22 days.
Arsenal appear to have made it through the international break without additional injuries despite rumours of knocks to Hector Bellerin and Mesut Ozil.
Swansea’s most pressing fitness doubts relate to Fernando Llorente (rib), Jefferson Montero (ankle), whilst Nathan Dyer is definitely out. Federico Fernandez appears to have shaken off a groin injury and should start.


•POSSIBLE LINE UP
Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Cazorla; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez
Swansea: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Amat, Taylor; Britton, Fer; Barrow, Sigurdsson, Routledge; Baston


•HEAD TO HEAD
Arsenal wins 2
Swansea wins 4
Draws 1


•PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-0 Swansea

all I gat to say z dah no 1 wud b using dea hand to score a 93rd min goal