Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: Opposition Spotlight – Swansea City

By Henry Payne

Jul 28, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger speaks during a press conference after the MLS All-Star game between the MLS All-Star Team and Arsenal at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger speaks during a press conference after the MLS All-Star game between the MLS All-Star Team and Arsenal at Avaya Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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Swansea City are in the midst of a dogged relegation battle and they travel to face Arsenal this weekend to take Arsene Wenger and his men.

In the first meeting between the two sides back in October, Bob Bradley made his Swansea managerial debut as he watched his side succumb to a 3-2 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. When Arsenal travel to the Liberty Stadium this Saturday, Paul Clement will be in the dugout for the Swans, after he was confirmed as their third boss of the season. The question for Swansea fans is, can he guide them to Premier League safety?

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Clement watched his side gain a dramatic 2-1 win away against Crystal Palace to move off the bottom of the table, and I don’t foresee him making any personnel changes from that victory.

There are names in the Swansea squad that Gooners will be familiar with. Former Gunner goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has been magnificent since his departure from North London, Swansea are not worthy of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente has been heavily linked with Arsenal in the past but nothing has ever materialised.

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In front of the spectacular Fabianski, the Swansea defence has come under intense scrutiny this season. They never properly replaced club legend and leader Ashley Williams and are now paying a heavy price. Alfie Mawson has shown plenty of promise since his arrival from Barnsley and it is likely that he will start alongside Federico Fernandez in defence. At full-back, Kyle Naughton and Neil Taylor have both had shaky moments this season, and I believe Arsenal will have a lot of success down the flanks.

The electrifying Jefferson Montero will miss out through injury, so Wayne Routledge and Gylfi Sigurdsson are likely to start out wide for Swansea, as their defensive workrates are superior to those of Modou Barrow and Nathan Dyer.

Gylfi Sigurdsson is wasted out wide, but his desire and work rate are off the charts.

Jay Fulton has been thrust into the starting eleven this season and has grown into a dependable starter alongside Jack Cork and Ki Sung-Yueng. Fernando Llorente is likely to lead the line, despite rumors swirling around that he may be on his way to current league leaders Chelsea.

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Since Swansea were promoted to the Premier League in 2011, they have been relatively successful against the Gunners, however, I don’t see them pulling a result out the bag here. I can only see one winner. Despite the arrival of Clement supposedly boosting the confidence of the squad, Swansea are defensively frail and are coming up against a potent, title-challenging team. Expect a comprehensive Arsenal victory on Saturday.