Swansea captain Ashley Williams is a big doubt ahead of Swansea City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium. Join us for live scores and updates from 2.30am AEST.
The Welsh defender, rumoured to be on a list of players Arsenal had decided against bidding for over the summer has an ankle injury.
Manager Michael Laudrup estimated he has less than a 50/50 chance of playing, with Jordi Amat on standby to fill in. Pablo Hernández is out again due to a hamstring injury.
The Red and White team leading the table ahead of their deadly North London rivals give fitness tests to Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini with the German youth Serge Gnabry to be given another rare start on the right.
Theo Walcott has apparently responded well to minor surgery on an abdominal problem, but will still be out for up to five weeks, meaning the Gunners have five first choice widemen currently out injured.
Players definitely out in Arsenal’s now legendary injury list include Czech playmaker Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby.
Arsenal will match their best ever sequence of away league wins in their illustrious 126-year history if they win at the Liberty.
Swansea, keen to build on last year’s impressive season will be tough opposition determined to keep the points in South Wales.
The Swans are unbeaten in three league games even if the current holders were unexpectedly beaten at St Andrews by the 2011 winners of the Capital One Cup in midweek.
After they lost their first two league games of the season they are have now gone three matches unbeaten, together with an astonishing European win at the Mestalla that saw Valencia fans clap the Welshmen off in honour of their performance after their improbable 3-0 win.
However, it could be pointed out that Swansea have also gone seven home games without a win in the Premier League – even if a record Liberty Stadium crowd for the Manchester United game saw a crushing 4-1 home defeat, with the attendance quickly beaten by the visit of Liverpool and an absorbing 2-2 draw that Jonjo Shelvey will never forget.
With a hand in all four goals as well as a booking it was testament to his strength of character that he refused to hide during or after the game.
Yet, you can tell it’s been a good month for The Gunner’s when even ‘Silent Stan’ Kroenke is talking.
Arsenal’s majority shareholder said in one of his intermittent interviews that he was ‘totally aligned’ with Wenger ahead of the 17th anniversary of his first Arsenal game vs Blackburn Rovers away.
Although it could be argued it may have been far more helpful to Wenger if the American had uttered those words on the night of the Villa defeat.
It is amazing to think that six short weeks ago the natives were restless.
If not open rebellion, a defeat against Fenerbache would have seen many fans, pundits and journalists start calling for the Frenchman’s head.
One £42.4 million signing and eight wins on the bounce later all appears to be well in the camp – even if injuries continue to bite into an already thin squad.
It could be said Arsenal have also been lucky with the fixture list too – although early November will tell us far more about the Gunner’s aspirations as they have Liverpool, and United in successive weekends with Everton, Man City and Chelsea to play before Christmas.
But before all that unfolds the game on the Gower peninsula promises to be a match for the footballing purists amongst you, between two teams with positive attacking intent looking for a win.
suleiman
Guest
this is good
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
The Gunner's 2-1 win means Arsenal return to the top of the EPL table. Who indeed could have forecast that a mere six weeks ago? Or for that matter Manchester United making their worst start in 24 years, Southampton lying in fourth place one place above Manchester City, or Hull in seventh? It promises to be an absorbing and unpredictable EPL this year so stay reading The Roar for your up-to-date EPL news and live blogging over the rest of the season. Thanks for reading - feel free to post your thoughts at The Roar or tweet me @laythy29
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
Arsenal go top of the table with their record 11th away win on the trot at the Liberty Stadium. After a cagey first half in which defensive midfielders excelled, as the game opened up in the second half Arsenal's superior passing and movement opened up the Welshmen allowing Serge Gnabry his first senior goal for the club. In form Aaron Ramsey quickly followed up with a well worked second, before the excellent Swansea left back Ben Davies claimed what was ultimately only a consolation for the Swans.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
Final Score Swansea 1 Arsenal 2 That's five wins out of six for the EPL's form team.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
Final Score: Swansea City 1 Arsenal 2. Arsenal go two points clear at the top of the EPL.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 + 4 mins. Full Time. Clattenberg blows the final whistle. Arsenal win 2-1!
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 + 4 mins Not long to go now. Arsenal still lead 2-1.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 + 4 mins Swansea loft a free-kick wide on the left towards the far post, as the home crowd screams support. Szczesny to the relief of Arsenal fans everywhere grabs the ball.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 + 3 mins Arteta booked for a kick. Arsenal trying to slow the game down.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 + 1 Jenkinson comes on for Wilshere
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Roar Guru
90 mins 1-2 Four mins added time
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
88 mins The ball nearly falls for Michu but Flamini clears. Agonising for both sets of fans.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
88 mins Huge Swansea pressure - can Arsenal hold on and go top of the table?!
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
87 mins Monreal on for Ozil
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Roar Guru
Canas also booked on 84 mins
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
86 mins Sagna's poor clearance actually hits Mathieu Flamini's hand in the Arsenal penalty area. The crowd appeals for a penalty, but Clattenberg says no. Flamini looks relieved as does Wenger.
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Roar Guru
Flores also goes into the book on 84 mins
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
de Guzman receives a yellow for a hard challenge on 80 mins
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
Arteta on for Gnabry 78 mins
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
82 mins 1-2 Davies the Swansea left-back did exceptionally well for his goal. He picked up a pass deep in Arsenal territory, shaping to cross, but changing his mind, he came inside before running across the penalty area. He then played the ball to Wilfried Bony, but carried on running before receiving the return ball over the Gunner's defence and firing into the net. Great goal.