Both ourselves and Arsenal have been lauded for our styles of play with each team gaining a higher echelon of respect by being compared to Barcelona's style of Tiki Taka style of play and Saturday will see the teams face each other for the first time in over 18 years.
The timing of the fixture could either lead us to be rabbits in the headlights or it could be a blessing in disguise. On one hand Arsenal will be wanting to prove the critics wrong after their humiliating 8-2 defeat to Manchester United and that backlash could be at our expense, but for every cloud there is a silver lining.
The transfer window saw Arsenal strengthen their squad with no less than four players on deadline day, with two of those signings forming a revised defence for the Gunners.Presumably the back four will look something like Andre Santos, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna. There is certainly a lot of experience in that line up but they lack experience of playing together. Of course, this theory is certainly clutching straws, but introducing many new players at once always carries this risk.
Asides from defence there may also end up being wholesale changes across the pitch. Mikel Arteta should certainly be favoured to take a role in the centre of midfield, most likely alongside Aaron Ramsey and Emmanuel Frimpong. Up front I would be highly surprised if Andrey Arshavin retains his place in the squad after an extremely disinterested performance against Manchester United. I would expect the Arsenal front 3 to include Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and either one of deadline day signing Yossi Benayoun or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Wenger may see a "weaker" team like ourselves perfect to blood Chamberlain - it'll be up to us to prove him wrong.
But enough about the opposition. The Swans are still looking for their first goal in their Premier League tenure and to suggest it will come away, against one of the top 4 is a little far-fetched but there could be method to this madness.
As I mentioned earlier, with 50% of the back four likely to be making their debuts in English football, there is always the potential of a defensive mix up, but there are also aspects of their defence that have their weaknesses.
Sagna and Santos are very favourable of bombing down the wing to join the attack, if we were to launch a counter attack at that moment then our pace in Sinclair, Dyer and Routledge would be invaluable. Also on the subject of pace, it is well noted that Mertesacker struggles in this department. Combine this with Arsenal's high defensive line and there is another area we can exploit.
In regards to the starting line-up, we all know that Vorm will be between the sticks but with the Situ and Halliche deals still in limbo the back four almost choose themselves - Taylor, Caulker, Williams and Rangel. Steven Caulker will no doubt be fired up for the game considering he's on loan from Arsenal's North London rivals.
In midfield, Mark Gower has stated his desire to start in the centre but the physical presence of Kemy Agustien and Leon Britton's determined yet elusive style will probably the most effective weapons in the centre.
Up front our ever dependent wingers should be ready for the challenge at the Emirates but it is in the centre where there could be some rotation. Stephen Dobbie is yet to have made a big impression on the Premier League but one thing Dobbie does provide however is are effective shots on goal and with the goals not flowing as well as we'd prefer, Brendan may give him a shot. On the flip side you have Wayne Routledge, a player who will provide a lot of pace, which as mentioned earlier could be our main weapon. Lastly, Danny Graham shouldn't have to start worrying about his place in the starting XI quite yet. He scuppered some very good chances at the Sunderland match but he is getting in the right positions and I have total faith he'll get his reward.
So what should we expect from the match? My heart says we can sneak a point but my head says as long as we don't lose by too much of a margin, as we did with City, then it'll be a good performance. If we can grab a goal however it could be the kick start we need for the inevitable survival!
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