After Arsenal’s biggest win in a losing cause this season, a fatigued
and injured team travels to the dreaded Liberty Stadium. The Welsh side has
been more than exemplary this season notching up impressive wins against Arsenal,
Chelsea and Newcastle. Though affairs against Swansea tend to be low scoring,
the extremely levered structure of their team always makes for smart football. Arsenal
should take some pride in their effort at Allianz stadium where they are the
first visiting team this season to record a victory. With some renewed confidence
in their tired legs, hope spring gushes an evening of fantastic football.
Arsenal played a perceivably weakened side against the
mighty Germans and everyone could see they played their hearts out. With the Arsenal
captain, the starting keeper, “England’s savior” (as quoted by a few) and the
ever injured yet talented Frenchman watching the game from afar, questions have
been risen about the worth of the stars on the roster. Gibbs and Jenkinson were
solid in defense, though Gibbs will again be missing against Swansea. Jenkinson
will be eager to fill in Sagna’s able shoes, especially after the harrowing 20
seconds of defending against Michu last year. The offense came under some flak
against BM in their inability to string enough attacking moves during the
middle of the game as the Munich midfield were successful in breaking Giroud
and co’s rhythm in the final third. No one knows this secret better than
Swansea and I’m betting they will fancy their chances in a midfield sans
Wilshire and Diaby.
Swansea on the other hand has been in a slight rollercoaster.
West Ham loss, QPR win, Liverpool loss (Thrashing), Bradford win (another
trashing), Newcastle win and most recently a WBA loss. Looking at Swansea’s
form, no one can guess which Swansea will turn up. Leon Britton is set to
return from a thigh injury and he should bring some solidarity to the midfield
which was found lacking at WBA. Swansea was uncharacteristically tame last game
with just 2 shots on goal while keeping 56% of the possession. Michu’s creative
prowess has also taken a bit of a slump with a number of missed chances.
However, Luke Moore has stepped up and scored in the last two games.
Both sides are bringing their inconsistent form into this
game. To attempt to predict the result would be the epitome of foolishness. In
such cases, the safer bet is to place the W in the home side’s column. Keeping
in mind that the Arsenal side would be tired, and will find it hard to field
fresh 11 players of quality, I’d give Swansea the edge to pull off a 2-1.
Though, giving ol Arsene’s tactics some credit, one could conceive a Munich-sqe
defensive performance and a keeper to be on 10 redbulls to stop anything the
Mr. slick guzman or the smart moving offensive line up can muster.
My final
prediction:
60% Swansea 2 – 1 Arsenal
40% Swansea 1 – 1 Arsenal
And now to 8.30, for the first of the ten cup finals for
Arsenal.
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