Swansea City vs Arsenal 3/16/2013

Swansea City are one of the success stories of the last decade in the Premier League. The Welsh outfit were on the verge of falling out of the Football League all together, but with the vision of Hugh Jenkins, the Jacks have slowly become a team to admire.

Their insistence on playing football you used to relate to their opponents on Saturday, Arsenal, is quite staggering when you consider the resources available. They currently sit 9th in the Premier League, and won the League Cup this season, destroying fairytale Bradford City 5-0 at Wembley only a few weeks back.

Swansea City are currently in their centenary season, and are enjoying life under Michael Laudrup, as the great Dane continues to improve a club which has got better under single manager since Roberto Martinez first employed the passing tactics at The Liberty Stadium, The Swans have won four of their last ten matches, drawing two as well, so are in a decent run of form. They lost their match away at the seasons other surprise package, West Bromwich Albion, 2-1 at the Hawthorns. The Swans are happy to be at home; having won their last three home games, but this form is mirrored by losing their last three games, including a 5-0 killing by Liverpool at Anfield.

The Swans are the 9th highest goalscoring club in the league, scoring an average of 1.38 goals. They are the 6th best team defensively too, conceding 1.24 in a game, with a Goal Difference of +4. Key men for the Swans include goalscoring sensation Michu, who has 15 Premier League goals, and is one of the key performers in the league, along with pacey winger Nathan Dyer – who scored a brace at Wembley – and also Leon Britton, the ‘Xavi of Wales’.

The Gunners, on the other hand, have had a mixed time recently. They won 2-0 in Germany on Wednesday night against Bavarian juggernaughts Bayern Munich – one of the favourites for this year’s European Cup – but the 1-3 loss at the Emirates pegged them out on away goals.

Out of all the trophies, and currently 5 points behind Champions League qualification, the Gunners face a fight on their hands from Merseyside clubs Everton and Liverpool – as well as rivals Chelsea and Tottenham – to finish in the coveted Top Four, where they have finished every season under Arsene Wenger.

Arsenals are the 4th highest scorers in the league, with an average of 1.89 goals a game, and are also the 4th best defence in the league, conceding 1.14 goals a game. The clubs top goalscorer is Theo Walcott, who has scored 18 goals this season.

The club are in decent form, winning 6 of their last 10. They lost their league game, away at rivals Tottenham 2-1, and are in serious need for points against Swansea, who are content with a successful season.

Swansea City vs Arsenal Prediction

Who to win? I am tipping the Gunners to win, following their big win on Wednesday. Swansea have had a great year, but they look capable of running out of gas following their League Cup win, and their qualification for Europe in doing so. Away win, despite Arsenals troubles.

Free English Premier League Pick: Arsenal