Arsenal
have Keiran Gibbs and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain available after the
controversial red card shown to the former for the latter’s handball
during the 6-0 loss to Chelsea was overturned on appeal. They will be without defender Laurent Koscielny
because of a calf problem. Captain Thomas Vermaelen is likely to play
at centre-half alongside Per Mertesacker, while 19-year-old Spaniard
Hector Bellerin, who was on loan at Watford, has been drafted into the
squad as cover.
Swansea head coach Garry Monk has reported no fresh injury concerns following his side's 3-2 defeat at Everton. Given the quick turnaround in fixtures, Monk might opt to start fit-again Spanish striker Michu, who scored twice when Swansea
won 2-0 in north London 15 months ago. Michu, who was sidelined for
three months due to an ankle injury, has featured as a substitute in
Swansea's last two games against West Brom and Everton.
MANAGER QUOTES
Arsene Wenger: "We are intelligent enough and care enough about the club to, of course, be disappointed with our performance (in the 6-0 defeat to Chelsea). I believe Man City was different, (but) Liverpool, yes. The common thing was that it was a 12.45 game and twice we were caught at the start of the game. We think about that and at the moment there is no rational explanation other than the quality of our opponents and that we were caught at the start of the game. Why? We don't really know."
Garry Monk: "We are expecting a reaction from them. That's the message to my boys. We will try to go up there with the right attitude and put on the right performance to come away with something. You can never see that sort of result coming, but obviously circumstances and stuff dictated the final scoreline. In terms of that game, I don't think you can really delve too far into it because of the circumstances that happened. The sending off changed that game, but Chelsea are a very good team. It was two powerhouses in this league, but Chelsea had the upper hand on the day. It is a horrible feeling whenever you lose a game, but to lose by such a wide margin is always hard to take. But the good thing in football is you get a chance very soon to try to put it right. That's what we have to be aware of and make sure we try to counter it."
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| Carzola |
MANAGER QUOTES
Arsene Wenger: "We are intelligent enough and care enough about the club to, of course, be disappointed with our performance (in the 6-0 defeat to Chelsea). I believe Man City was different, (but) Liverpool, yes. The common thing was that it was a 12.45 game and twice we were caught at the start of the game. We think about that and at the moment there is no rational explanation other than the quality of our opponents and that we were caught at the start of the game. Why? We don't really know."
Garry Monk: "We are expecting a reaction from them. That's the message to my boys. We will try to go up there with the right attitude and put on the right performance to come away with something. You can never see that sort of result coming, but obviously circumstances and stuff dictated the final scoreline. In terms of that game, I don't think you can really delve too far into it because of the circumstances that happened. The sending off changed that game, but Chelsea are a very good team. It was two powerhouses in this league, but Chelsea had the upper hand on the day. It is a horrible feeling whenever you lose a game, but to lose by such a wide margin is always hard to take. But the good thing in football is you get a chance very soon to try to put it right. That's what we have to be aware of and make sure we try to counter it."
