Arsenal vs Swansea are always intriguing battles. Two teams that love to play football the way it should be played, trying to outdo each other.
Both have had their moments in this tactical and aesthetic battle of a chess match, and with two great minds in Arsene Wenger and Michael Laudrup overseeing their respective teams, this English Premier League encounter at the Liberty stadium on Saturday promises to be another one to watch.
Arsenal have made a bright start to the Premier League this season, with the opening day loss to Aston Villa now well and truly behind them.
The Gunners sit top of the league on 12 points from five matches, but should find themselves pushed down from the summit with Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City playing before them.
It's vital for Arsenal to continue on this run and shot the rest of the league that they are capable of competing for the Premier League title.
"I think if we are in April this time competing for the championship we will be in a much stronger position than the years before," Wenger said.
"This is the first year that we have not only not lost a big player but bought a big player so that's what is new for us.
"Until 2005 we were a team who could compete every year to win the championship. After we moved into the new stadium, it's not a coincidence that suddenly we were bit [lacking]. Even if in some seasons we were close to winning the championship, we couldn't win it.
"Maybe we missed that little bit of experience and quality that makes the difference in April."
Swansea are coming off the back of a disappointing result, where they saw the defence of their Capital One Cup title ended by Championship side Birmingham in a 3-1 defeat.
Laudrup would not have taken to that result too kindly and wants to see his side take every chance that is presented to them on Saturday.
"We have to take our chances," he said. "When you create so many chances -- and that is a major positive -- against huge sides like Liverpool and Valencia, you need to score.
"We have an average of two goals a game (in all competitions), but I think we can do better.
"We need to take our chances more often -- we saw that in the cup in midweek and we were made to pay for that."
Team News: Wenger will welcome back his first team squad after the majority of them were given the night off for the midweek Capital One Cup game against West Brom. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Jack Wilshere, who will want to celebrate the birth of his second child with a cracking performance, will return to the starting lineup, with Mathieu Flamini, who had to pull out late on Wednesday, also expected to be fit.
Aaron Ramsey will have a test on a thigh problem, but Wenger does not envisage the in-form midfielder missing the trip to Wales, while Mikel Arteta is fine after being substituted against West Brom with cramps.
However, Arsenal's injury list has lengthened with Theo Walcott joining the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby. Teenager Serge Gnabry is again expected to deputise for Walcott on the right.
Swansea are sweating over the fitness of skipper Ashley Williams and midfielder Pablo Hernandez.
Key Men: Swansea: Michu will want to recreate that special night when he scored two goals at the Emirates to consign the Gunners to a disappointing defeat. The Spanish forward will be the danger man for Arsenal.
Arsenal: You cannot ignore the impact that Mesut Ozil will have on the game, but the man to watch out for will be Aaron Ramsey, who has already scored seven goals in all competitions this season.
Where to watch
The match is scheduled for a 10 p.m. (IST) start with it set for a live telecast on Star Sports 2. You can also watch the match live online by clicking the official link HERE.
Expected lineups: Swansea: Vorm; Rangel, Flores, Amat, Davies; Canas, De Guzman; Dyer, Michu, Routledge; Bony.
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Ramsey; Gnabry, Ozil, Wilshere; Giroud.
Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal
