Premier League Preview: Arsenal v Swansea

Eighth-placed Swansea head to the Emirates on Saturday full of optimism, trailing Arsenal by just one point.

After just one defeat in their past nine games, Swansea manager Michael Laudrup believes that his side can cause an upset in London.

“It will be a completely different game,” Laudrup said, after he watched his team take three points from the previously in-form West Brom in a 3-1 win on Wednesday.

“Arsenal are a very good side, with some great players who like to play on the ball.

“But we go there with no pressure and we can surprise people. We have got four points this week which has been a very good return for us.”

Two first-half goals to Wayne Routledge maintained the winger’s productive start to the Premier League season and his performance will not have gone unnoticed by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

After a tough start to the season, Wenger is hopeful of a much easier period in the run-in to Christmas, with trips to the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Everton all now out of the way.

“We played last week in the Champions League Wednesday night, Saturday at (Aston) Villa, today at Everton, we have to give a lot and we have some players who play on the edge and, hopefully, we recover for Saturday,” he said.

“We hope so (to have an easier few games),” Wenger said.

“When you look at the moment in the Premier League we have played 14 games, eight away now, we have played at Liverpool, at the two Manchester clubs away from home so of course if we play well and make the results at home, we have a chance to come back.”

Arsenal could be without Theo Walcott, who picked up a knock in the second half in the 1-1 draw at Everton on Wednesday.

But central defender Laurent Koscielny is facing up to three weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury.