By Dan Ferguson
Swansea.
Another game against another new manager in his first full week in charge.
Will Paul Clement have enough time to turn it around? I doubt it.
Especially with Ozil and Sanchez both back and rested.
Swansea have some fair players, but much work to do. They are in freefall and don’t look like they trust each other, which is the worst sign for a team.
Statman Alan tells me Swansea have won just 15 points from their 20 games this season; their worst return at this stage of a Premier League season.
71% of the teams with 15 points of fewer after 20 PL games were relegated (25/35).
So they are without a paddle at this point. Or rudderless. We shall see.
Also, it should be said that Arsenal has never failed to score in five previous Premier League games at the Liberty Stadium (10 goals, two per game on average).
So Myles may be right when he predicted 2-0. I’d say we will score 3/4 if they don’t park the bus.
Even if they do, Arsenal has to have the worst day in the office for some time, (much worse than Bournemouth) to come away without 3 points.
On another note, Wenger has signed his 3 key Frenchmen on new contracts.
I’m sure he is pleased with himself, and I guess they are good signings as only Kos will be on a ‘big team prohibitive’ salary. Giroud and Coq make good financial squad sense.
Obviously it remains to be seen how much cash is left to throw at Sanchez and Ozil. Like many, I think they will commit once Wenger commits.
He will probably stage-manage it a little, as with them signing, he will announce it like a trophy, and then renew his own contract as if he just proved his worth in the new football competition – re-signing your own players 2016-17!
Elite football is nuts sometimes. It really is.
Also, it looks like Carl Jenkinson is off, which is sad for him but makes complete sense. We cannot depend on him and if he isn’t a ‘more often than not’ good player, then his performances cannot guarantee us top 4. I wish him well though, as he seems a nice guy.
Lastly, this is a period now where Arsenal could genuinely make ground on Chelsea.
Lots of the top 6 play each other except Arsenal (who only have Chelsea) over the next month.
By the end of February we will have a good idea of where Arsenal will finish in the league.
It could be nosebleed territory, or the usual. I look forward to finding out.