Arsenal vs Swansea preview: Gunners hope to make up ground on Premier League summit

A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at The Emirates

Danny Welbeck appears dejected during the 3-2 defeat by Manchester United (Getty)

It’s a big game for…

Alexis Sanchez: With only one goal to his name since the turn of the year, Sanchez desperately needs to find some form if Arsenal are to have any hope of reviving their faltering season. Following crushing defeats to Barcelona and Manchester Utd, reports are circulating that Arsene Wenger may be forced to drop the club’s reigning player of the year if performances don’t improve soon.

Weird Stat...

1: Just one of the last 26 goals netted in this fixture in all competitions has been scored in the first half.

Remember when…

Jack Wilshere scored this stunning late winner to help the Gunners progress to the 4th round of the FA Cup. Wilshere’s man of the match performance was just enough to beat an inspired Michel Vorm in the Swansea net.

Player to watch…

Danny Welbeck: Following an absence of close to a year with a knee injury, the Arsenal striker burst back onto the scene by netting the winner against title rivals Leicester with the final kick of the game last week. Welbeck followed up by scoring in the defeat at Manchester Utd at the weekend. Welbeck has three goals in four outings against Swansea and will fancy adding to that total tonight.

Past three-meetings…

Swansea 0 Arsenal 3 (Giroud, Koscielny, Campbell), Premier League, October 2015,

Arsenal 0 Swansea 1 (Gomis), Premier League, May 2015.

Swansea 2 (Sigurdsson, Gomis) Arsenal 1 (Sanchez), Premier League, November 2014.

Form guide…

Arsenal: DWWDLL (last six games (all comps) most recent result to the right)

Swansea: WWDDLL

Vital information…

KICK-OFF TIME: 19:45

TV: Highlights on BBC1- Match of the Day 22:45