Thierry Henry, Arsenal's greatest ever footballer, came back with style on Monday night by incredibly scoring the winning goal in what otherwise was a tight cup tie at home to Leeds United. An amazing, emotional, turning back the clock moment but one that now brings with it some expectations that Henry can do it every week. Certainly manager Arsene Wenger has a decision to make today as to whether to pair Henry with goal machine Robin Van Persie for a tough encounter at the Liberty Stadium against a side who have only lost once at home this season and that to Manchester United. If Henry, on loan from the New York Red Bulls plays today this will be his first league start for Arsenal since 2007. Under manager Brendan Rogers, Swansea play good, attractive football and have no fear playing against the big boys. They only narrowly lost 1-0 to the Gunners at the Emirates earlier in the season and held in form Spurs here in their last home game. This could be a tough one for Arsenal today.
Team News
Swansea will have almost a full squad to choose from with the rested Michel Vorm, Joe Allen, Steven Caulker and Scott Sinclair coming back after being rested against Barnsley in the FA Cup. New signing Gylfi Sigurdsson should get his full debut. Alan Tate though is still some weeks away from a return. Johan Djourou should return to Arsenal following suspension. Francois Coquelin returns from the torn hamstring he picked up against Leeds. Arsenal should have defender Johan Djourou available again following suspension, but Francis Coquelin tore a hamstring against Leeds. Tomas Rosicky and Per Mertesacker are both battling over the virus they are both suffering from. Strikers Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are at the African Cup of Nations which doesn't help Arsneal's depleted squad which has defenders Thomas Vermaelen (calf), Kieran Gibbs (groin), Bacary Sagna (ankle), Carl Jenkinson (back) and Andre Santos (ankle) still out, along with midfielders Francis Coquelin, Abou Diaby (both hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle).
Line-ups from;
Swansea (from): Vorm, Williams, Taylor, Caulker, Britton, Orlandi, Graham, Sinclair, Dyer, Dobbie, Routledge, Monk, Lita, Moore, Bessone, Rangel, Allen, Tremmel, Agustien, Gower, Richards, Alfei, Donnelly, Sigurdsson, Situ. Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Koscielny, Djourou, Mertesacker, Miquel, Song, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Van Persie, Henry, Almunia, Rosicky, Arshavin, Squillaci, Benayoun, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park.