As the center backs do not need to put in a great deal of running, I expect that partnership to remain and to be honest, it is amazing that our best center back has had to make do with a place on the bench. Koscielny was outstanding in Germany, his speed and reading of forwards makes a huge difference to this team. Talk of Koscielny losing form this season is ridiculous and ignores the bigger

Every game from now until the season end will be the most important game of the season, so Swansea City is now the most important match left this season. With Chelsea and Tottenham facing home games in which they are favourites to pick up three points, a victory at a ground that we have not managed to win since they joined the Premier League is vital today.

Away to a team of Swansea’s quality isn’t the fixture you would have chosen post Champions League. A lesser team at home would have been better but what can you do? Well what you can try and do is impose your game on them and work hard.

It will be interesting to see how the team do after putting in so much against Munich in midweek. The physical exertions put into a game like that would have taken it’s toll, especially considering that Swansea will be fresh and full of running. While the continuity of playing the same team that defeated Bayern would make sense, I could also see a need for rotation here and there. The trouble is, most of the players who could have been rotated in without making the team weaker are currently on the treatment table. Bacary Sagna, Lukas Podolski and Jack Wilshere are all unavailable this afternoon. Kieran Gibbs will also be missing so Monreal will come back in.

As the center backs do not need to put in a great deal of running, I expect that partnership to remain and to be honest, it is amazing that our best center back has had to make do with a place on the bench. Koscielny was outstanding in Germany, his speed and reading of forwards makes a huge difference to this team. Talk of Koscielny losing form this season is ridiculous and ignores the bigger picture. A player cannot regain form if he is not playing football. While a little too late, hopefully he will get a deserved run in the side from now until the end of the season.

It will be interesting to see how the team approach defending. Will we drop off or will we play an aggressive high line. That choice impacts the rest of the team and the approach to the game.

Tomas Rosicky was not at his best against Bayern but like Koscielny, he hasn’t had a run in the side so assuming he stays fit, he will get better in the next few weeks in Jack’s absence.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up:

Vito Mannone had the chance to become Arsenal’s number one early this season and failed to take the chance. Lukas Fabianski has a similar chance to reclaim his shirt and let us not forget that it was his position before his shoulder injury a few years ago. He looked a different keeper during that run in compared to his nervy previous years. Technically he is supposed to be one of the best, the mental side hasn’t helped but we can only hope that he has put that behind him just like we are going to do to Vorm but with the ball.

I would love to see a powerful commanding display from the team today, win this and the momentum should be just perfect for the run in. They came to the Emirates earlier this season and were the better team. We need revenge, not against them but against that performance. The fight back starts here.

Come on you Gunners.