Arsenal v Swansea (Preview, Match Facts & Stats)

Arsene Wenger will demand his players be less “timid” than they were in their weekend defeat to Manchester City. The FA Cup represents Arsenal’s best chance of winning their first silverware since 2005, so another limp home performance will not be tolerated by the club or its fans. “I am confident the group will respond [to Sunday’s loss],” said captain Thomas Vermaelen, “and I'm confident we can get a result on Wednesday.”

Victory will be no formality, however, with Swansea seven games unbeaten and on a good run of form against Arsenal, including a 2-0 win at the Emirates in December. Swansea can also look to their recent 2-0 League Cup win at Stamford Bridge to boost their confidence ahead of their latest trip to London.
Arsenal will be without Laurent Koscielny (suspended), Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky and Lukasz Fabianski (all injured). Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has a full squad to pick from (except for the ineligible Roland Lamah) and – although he admitted he prioritises the league over cup competitions – he promised: “the team I put out will be a competitive one”.
The winners of this tie will travel to Brighton in the next round.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Swansea 2 (Michu, Graham) Arsenal 2 (Podolski, Gibbs), FA Cup, January 2013

Arsenal 0 Swansea 2 (Michu 2), Premier League, December 2012

Swansea 3 (Sinclair, Dyer, Graham) Arsenal 2 (van Persie, Walcott), Premier League, January 2012

Head-to-Head (Facts & Stats)

• The first meeting between these teams came in the FA Cup in March 1926 – Swansea won 2-1.
• Arsenal have a superior record in FA Cup meetings, winning two to Swansea’s one, but Swansea have the upper hand in league head-to-heads, with four wins to Arsenal’s three.
• Arsenal beat Swansea Town in the fourth round in 1950 on their way to winning the competition.
•  Four goals were shared in the initial tie at the Liberty Stadium, and three of those came in a frantic six-minute spell at the close of the game when Swansea striker Danny Graham got the vital equaliser to force this replay.
• A Swansea win in this match would condemn Arsenal to the 100th FA Cup loss in their history.
• Swansea have scored in their last 15 FA Cup games, last drawing a blank versus Ipswich in January 2007.
• These two sides have conceded the joint least goals away from home in this season’s Premier League – nine apiece.
• The Jacks have won two and drawn one of their last three games against Arsenal - winning 2-0 and 3-2 in the Premier League before drawing the original tie 2-2.
• Arsenal haven't failed to make the Fourth Round of the FA Cup since 1996.
•  Arsenal are the second most successful club in FA Cup history. Their 10 wins are eclipsed only by the 11 of Manchester United and their 17 appearances in the final, topped by United's 18. 
• Under Arsene Wenger, the Gunners have lifted the trophy four times; most recently in 2005. Since then they've been knocked out by Premier League clubs in each of the seven seasons, but they have also ended the interest of six fellow top-flight clubs, including Aston Villa in last season's fourth round.  
• The north London club, who were famously knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Bradford this season, have lost 99 matches in their FA Cup history. 
• If Swansea are to qualify for the fourth round for the third season running, they'll need to eliminate a Premier League club, which they have not done since defeating Portsmouth in the fourth round four years ago.  
• The Swans, just three spots lower than the sixth-placed Gunners, have a 2-0 lead over Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-finals to defend, and have twice qualified for the last four in the FA Cup (1926 and 1964), but have never appeared in the final itself. 
• They have found the net in their last 15 FA Cup matches, failing to do so most recently in the fourth round against Ipswich in January 2007. 
• Michu has struck three times in his last two games against Arsenal.
• Five of the six goals scored between Arsenal and Swansea this season have came in the final 10 minutes of matches.
• Danny Graham has scored four goals in his last five FA Cup appearances, including the late equaliser against Arsenal in the last game.
  

CLASSIC MATCH...

These teams’ last meeting saw four goals scored, but there were five in their last Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium. The two sides were (and are) known for their attractive passing game but it was Swansea who outplayed their more illustrious opponents on this occasion.
Arsenal took the lead through a well-executed Robin van Persie goal, although a Scott Sinclair penalty drew Brendan Rogers’ team level ten minutes later.
With Swansea’s passing game causing Arsenal huge problems, Nathan Dyer gave them the lead just before the hour. Theo Walcott equalised, only for Danny Graham to restore the Welsh side’s advantage.
Not even club legend Thierry Henry, introduced as a substitute, could save Arsenal, as Swansea held out for a famous win.
Good luck Arsenal !!!