After suffering a heartbreaking exit from the Champions League, despite beating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the second leg, Arsenal will bring their focus back to the English Premier League and their quest to finish in the top four when they travel to Wales to take on Capital One Cup winners Swansea.
The Gunners have been incredibly inconsistent this season, which has been the cause of their poor position in the Premier League table. They currently lie fifth, five points behind Chelsea, and really need to win every single one of their remaining ten matches to seal a Champions League spot for next season.
In the game against Bayern Munich, Arsenal showed a defensive solidity, which has been almost non-existent this year. They were organized and disciplined with the central defensive duo of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny hardly putting a foot wrong.
The two are expected to again start against Swansea, which will mean skipper Thomas Vermaelen, having his worst season in an Arsenal shirt, will have to cool his heels on the bench for the second straight game.
Carl Jenkinson was also outstanding and Arsenal will not miss the services of Bacary Sagna too much, with the French defender ruled out along with Lukas Podolski and Jack Wilshere, all of whom missed the Bayern game as well.
Kieran Gibbs, who made his return from injury in midweek, had a slight reaction to his thigh problem and is unlikely to be risked with Nacho Monreal available, while goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny again might be "rested."
Swansea midfielder Kemy Agustien and defender Chico Flores are ruled out, with Leon Britton a doubt.
Arsenal are in serious danger of missing out on the Champions League for the first time under Wenger, and their first test in the final 10-game run will not be easy.
Swansea did a number on the Gunners in the earlier Premier League fixture at the Emirates, scoring two late goals to win 2-0. The Welsh side also won the corresponding fixture last season convincingly and will be keen to emulate that result for the second year running.
However, Arsenal showed they were the better team over two F.A. Cup games earlier this year, and that form will be needed to be taken forward at the Liberty Stadium.
A similar strategy employed against Bayern might not be a bad idea for Arsenal - to press high up the pitch and quickly break forward and take advantage of the chances created, while remaining solid in defense.
Swansea have little to play for in the Premier League, but will still be keen to perform against Arsenal. The Gunners have much more at stake and Wenger and co. need to take advantage of that fact.
Arsenal have been a little overanxious at times when under pressure to perform, and if they just play their game and keep calm, the results should be of a more positive nature.
Expected lineups: Swansea: Vorm; Rangel, Monk, Williams, Davies; Hernandez, De Guzman, Ki, Routledge; Michu, Moore.
Arsenal: Fabianski; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Diaby, Arteta, Cazorla; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Gervinho.
Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal
