Arsenal v Swansea: In-form Swans good for at least a point

Michael Laudrup declared that “it was a pleasure” to watch Swansea perform the way they did in dismantling West Brom in midweek and, as a result, they head to the Emirates brimming with confidence.

The south Wales side have lost just once in nine league and cup games and their dizzying 6/1 to upset unconvincing Arsenal definitely whets the appetite, while the short price of 4/9 for a home victory has the opposite effect.

Swansea ran riot in the first half against the Baggies, racing into a 3-0 lead before conceding a stoppage time strike to Romelu Lukaku. Yet, in the eight games prior to this, they have prospered in the second half.

All but one of the 11 goals they scored in that period came after the break, while Michu’s eighth minute strike to open the scoring in their 5-0 rout of QPR remains the only Premier League goal they’ve bagged on the road before the half time whistle.

If they are going to upstage Arsene Wenger’s men here the stats suggest that the damage will be done in the second half. This makes the 14/1 for the game to be level at the interval for the visitors to claim the spoils after the restart a strong price.

If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, the 21/10 that says the Swans will score more goals in the second half must hold some appeal.

Arsenal have kept just one domestic clean sheet at home since the season’s curtain-raiser and they seem to uncover a new defensive fallibility with every passing week. These issues have become so prominent that it is now expected for the Swans to have the ball in the net at least once in north London.

The Gunners have fallen short in four of their last five league games; their win over Tottenham representing the only high point of a run that includes three draws and a defeat.

Fortunately for them, clean sheets aren’t Swansea’s forte either and it would take a special effort for them to stop Arsenal notching, even if their attackers haven’t exactly been flying of late.

The draw with under 2.5 goals scored pays out at 7/2 and represents the best bet on this clash, while the 8/1 on offer for a 1-1 correct score is a tasty alternative.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date