Arsenal issued Liverpool warning as Henrikh Mkhitaryan gets set for debut

After having the weekend off due to their third round exit in the FA Cup, Arsenal return to Premier League action with a trip to relegation-threatened Swansea.

The Swans gave their survival hopes a huge boost with a shock 1-0 win over Liverpool in their last league game.

Arsenal are favourites to win at the Liberty Stadium and maintain their push for a place in the top four.

Manager Arsene Wenger will also have the chance to call upon Henrikh Mkhitaryan for the first time since his move from Manchester United.

And Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes Arsenal have more quality than Liverpool to break down Swansea’s defence and predicted a 2-0 away win.

Merson told Sky Sports: “Arsenal head to Swansea, hoping to succeed where Liverpool failed just over a week ago at the Liberty Stadium. 

“Swansea will play in exactly the same way as they did against Liverpool. They’ll defend in numbers but for me, Arsenal have got a bit more guile than Liverpool. 

“They’ll create more chances than Liverpool did and that will be the difference.

“We could see the debut of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and if it was me, I’d definitely play him. 

“Some people might say he hasn’t had much football in recent months but with the way Swansea will set up, Arsenal will have a lot of the ball. 

“They could have up to 70 per cent possession so his creativity will prove useful.”