Arsenal have special surprise to celebrate 20 years of Arsene Wenger 1

Arsenal have unveiled a unique programme cover for their match against Swansea on Saturday that celebrates 20-year regime of Arsene Wenger.

Saturday’s clash with Swansea is the first home match Arsenal have played since Wenger celebrated his 20th year in charge at the club on October 1 and falls three days after the anniversary of his initial match at the helm, a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

To celebrate Arsenal’s programme cover will celebrate Wenger’s legacy with a unique word cloud where the names of some of the great players to feature over two decades at the Gunners make up their manager’s face.


Wenger’s side are in a rich vein of form heading into Saturday’s clash with Swansea and have won their last five league games, including a fortuitous 1-0 victory over Burnley earlier this month where Laurent Koscielny’s last minute goal ensured the 20th anniversary was celebrated in style.

Only one of the last five meetings between these two sides has gone the way of Arsene Wenger and the Welsh side have developed an infuriating tendency (for Arsenal fans at least) to burst their opponent’s bubble at the most inopportune of moments.

Last March’s 2-1 win at the Emirates, when a mutinous home crowd turned on their players at half-time, effectively ended Arsenal’s title bid whilst drawing Swansea clear of the relegation mire. This season’s first meeting comes too soon to have such ramifications but it could also set the tone for both side’s league campaigns.

For Swansea another victory over Arsenal might just remind supporters that some things can still remain the same in the era of American ownership.

Francis Coquelin and Lucas Perez missed Arsenal’s last match, an unconvincing 1-0 win at Burnley, but are expected to be available for Wenger by Saturday, though it seems likely that the striker will be confined to the bench. His fellow forward Olivier Giroud remains a doubt with a big toe injury.

Coquelin may start though to do so Wenger would have to break up the burgeoning partnership between Granit Xhaka and Santi Cazorla, a decision that would doubtless prove contentious among supporters.

Aaron Ramsey’s ongoing recovery from a hamstring injury seems to be a slow one and he is expected to miss Saturday’s match with Arsenal facing a fixture list that requires them to negotiate eight matches in 22 days.

Arsenal appear to have made it through the international break without additional injuries despite rumours of knocks to Hector Bellerin and Mesut Ozil.