TEAM NEWS: Walcott, Wilshere & Santi Cazorla start for Arsenal as Swansea bench Michu

17-Jan-2013 12:09:00 AM

The Gunners make three changes from their Manchester City defeat as Olivier Giroud, Per Mertesacker and Francis Coquelin come in while the Swans give Danny Graham a go up front

Theo Walcott starts along with Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla in an attacking trio as Arsenal host Swansea City in their FA Cup third-round replay.

Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who both started the Gunners' 2-0 Premier League defeat against Manchester City, must settle for a place among the substitutes while Francis Coquelin comes into midfield.

Per Mertesacker replaces the suspended Laurent Koscielny in the centre of defence.

Despite his goal taking snatching an initial lead for the Swans in their 2-2 draw on January 6, in-form attacker Michu is benched by visiting manager Michael Laudrup as Danny Graham, whose equaliser took the game to a reply, is given an opportunity from the get-go.

Swansea also feature former Arsenal youngster Kyle Bartley in their back line while Leon Britton was a trainee with the north London club in his early days.

Arsenal starting XI: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Coquelin, Wilshere, Diaby; Cazorla; Walcott, Giroud

Subs: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Podolski

Swansea City starting XI: Vorm; Richards, Chico, Bartley, Tiendalli; Britton, Agustien, De Guzman; Routledge, Dyer, Graham

Subs: Tremmel, Monk, Davies, Ki, Shechter, Hernandez, Michu

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