Rodgers anticipates angry Arsenal

Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers is hopeful his team can hold their own against an Arsenal side looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat.

They travel to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to play a team who will be aiming to improve on their previous performance, an 8-2 defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

Swansea manager Rodgers believes that playing against them now could be a bad thing and not the blessing in disguise first thought.

“Having worked with big players before, I know when they lose they are determined to come back and win the next game,” Rodgers told reporters on Thursday.

“Arsenal are a very dangerous opponent for us because of what happened to them and big players are motivated to get over a defeat like that.”

“Arsenal are a magnificent club. They had a very disappointing result in their previous game, but this was always going to be a tough game for us, like every other game.”

“I am sure they will be motivated to do well after losing to Manchester United, and they have new players in as well who will want to make a good start.”

“The task is still very difficult, but we are looking forward to going there, as our performance levels have been good in the games so far.”

A splurge on the August 31 deadline day saw a number of players arrive at Arsenal, including Mikel Arteta and Park Chu-Young, and they will be a key factor in picking up the pieces for Arsene Wenger.

All eyes will be on how Wenger will have rallied his troops after they had time away from the club for the international break.

Rodgers spoke highly of his counterpart and he said the heavy loss to United was a blow to Wenger.

“That will have been a real low moment for him but I think his record speaks for itself,” he said.

“What he has brought to the British game, and the players he has developed, (means) he is one of the top managers in world football.”