Swansea City’s Ashley Williams targets shock Arsenal scalp

ASHLEY WILLIAMS believes Swansea City can become the latest newly-promoted side to shock Arsenal at the Emirates.

Newcastle, West Brom and Hull have all humbled Arsene Wenger’s side away from home in recent seasons after being promoted from the Championship and Swansea are aiming to add their name to the list on Saturday.

Wenger is facing one of the most difficult periods of his 15 years at the Arsenal helm following the loss of key individuals, including Cesc Fabregas and Sami Nasri, and the 8-2 humiliation by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Swans defender Williams is hoping to inflict yet more problems on Wenger’s side, who have failed to win any of their opening three games.

Williams said: “We can take belief from other promoted teams who have won at the Emirates.

“We got a lot of confidence from the Manchester City game and we feel we are good enough to go anywhere and nick it.

“We have to put in a good performance, make it hard for them. We don’t want to lose the game.

“We need to score that first goal quickly. We have to continue defending well like we have in the last two games and the goals will come at the other end.”

Wenger made five new signings – midfielders Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta, defenders Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos and South Korean striker Park Chu-young – in the final week of the transfer window as he looks to appease angry fans.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has hit out at supporters calling for Wenger’s head, insisting the Frenchman is still the right man to lead the club.

“It’s complete and utter rubbish and absolute nonsense. I think he is happy enough and we are happy enough,” said Hill-Wood.

Swansea stand-in captain Williams says they are expecting an Arsenal backlash after the Old Trafford hammering, the North London club’s worst defeat in 115 years.

The match-up between two of the Premier League’s best passing sides has plenty of potential to be an entertaining affair, with Swansea and Arsenal regularly putting together more than 400 passes in a game.

Williams added: “I’m sure it will be totally different from the United game.

“They have got some big players who will be fresh and they will want to win the game.

“But we will be going there looking for three points as well.

“We have played against both sides of it, where the opposition let us have the ball up until the halfway line and other teams like Sunderland who pressed a bit more. We don’t mind.

“It’s a different game with different tactics. We will work hard on the training ground to see how we can combat them.”

Swansea are still sweating on international clearance for two of their three signings made on transfer deadline day, but they have finally had the green light for the move of left-back Fede Bessone.

The Swans last night confirmed they are still waiting for Fifa to confirm the moves of French defender Darnel Situ following his move from RC Lens and Algerian international Rafik Halliche, who is due to arrive on loan from Fulham.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers admits his side will be left vulnerable at the back if the transfers do not go through.

Rodgers said: “The last update I had from our administrative staff was that the signings should not be any problem with regards to the Premier League.