Swansea City – Arsenal

Join us from 1330 GMT as Swansea take on Arsenal in the FA Cup third round. We've got minute-by-minute text commentary here, while the game is live on ESPN UK.

Our Arsenal blogger, Sam Limbert, has gone all nostalgic this week to <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/arsenal/id/750?cc=5739" target="_blank">relive some of the Gunners' finest FA Cup showings</a>, while Swansea counterpart Max Hicks <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/swanseacity/id/619?cc=5739" target="_blank">fancies his side's chances of progress.</a>

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/1218/arsenewengersmile20121124_275x155.jpg"><br> As rumblings about Theo Walcott's contract continued this week, Arsene Wenger revealed he plays an integral role in <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1290112/arsene-wenger-reveals-the-extent-of-his-influence-at-arsenal?cc=5739" target="_blank"> maintaining financial stability at Arsenal.</a>

Swansea: Vorm, Tiendalli, Chico, Bartley, Davies, Britton, De Guzman, Ki, Routledge, Dyer, Graham.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Cazorla, Giroud.

Swansea subs: Tremmel, Michu, Hernandez, Monk, Schechter, Rangel, Agustien.

Arsenal subs: Martinez, Vermaelen, Santos, Coquelin, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski.

Swansea make four changes to the side that drew with Aston Villa last weekend. Bartley, Davies, Ki and Dyer come in for Williams, Rangel, Hernandez and Michu.

Arsenal, meanwhile, make three changes to the side that drew with Southampton with Mertesacker, Ramsey and Giroud coming in for Vermaelen, Podolski and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The last time these two sides met at the Liberty Stadium was last January when Danny Graham got the winner in a five-goal thriller. The last time the pair met in the FA Cup in Wales was in 1968, with Bobby Gould scoring the only goal for Arsenal.

The teams are out onto the pitch. We are just moments away from kick-off...

And Arsenal get the first half underway...

Arsenal are playing it around nicely at the moment after Vorm's poor clearance conceded possession.

Arsenal still with the ball...

Ki concedes a foul on Wilshere. Free-kick in a good position for Arsenal...

Wilshere sends it into the danger zone but Giroud is just unable to get the touch. Arsenal win the corner though.

Swansea clear the corner and counter through Dyer up the other end. Routledge looks for Graham in the box but Szczesny comes out to claim the ball.

Bartley looks for the run of Graham down the right flank but Gibbs is there to avert the danger.

This game has a nice flow to it already. Both teams looking to play some football, as you would expect from them.

Koscielny looks for the run of Giroud but Tiendalli defends well. The Frenchman is going to be a major outlet for the Gunners today.

Swansea now the team playing keep-ball...

Chico plays a back pass to Vorm that nearly puts him in trouble but he manages to clear.

Swansea attack down the right through Tiendalli who whips a dangerous ball into the box but Sagna does well to head clear.

Walcott finds some space down the right and manages to get a decent cross into the box but nobody in an Arsenal shirt is in the middle to get on the end of it.

Arsenal win another free-kick in a fairly dangerous position as Davies fouls Walcott.

Wilshere sends it into the box but Vorm comes flying off his line to make the catch.

De Guzman picks out Graham with a fine ball over the top. The striker manages to shake off Mertesacker before firing an effort at goal. Szczesny makes a good save to tip it wide.

Graham out-paced and out-muscled Mertesacker far too easily there.

Arsenal win another free-kick outside the box after a foul from Chico on Walcott.

Wilshere sends it into the box but again Vorm is there to claim.

Wilshere will be disappointed with that delivery.

De Guzman finds some space on the edge of the box so shoots at goal but he sends it well wide.

Swansea have definitely looked the most threatening so far.

Arsenal attack but it soon breaks down thanks to some good defending from Chico on Giroud.

Arsenal are seeing a fair bit of the ball but they need to be careful as Swansea can be very dangerous on the counter attack, as they have proved on one occasion today already.

Some nice play from Swansea as Routledge tries to burst down the left but Sagna is there to concede the corner.

De Guzman sends the corner into the box but Arsenal are able to head clear the danger.

Some lovely link-up play between Walcott, Giroud and Wilshere eventually sees Walcott shoot at goal from inside the area but it is blocked by a Swansea body.

Graham beats the offside trap but Szczesny does well to come off his line to clear the danger.

Walcott drives forward towards the goal only to be brought down by Chico right on the edge of the box. Free-kick...

Walcott's free-kick goes straight into the wall. Poor.

De Guzman picks out Dyer with a wonderful ball but the move soon loses momentum.

Wilshere plays in Gibbs down the left who sends a ball into the box aiming for Walcott, however, Davies is there to clear with an excellent diving header.

Arsenal play the ball around the box before Arteta lofts a ball towards goal but it is poor and runs out for a goal kick.

Ki tries to play a ball forward for Swansea from a promising position but he overhits it and it runs out for a goal kick.

Some lovely play by Arsenal as Ramsey eventually makes his way into the box but he takes one touch too many and is unable to get the shot out from underneath his feet. Unlucky.

Tiendalli whips another dangerous ball into the box but Szczesny does well to get to it before Graham does.

Arsenal probing Swansea's defence but the home side are holding firm.

There has been a lot of nice passing from both sides but rarely any real penetration.

Davies fizzes a cross into the box that Dyer picks up on the edge of the area. He shoots but it is blocked. De Guzman runs onto it but his touch is poor and it goes out for a goal kick.

A chance for Arsenal as Cazorla plays a one-two with Gibbs before shooting from just inside the area but he sends it over the bar.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ramsey is booked for a foul on Tiendalli. Free-kick in a dangerous position for Swansea.

De Guzman sends the free-kick into the box but Bartley can only head it onto the bar. Unlucky.

Bartley is a former Arsenal player so that would have made things interesting if he had found the back of the net with that chance.

Dyer comes forward for Swansea and plays in Tiendalli down the right but his cross is poor and Arsenal clear.

Giroud goes down under pressure from Routledge. No free kick given.

De Guzman sends a ball into the box but Mertesacker does well to clear.

Swansea have upped their game in the last few minutes.

Walcott comes forward down the left but Chico does brilliantly to stop him in his tracks.

Routledge turns Sagna before firing a delivery into the box but Koscielny is there to head clear.

It has been pretty uninspiring stuff from Arsenal so far.

Ramsey finds some space on the left and whips a ball into the box but it is very poor and runs straight to Vorm.

Arsenal attack through Sagna but Chico is there again to get rid of the danger.

Cazorla shoots from distance but the save is comfortable for Vorm.

Swansea are finding it very easy to knock the ball around past Arsenal at the moment. A major improvement is needed from the away side in the second half.

And there goes the half-time whistle.

Not a classic first half that is for sure. Swansea have been fairly comfortable as the game has gone on and had the better chances. Arsenal have been poor and need to change something.

Swansea kick-off the second half...

No changes from either side at the break.

Arsenal starting the half with the majority of the possession. Gibbs sends in a ball from the left but it is straight at Vorm.

Cazorla picks out Walcott with a clever ball. The winger knocks it down for Giroud on the edge of the box but the striker sends his strike well wide of the post.

Ramsey works some space on the left to get the cross in but Bartley clears. Arsenal force their way back into the box and Ramsey tries to stab an effort at goal but it was never troubling Vorm.

Davies gets a ball into the box from the left but Arsenal clear.

Arsenal break down the other end through Walcott who finds Giroud. The striker shoots at goal from the edge of the box but Vorm makes a decent save.

Penalty shout for Arsenal turned down. Ramsey in space in the box takes a tumble after having his heels clipped by Tiendalli.

Gibbs picks out Giroud in the box who gets a volley away at goal but Vorm makes a good save to keep it out.

Arsenal finally starting to find their rhythm now.

Giroud is currently down on the floor and needs treatment.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Swansea make a double change. Routledge and De Guzman off and Hernandez and Michu on.

Not a bad couple of changes for Swansea. Let's see what impact they can have.

Gibbs fires another cross into the box but Swansea get it clear.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR SWANSEA. MICHU.</b>

Unbelievable stuff. Some woeful defending from Arsenal and Michu takes advantage and slots calmly past Szczesny.

He has only been on for a matter of seconds!

Michu puts Szczesny under pressure before the keeper eventually clears. Desperate times for Arsenal at the moment.

What have Arsenal got in response now?

Arsenal started the half well but that goal came out of nowhere. A real sucker punch for the Gunners.

Sagna concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position for a high boot on Davies.

Giroud heads clear Ki's free-kick.

Wilshere plays in Gibbs down the left who bursts into the box but Tiendalli puts in a superb sliding tackle.

Walcott sends in the corner but Swansea get it clear.

Wilshere with a great chipped pass into the area but it just misses out on finding two Arsenal bodies and runs out for the goal kick .

Swansea threaten again as Hernandez races around the edge of the box before his cross-cum-shot ends up in the arms of Szczesny.

The game is starting to get very stretched as Arsenal go in search of an equaliser.

Ramsey sends in a superb cross from the left and picks out Giroud in the box but the striker can only head wide. Should have scored.

Wilshere plays a one-two with Giroud before shooting at goal but he fails to direct his effort on target.

Koscielny finds Cazorla on the edge of the box who chips in a dangerous ball into the danger zone but Swansea do well to get rid of it.

It is all Arsenal now...

Wilshere sends in a ball from the left but he can only direct it straight to Vorm.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Swansea make their final change as Agustien comes on for Britton.

Surely Arsenal will be thinking about making some changes soon?

Cazorla and Wilshere combine but it eventually comes to nothing.

Nice work from Gibbs who drives into the box but he soon loses it. Unlucky.

Michu finds himself in space down the left but he soon loses the ball. Wasteful.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Arsenal make a change as Podolski comes on for Ramsey.

Sagna tries to work a cross in from the right but it canons back off a Swansea player.

Giroud comes forward down the right but soon loses it. Swansea are holding on for dear life at the moment.

What a chance for Arsenal as Walcott takes advantage of some terrible Swansea defending and finds himself one-on-one but he can only shoot wide. Should have at least hit the target.

Podolski picks out Gibbs in space down the left but his cross is closed down.

Arsenal piling on the pressure. The ball eventually falls to Podolski two yards out but he sends it wide. Lucky for him he was offside anyway.

Time is starting to tick for Arsenal. Swansea just need to make sure they do not do anything silly which they have done a few times at the back up until now.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Bartley is booked for a silly challenge on Wilshere. Dangerous position for Arsenal.

Cazorla's free-kick hits the bar before Arteta's shot from the rebound does the same.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR ARSENAL. PODOLSKI.</b>

Swansea look to have dealt with Walcott's corner but Koscielny keeps it alive before Podolski turns and shoots to find the bottom corner. Great strike.

Arsenal are searching for a winner...

Gibbs sends a ball in from the left. Walcott controls it and tries to tee up Wilshere but the move breaks down.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR ARSENAL. GIBBS.</b>

Gibbs plays a fantastic one-two with Giroud before the left-back volleys home with a brilliant strike. Vorm no chance.

This game has turned on its head.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Gibbs was booked for his celebration.

What can Swansea do now?

Ki with a chance but Szczesny makes a decent save. The ball eventually comes back out to Dyer but his deflected shot goes over.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL FOR SWANSEA. GRAHAM.</b>

Terrible defending from Arsenal at the corner as Ki is allowed to bring it down and pass it to Graham. The striker finds the back of the net with a great finish. Nobody in an Arsenal shirt tried to close him down.

This game is not over yet...

Walcott has the ball in the back of the net but it will not count as he was offside.

Walcott takes a tumble in the box under pressure from Bartley. No penalty given.

Koscielny rises highest to meet the corner but Vorm makes a great save. The defender goes for the rebound but can only hit it over.

Five minutes of injury time to be played. There could well be a winner in that time.

A lovely move from Swansea as Tiendalli finds himself in space on the overlap but he can only hit the side netting with his strike.

What a great finish we have had to this game.

Tiendalli whips a ball in from the right but Koscielny heads clear.

Tiendalli again with a ball into the box but he overhits it.

Arsenal break and Wilshere tries to play in Walcott but Chico does well to make the interception.

Arsenal with the ball now. This will be the last chance surely?

Arsenal win a free-kick. Chance to whip a ball into the box.

Walcott sends it in but Vorm does well to claim it.

And there goes the full-time whistle.

A fantastic second half. Michu scored with his first touch, Arsenal looked to have won it at the death, before Graham had the last word. Both sides will have to do it all over again in a replay.

And of course both teams are in the hat for the fourth round draw which is at 1530GMT.

That is all from here for now. But make sure you join us for live commentary of Mansfield Town v Liverpool which kicks off at 1600GMT. Could a giant-killing be on the cards?