Revealed: Wenger ready to axe senior Arsenal trio for Swansea clash

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Published on:

29 Feb 2016, 7:27 am

By Editor Wayne Veysey | Former Evening Standard, Press Association and Goal chief correspondent with 17 years experience of breaking big stories, including exclusives like this

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Arsene Wenger is ready to axe some of his senior stars following Arsenal's limp defeat at Manchester United on Sunday, Football Insider sources understand.

The Gunners manager is expected to ring the changes for the team's Premier League home clash against Swansea on Wednesday.

Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott are among those who could be dropped in the wake of Arsenal's latest big-match letdown.

Wenger's team lost 3-2 against a weakened United team at Old Trafford as their title hopes suffered a major blow.

This came five days after a 2-0 Champions League home defeat to Barcelona that has virtually ended their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition.

Wenger did not tear into his players after the United setback - as he did following the midweek loss to Barcelona - but an Arsenal source has told Football Insider that he is alarmed at how the pressure got to his team on Sunday.

The manager is said to be ready to shake things up for the visit of Swansea. Mohamed Elneny will come into contention for his first Premier League start, while Per Mertesacker, Joel Campbell and Olivier Giroud could all start after being on the bench at Old Trafford.

Red alert: Sanchez has been off the boil for the last month

Two star names who could be facing the axe are Sanchez and Ramsey, who epitomise the lack of form of so many of Wenger's big guns.

Sanchez has been below par since returning from a hamstring injury over a month ago, while Ramsey has lost his scoring touch despite being give plenty of opportunities in his favourite central midfield role.

Walcott is unlikely to start against Swansea after an anonymous display at Old Trafford, which will mean an instant recall for Giroud.

Arsenal

Theo Walcott

Aaron Ramsey

Arsene Wenger

Swansea City

Alexis Sanchez