Carlos aims to keep record intact

Carlos Carvalhal looks to preserve his impressive record against Europe’s elite and help steer the Swans out of the relegation zone on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

The Swans host Arsenal in SA1 with Carvalhal aware that victory could see his team climb off bottom spot and rise out of the drop zone.

He pits his wits against Arsene Wenger for a second time, having got the better of the Gunners boss during his time in charge at Sheffield Wednesday.

It is one of seven occasions which Carvalhal has come through unscathed against a manager who has either won or reached the Champions League final.

He steered the Swans to victory over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool last week, with the German having previously reached the Champions League final in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund.

Prior to that, he guided Sheffield Wednesday to a League Cup win over Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, while he has won three and drawn once against Newcastle United’s Rafa Benitez, who famously guided Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005. A single meeting with Roberto di Matteo – a winner with Chelsea – concluded in a narrow victory over Aston Villa in the Championship.

“Maybe, they are afraid of me!” joked Carvalhal.

“In all those games, my teams have been the underdogs and so they have been much harder and more difficult.

“Tomorrow we will be playing against a very strong team. They have everything to win the game – a fantastic manager, fantastic squad and a fantastic dynamic.

“They are one of the best teams in England and one of the best in the world.

“We will fight and try to find the best strategy to block them and, at the same time, try to explore their weak points.

“We’ll fight for the three points, but it will be a very difficult game. We must concentrate and, if we do, we have a chance.”