Stoke City vs Arsenal: Match Thread

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Arsenal face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium as they search for their first win of the new premier league season. Arsenal played out a goalless draw with Sunderland at the Emirates on the opening day of the new season. It was a very frustrating afternoon for the Gunners and they watched their team fail to register their first goal of the season. Olivier Giroud had the chance to break the deadlock but he fluffed the glorious chance which was created by the excellent Santi Cazorla. All in all, it was a very testing afternoon for the Gunners and they will go into the Stoke game looking for their first win of the season. Stoke City also drew their first game of the new season after a late Reading goal denied them all three points. Arsenal only managed to get a point against Stoke at the Britannia last season and they had to come from behind to get that point after Peter Crouch put the Potters ahead with a trademark header. Robin Van Persie got on the end of a Thomas Rosicky cross to draw the Gunners level and that was final goal of the game. Arsenal have only managed the one win against Stoke at the Britannia in the Premier League. That win came in 2010 and Arsenal were inspired by a brilliant Cesc Fabregas in that game. In 2012 they will have to be inspired by a new hero and that player could be Santi Cazorla, who was the standout player in Arsenals draw against Sunderland. This game will showcase a contrast in styles, so it’s always an interesting game to watch.

Stoke have not been as busy in the transfer window this season compared to previous ones. Their main summer signing was Michael Kightly from Wolves. A right sided winger who has plenty of pace and can be dangerous on his day. He scored in Stoke’s draw with Reading and he has the pace to trouble the Arsenal defence. Stoke’s biggest threat comes in the form of Peter Crouch, a player who has caused the Arsenal defence a lot of problems in the past. His size is a problem and marking him on set pieces will be tough job. In Per Mertesacker, Arsenal do have a defender who can match Crouch in the air and they will hope that he can shackle Peter Crouch and keep him quiet. John Walters is an interesting player and a player who can play two dual roles. When Stoke are defending, he normally slots into their midfield and reduces the space in there and he is a tireless player who will not stop running so the Arsenal players will have not a lot of time on the ball. When Stoke are attacking, he gets close to Peter Crouch and they can be a hard combination to deal with. Stoke’s main threat will surely come from set pieces and they know that they can hurt Arsenal from corners and free kicks as Arsenal are suspect at defending them. Wojciech Szczęsny will have to have a strong game and he needs to be commanding when Arsenal are defending set pieces against Stoke. The Britannia is never an easy place to go and that is especially the case it seems for the so called big teams. Stoke City are able to raise their game for such occasions. Only Newcastle United out of the top six, have managed a win at the Britannia last season. But, only Tottenham out of the top six left without any points. The rest could only manage draws. Stoke City, have also lost against the likes of QPR,West Brom and Sunderland at home last season. Both clubs have never got on well and it all came to a boiling point after Ryan Shawcross broke Aaron Ramsey's leg. Arsenal managed to cope and get a win in that game but that was their only win at Stoke. There is also a lot of animosity between the Stoke fans and Arsene Wenger, the Frenchmen was taunted by the Stoke fans when he last visited the Britannia and he can expect more of the same, but if his team do the talking on the pitch then those taunts will die down quickly. Stoke’s home support does give their team an advantage and they make it very unpleasant for the visiting team, especially if that team is Arsenal. The Gunners will have to deal with all of that if they are to come out on top.

Abou Diaby got through the game against Sunderland without picking up an injury and that would have been a major relief for the manager. Diaby is a highly talented player and one Arsenal will need this season after they sold Alex Song to Barcelona. Song was a key member of the squad last season a player who provided them with many assists. But his defensive work let a lot to be desired. Diaby will be lining up alongside Mikel Arteta who was again at his metronomic best against Sunderland. He is also one of the few experienced players Arsenal have left so he has become a very important player in a very short space of time. Abou Diaby’s height could also come in to use against a team like Stoke City and his physical power will hopefully prevent the Arsenal midfield from getting overpowered in the physical match up’s. Upfront, Arsenal will hope that Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud can improve their performances from the Sunderland game. Both looked a little rusty and the minutes on the pitch can only help them both. Podolski was brought in before last season even ended and his arrival again shows that Arsene Wenger is now willing to go and get an experienced player and a player who is in his peak. Podolski has over 100 international caps for Germany and he is still only 27 years old, so it’s an amazing achievement from Podolski. But at club level he still has things to prove after failing at Bayern Munich. That experience could help him this time around and the Arsenal fans will hope that he can deliver for them like he does for his country. Olivier Giroud was the top scorer in Ligue 1 last season with Montpellier. The tall forward has displayed all the qualities you need from your centre-forward when he was in France. He has shown that he can link the play and also convert the chances, but the step up to the premier league is a steep one and after the departure of Van Persie, Giroud might not have the time to ease his way in. After the departures of Alex Song and Robin Van Persie, the pressure is on the new players to deliver and Arsene Wenger will hope that his new recruits will do just that. But a trip to the Britannia will be a baptism of fire for the new players. They would not have been used to the sort of physical approach that they will encounter at Stoke and they will have to stand up and match Stoke on that front if they want to impose their superior footballing ability on the game. Arsenal go in search for their first win of the season and they visit a ground in which they have only managed to get one win in recent times, now will be a good time to double that tally.



Team News:

Arsene Wenger:

Three Key Match-ups:

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Overall Record vs Stoke City:

Played: 95
Won: 50
Draws: 22
Losses: 23
For: 158
Against: 92
GD: 66

Last 6 meetings:

Stoke City 1 - 1 Arsenal
Arsenal 3 - 1 Stoke City
Stoke City 3 - 1 Arsenal
Arsenal 1 - 0 Stoke City
Stoke City 1 - 2 Arsenal
Stoke City 3 - 1 Arsenal (FA Cup)

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Managers View:

Arsene Wenger on his new signings:

My Team:

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Final Score:

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Come on Arsenal.

 

2nd

 

Gibbs and Jenkinson worry me a bit in this game, Stoke will try and whip balls in from Pennant and Etherington like normal. Musn't give away free kicks anywhere near our own goal

 

We don't have Song anymore to give away silly free kicks outside the area. My biggest concern however is that Koscielny is still out for this one... not good.
Not confident at all.

 

Not sure he would have played anyway, we need Mertesacker's height to defend against Stoke's ogres

 

Exactly this. Hope Merts has been doing some serious Plyometrics in the close season!! Merts against Crouch is a good matchup - both tall, neither can jump!
I'm not so concerned about Gibbs & Jenks as long as they're told to be a bit more cautious about getting forward. Giroud will be KEY in this game if he starts. I can see Theo coming on after 60ish minutes if he doesn't start, and Oxo, and Arsenal winning it with pace against Stokes tiring lumbering giants in the last half hour.

 

Mertesaker is the perfect CB for this game against the Beanpole and Stoke's ball's into the area

 

These games are exactly the reason why I enjoy having Mertesacker in the squad. I'd start Kos over him in 60-70% of our games as I think he's a better player but sometimes you need the added height and strength that he offers (not that I think he's a bad player, I just prefer Koscielny).

Saying that it'll be a twunt of a game. Welcome to the EPL Santi!

 

Might be a bit of a shock for Santi, Stoke's cloggers are bound to target him

 

I've seen him get beaten in the air by players a foot shorter than him.

He seems to have a very short stature when waiting for an incoming ball, kind of like he's ducking.

Hope he does well though.

Sent from a mobile device.

 

Rumours are that Szczesney is Doubtful for the match with Stoke. Decision still to be made.
Bad bad bad.

 

That's terrible news. Our other two keepers are seriously weak when dealing with set pieces.

 

Going to be interesting to see how deals with it. I think his character and mentality will be tested more than anything.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/aug/24/stoke-city-arsenal-tactics?

Excellent article on what we will be up against this Sunday.

 

"last season Everton boss David Moyes told striker Nikica Jelavic to stand in front of Begovic when he had the ball in his hands. This prevented the Bosnian dropping the ball and hitting a long, flat clearance from the ground – instead he had to drop-kick, which didn't send the ball as far."

Great idea - keep Giroud on him.

"There are subtle features of Stoke's play. They focus passing significantly down the right wing, which is maybe why Sir Alex Ferguson used Patrice Evra at left midfield a couple of years ago, with John O'Shea at left-back."

Perhaps Gibbs AND Santos on the left then?

Stoke will be tough, there's more ability to change things this season though with Diaby back, him and Merts will play I feel to give some physical presence.

 

In midfield Diaby's height will be a big bonus. He needs to chalenge for everything in the air and the whole midfield need to battle through the game. Arteta has shown he can do this and hopefuly Cazorla shows his grittier side. In the first game against Sunderland Cazorla showed some signs that he fights for the ball so hopefully we will be ok in the physical aspect. Vermaelen and Mert need to be strong at the back and not give Crouch any space to get on the end of anything.

I'm looking forward to seeing our new strikers get another run out - should be a good game but i think we will control the game and Stoke will be limited to only a few half chances.

 

Listening to his press conference Arsene Wenger says that Chesney should be OK

 

Are you going to this game?

 

I've retired from going to away games.Standing up for two hours is too much for me.