i don't think stoke will rest on their laurels. isn't every higher up league position worth £1 million in prize money? thought it was sumthing like that, and one reason why mid table clubs ignore the FA cup, because they gain more from doing better in the PL
Our form has taken another dip recently although we did have the chances to beat chelsea so that is a huge dissappointment, it's probably down to the fact that rvp has been off form at bit and our injuries aswel and it is coming to the end of the season but at the same time this is when the great players step up to the plate and perform. Hopefully diaby gets a start on saturday and i really can't call the score for this one because we have an awful record vs stoke but i never think that we are going to lose a game. It seems at the moment that its the team with the least worst results that will get 3rd and 4th. Newcastle are on a ridiculously good run but have 2 very tough games against chelsea and man city and for everything chelsea have done i still don't expect them to make the top 4, i think they'll have to win the champs league final
Id have this down as a 2-1 to Arsenal... I reckon you will struggle to create as much with no Arteta but you should still get a result.
I think we're facing a pretty tough time without Arteta and Walcott, the next few games are going to need some really good performances from the players coming in, Diaby and Coquelin will probably feature quite a bit. If they are fit and ready then I think they could be just the types of characters that we need. But, it's going to be a big test for the whole team.
Huge test - with Chelsea looking ever more likely to win the CL I think we'll need at least 2 wins and a draw to make the CL next year. A few expect a Newcastle collapse because they have some hard games - I don't.
Ammar im not bein funny but statin our center halves are not intelligent is a proper lol !! If you guys had them as a pairing u would already be in the champs league and if u disagree i think your football knowledge is very limited !! Thats why stoke r what they r .. But this yr we av been abyssmal in front of goal !! Lookin forward to sat like all stoke fans big time Arsene created a minefield when he critisised us publicly yrs ago and stoke fans will NOT forget it ! EVER Thats a promise .. Anyways GL to both on sat !!
Not really. Shawcross and Huth would struggle at Arsenal. We often play a high defensive line, so the CB's will have to either have great pace or good positional play. We also do not defend as a team as much as we should, and therefore the CB's are often exposed. Our full backs go forward a LOT and we have Song as a DM and he also goes forward. So our CB's have a difficult job. Huth has already failed at a big club and Shawcross, is hardly being tracked by all the big boys.
well jack i understand where u r coming from .. but the centre backs are what they r !! Huth is 26 hardly washed up .. and arguably one of the best in the prem ready made for top 4 teams but no stoke fan wud like to lose him .. hes top drawer as for Shawcross still a baby and holds his own big time against all .. i really dont see koncieslky in same calss .. verm is gettin better but we are talkin about stoppin teams scorin goals against are we not ? and my word they do contribute in the other box
Stoke as a team protect their CB's and therefore they do not get exposed to situations that the likes of Kos and Vermaelen have to deal with. Also, we need our CB's to come out of defence with the ball. Stoke and Arsenal have different styles. Our major problem at the back this season has been the injuries to our full backs. Therefore we had to moves the likes of Vermaelen to LB and Kos to RB. In our last eight games, we have kept six clean sheets with a back four that has players playing in the correct positions and our CB's have been Vermaelen and Kos.
I think this will be a tight game and Walcott has always seemed to give our fullbacks a problem whenever he's played against us. I was also worried as I really rate Arteta. With both out injured? We have a great chance to win this. But fair play to Arsenal, you have turned your season around after a woeful start so it's anyones to win on Saturday. Pennant was ill last weekend so I HOPE that we go for the 3pts and use both him and Etherington. Looking forward to the game but as said above. Arsene will no doubt get a nice reception from the home fans. Bring it on and IF Pulls is bold enough, he got some flack on our board after a woeful performance last weekend v Newcastle and I hope our player's did. We're up for it, I'm sure our player's will be too.
I think we will batter stoke. They are dire at the moment and even their own fans are starting to wake up to the fact that Pullis is an appauling manager. Whats the point in spending so much money and going backwards. They dont even play football worth watching which is the biggest shame for (some of) their fans. They are never going to win the league or the CL so whats the point? They might as well at least play some nice stuff.
i suppose Arenal4life the same can be said for Arsenal ! By now im sure u must realise that winning things are a little bit beyond ya All be it a top side and i like how Arsenal play ... u av to rememeber it aint for everyone .. We are only 4 seasons in ..Arsenal are yrs in .. it all takes time .. Arsenal r a top class side end of BUT all the rest around ya up top r leavin u standin in terms of transfer activity etc and bringing in the best talent that can be bought ... wether this is good for footy or not its happening ... ie Fabregas and Nasri shame but true
is that a silly comparison ? i know what most would prefer ... Its Arsenals achilles heel big time .. Put the pair in with the class of your full backs and i would be amazed if there wasnt a massive diff .. they can play full stop i cant honestly believe even die hard afc fans cud say diff .... no brainer your CH pairin dont exactly light up the stats and prem do they ? im being honest ....
[video=youtube;TmnJ6MORSZg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmnJ6MORSZg&feature=related[/video] Just getting myself pumped for this COYG Ramsey make Shawcross cry.
Diaby will not start because he was ill and still recovering. This is getting ridiculous. Rosicky played being ill against Chelsea and will be playing again, but Diaby is spared. Arsene, they are lying, he is not your son, just let him go and have an illustrious career somewhere else. Diaby is the Least Valuable Arsenal Player of the last decade if you bear in mind his huge salary. Just get rid and give his salary to Robin.
LOL, you do make me smile! Diaby a class act and a legend?! Seriously, I do think he is a really good player when fit, and it's been a real shame for him that he cant stay healthy for an extended run (ever since that Sunderland thug shattered his ankle). I dont think he will be able to play a defensive midfield going forward though - too many knocks - but he could be very effective playing high up and supporting RVP.
You're not really being honest though are you. You're pair have conceded more goals both home and away. Looking further at the stats you will see that Verm and Kos have better stats than both Huth and Shawcross except in one area - clearances per game. The interesting thing about 'clearances per game' is that all the defenders at the top of that stat play in the bottom half of the league. Now how could that be ???? Huth and Shawcross are playing for a mid table to relegation team - that is the best they will ever do.
When he's fit, he's a class act. But he's never had a long enough run to prove it consistently, and has only shown it in flashes, but the talent is there. And, any player who goes directly to the fans and hugs them in a goal celebration shows that they share the same passion as the fans, that makes them a legend in my eyes
