please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Venue: Britannia Stadium Saturday, December 6th 2014 KO Time: 15:00 BST please log in to view this image Head to Head Against Stoke City: Played: 92 Wins: 47 Draws: 21 Losses: 14 Goals For: 145 Goals Against: 86 Goal Difference: 59 Last 6 Meetings: Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City Arsenal 1-0 Stoke City Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City please log in to view this image Starting XI: please log in to view this image Bench: Szczęsny Koscielny Ajayi Maitland-Niles Campbell Podolski Welbeck
I reckon we should go for the crosses onto Giroud's big noggin but then again Giroud did have that sexy interplay with Dat Guy Welbz yesterday. But that is also an option. Its good to have choices like this to make.
Definitely would start with Giroud. We'll need his strength and hold up play to bring Cazorla, Ox and Sanchez into play. He can hold of the Stoke defenders, Welbz will get muscled out. I'd bring on Welbz if we still need a goal with 10-15 mins left and let his pace pull the stokies apart when the big lumps are knackered.
According to an article in the Sun, Shawcross has warned that Arsenal will enter a "Bear pit full of hatred". ****er.
It'll be interesting if Wenger choses to go for a 4-4-2 with Welbeck playing in the 'hole' behind Giroud (and playing off him when we've got the ball) with Sanchez and Oxo swapping on the flanks. Only problem with this formation is it means no room for Cazorla, who is finding form, and who is a great player to have in the team. (if he went for this formation) Wenger is more likely to drop Oxo, which is a big shame and play Cazorla in the 'hole' with Welbeck on the flank, cutting in, and Sanchez doing the same on the other. With the expectation on the FB's to get forward to provide width.
I'm all for G'ing up your players and the fans but this is a VERY FOOLISH comment to make. No one should condone hared especially for a sodding football match.
Worrying comments from Wengers press conference. Says Nacho def out, hoping Gibbs is fit. Walcott def out, and won't travel to Gala either. Szczesny is a doubt but is in the provisional squad. Kos is a doubt! As is Rosicky and Sanogo - Wilshere, Walcott, Arteta, Ospina, & Ozil are all out. what are we doing to these players??? But Debuchy has started training, which is excellent news! Diaby is back in training!!!!! WOO!!!
Only two names I'm interested in (mainly) are Kos and Debuchy. If one of those dudes can be fit then we have some breathing space. If Debuchy is in and Kos is out then we could move Chambers in the middle. If both our LBs are out then Flamini will have to slot in.
Yeah it's going to really hamper us if Kos, Gibbs and Monreal are out! But crazy how many players are being hit by injuries, either long term or niggling. And that Walcott - whose supposed to be back - is out again with another injury.
Wenger said Kos is in and said Gibbs should be in aswell. So the back 4 should only really change as Gibbs for Nacho.
Where has everyone disappeared to? Anyway's latest team news says that 19 year old Bellerin will be playing right back for us. Interesting to see how he does but it'll be a tough second Prem game for him.
LATEST TEAM NEWS Stoke make three changes with central defender Marc Muniesa, forwards Jonathan Walters and Peter Crouch in the starting XI. Arsenal make three changes as well, with teenager Hector Bellerin coming in at right-back, Kieran Gibbs filling in at left-back for Nacho Monreal and Olivier Giroud starting in attack. Danny Welbeck drops to the bench where he is joined by Laurent Koscielny, with Calum Chambers moving to centre-back. Arsenal XI: Martinez, Bellerin, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Cazorla, Giroud Stoke XI: Begovic, Bardsley, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters, Nzonzi, Cameron, Diouf, Bojan, Walters, Crouch.
Looking forward to seeing bellerin in action again. It's going to be a physical game today and I want to see flamini take someone the **** out within the first ten minutes to set the tone, we won't be pushed about. We will need to deal with the physical battle to get the win today and we have quite a feisty team out so hopefully we will manage.
Indeed, we have two 19 year olds at the back. Thank heavens we have the Big German at the back. Hopefully he will take command.
