please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Stoke City at the Emirates this Saturday afternoon in the Barclays Premier League. The Gunners go into this game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the Emirates in midweek. After some terrible defending from Arsenal, Luis Suarez managed to fire his side into the lead and Arsenal had once again fallen behind in a Premier League game. Despite creating a few decent chances, the Gunners could not find an equaliser and headed into the half-time break trailing by one goal. Things only got worse after half-time, when Jordon Henderson doubled Liverpool’s lead after he managed to maraud his way through the Arsenal defence. Things were not looking good for the Gunners at that point, but they staged a brilliant comeback, as Olivier Giroud got on the end of a Jack Wilshere free kick to bring Arsenal back into the game. Theo Walcott completed the quick comeback with a fierce drive and the Gunners looked unstoppable at the moment. But, they could not find that third goal, despite creating more clear chances, and had to settle for a hard earned point. Stoke City were also involved in a 2-2 draw in their midweek Premier League game, but they unlike Arsenal, gave up a two goal lead. The Potters looked on course for the three points after they took a two goal lead against Wigan at the Britannia but Wigan hit back and left with a point. It was a disappointing result for the Potters, and they have now gone five league games without a win. Stoke City and Arsenal played out a dour 0-0 draw at the Britannia stadium when the two teams met earlier in the season. Neither side created a clear chance, as both defences came out on top. Stoke City have a shocking away record at Arsenal, they have not even managed to get a point in any of their last four visits to the Emirates. In fact, their last away win against Arsenal was in 1981, when they managed to beat Arsenal at Highbury. The two teams have not had the best of relationships in recent time, so we could be in for another spiky game between the two sides, and with the clashes of style, this should be an interesting game. Despite only being in February, it could be argued that Stoke City have very little to play for this season. With Swansea City and Bradford City reaching the Legaue Cup final, Stoke will have to finish in sixth place to achieve Europa League football. They currently trail the team in sixth place (Arsenal) by eight points and a defeat at the Emirates will make that 11 points. They also have a ten point gap on 18th place Wigan, and are clearly in a safe mid-table position. With them being dumped out of both the two domestic cup competitions, it’s hard to see what Stoke City can play and compete for. So Tony Pulis might have a problem motivating his players and their recent form should also be a worry for Pulis. Their last league win came in December against Liverpool, and they have only managed to pick up two points from a possible fifteen in their last five league games. The goals have also dried up in that time. They have only scored three league goals in the whole of January and they lack a clinical forward. Peter Crouch has not found the form he was showing last season, and he only has five league goals to his name this season. But, Crouch is a player that Arsenal have struggled to deal with in the past and he has a good record against the Gunners. John Walters is a player that is invaluable to Stoke City. His work rate is immense and he covers so much ground, he can sldo cause problems in the final third, but like Crouch, he has not been in the greatest of form in recent weeks. Stoke’s strengths lie in their defence with the likes of Ryan Shawcross, Robert Huth and Asmir Begovic. But again, they have also not been in great form over the last few weeks. In their last five league games, they have conceded fifteen goals and that would be hugely disappointing to someone like Tony Pulis. Stoke are famed for their defence and the way they defend as a team, but they have been breached over and over again, in their last five league games. And on Saturday, they are going to face a team who are on a brilliant goal scoring run. The Gunners have scored fourteen goals in their last four homes games in the league. Stoke City have been pretty dreadful on the road this season in the league, they have only won one away game all season and that was against West Brom in early December. They have only scored eight goals away from the Britannia this season, and that has been their biggest problem this season. One of their better resultd on the road was in North London, when they managed to achieve a 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. It was a brilliant defensive display and Tony Pulis would be hoping that they can produce something similar against Arsenal this Saturday. In their draw against Liverpool, Arsenal lost Kieran Gibbs to a thigh injury and it was a massive blow to the Gunners. He is now out for three weeks but Arsene Wenger still had time in the transfer window to find a replacement. Nacho Monreal was the man that Wenger brought in to cover for Gibbs and Monreal, a Spanish International is an able replacement for the young Englishmen. But the Stoke game could come too soon for Monreal and Arsene Wenger might have to turn to Andre Santos or he could move Thomas Vermaelen out wide and bring Laurent Koscielny into the middle alongside Per Mertesacker. The Gunners have been struggling in defence in recent weeks and against Stoke, they have to be strong in defence, especially when defending set pieces. When Arsenal took on Stoke City earlier in the season, their attackers were struggling as the likes of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla were still adjusting to life in the Premier Legaue. But, in recent weeks, Arsenal have looked a lot more sharper in attack and are creating more chances compared to earlier in the season. Giroud scored his fifth goal in three games, when he scored against Liverpool, and he is on his first real goal scoring run at Arsenal. Against the likes of Shawcross and Huth, Giroud should expect a tough battle and how he deals with those two centre-backs should be one of the key aspects of the game. The game against Arsenal and Stoke City is a real clash of styles and it’s game that Arsenal need to win. With the race for the Champions League places hotting up, the Gunners can’t afford to slip up. Team News: Arsene Wenger: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Stoke City: Played: 96 Won: 50 Draws: 23 Losses: 23 For: 158 Against: 92 GD: 66 Last 6 meetings: Stoke City 0 - 0 Arsenal 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 please log in to view this image Manager's Views: Arsene Wenger on his new signing, Nacho Monreal: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
I'd throw Monreal in at the deep end, see what he has to offer. If he can deal with wingers like Navas and Adrian, then he can deal with Stoke. This is my team please log in to view this image I think your team is the one we'll see though.
Wenger is never going to drop Sagna. I named Jenkinson in a few my teams in the match threads, but Wenger has always stuck with Sagna.
He has to drop him soon? He's eradicated the Santos issue, maybe he'll wise up to the Sagna issue now too?
Maybe, but doubt it. Also, I think Wenger might be tempted to play Diaby because of who we are playing. He has had a week off, so won't be too risky.
The " Sagna Issue " lol! Bacary has to be the best I've seen at running in straight lines. Up & down for 90 mins guaranteed. I don't think I've ever seen a Fullback so 1 dimensional! He seems incapable of beating an opponent in an attacking sense & his crossing is woeful. I am a big Jenkinson fan (who I've taken to calling Jinx lol ) & can only think that the reasoning behind Sagna being AW's preferred choice is Bacary's experience makes him less error prone. That said, I am yet to see a Sagna performance this term, that significantly bettered Jenkinson's early Season form.
Arteta could be fit for the game and it would appear Monreal is available.There is some talk that Vermaelen is a doubt.
Vermaelen is a doubt (see Press Conference Thread), so I wouldn't want him over-exerting himself at LB. Nacho in at LB for me, Arteta back in the middle. I'd like to see Diaby as Arteta, Wilshere & Cazorla is a small midfield, but the only one you can really drop is Cazorla as Wilshere is on great form and I wouldn't want to see Cazorla on the left as Pod is physical.
It is interesting to see Wenger saying that we were close to buying another player.It's bad news that Gibbs is out for 4-6 weeks.I know it wont affect us for the league and Fa Cup but it's a worry for the Munich home game.
I really hope Nacho can settle quickly (and doesn't just crumble - sorry!) and if so he could sort out a fair few of our defensive problems, as many of the goals we've conceded have been from left back (either the winger beating Santos really easily, or Gibbs/Santos losing their men and allowing easy headers/tap-ins) or right back, so IF (it won't happen) but IF, we play Jenks and Nacho (if he settles quickly) then it should give us a much more solid defence. Especially with Diaby in front. It's just a shame we couldn't get an out and out DM as well, and we are short at CB with only 3 recognised CBs, with Miguel backing them up. But it could be a good game if we can break Stoke down...
Yep, does look like Nacho is going to start. Took part in full training today. Although there was no sign of Santi in the training pics, hope he is not injured.
I'm interested tos ee what Wenger does tomorrow. Arteta has only just returned to training, Verm is a doubt, who does Wenger make captain? Mert didn't do well against Brighton, i'm hoping he gives Jack a shot
Breakfast eaten,smoked my first *** of the day,now it's time for a **** and a shave and then it's off to catch the bus.Hopefully i'll be downing my first pint at approx 12-30
I know Oxo's posted a pic to the contrary, but from what i'm reading on twitter, Santi won't feature today due to a family bereavement.
