Stoke Vs Arsenal
Saturday 1st March: 15:00 BST Kick Off
Cavemen Arena
Referee: Mike Jones


We are here

It's been a very interesting season so far. We have achieved far more than we anticipated at the start of the season. Our PL form, our FA Cup form and even our CL form before the group stages when we were dropped in the group of death. It's been interesting, crazy, eventful and of course exciting. However when you think things can't get crazy enough, they get even more crazy. We are entering the part of the season where there is no escape. No remorse. No time to feel sorry for ourselves. It's an end run. The run which every fan dreams of being in. It's the death run. Every one knows our fixtures from this weekend till April. Everyone has been anticipating it. Fans, haters, critics, pundits and anyone interested in football. They have been waiting. And...

We are here.

Stoke

We hate going to Stoke. That city, stadium and everything about it. We just don't like it. But it will be a bit different this time. Arsenal will face a stoke team that is being managed by Mark Hughes instead of Tony Pulis. This won't change their cretin fans but I don't think we will face the sort of brutality that we were accustomed to during the Pubis era. Guess that's something. We will also face a team that will actually attack us in comparison to the Sunderland team that came for a stroll. So what do we do at the Britannia?

We play our strongest team of course. It will be difficult though as Neither Monreal nor Gibbs seem to be fit. But the better news is that Vermaelen is back so I guess he can play at LB. There is also a possibility and a much better one that Sagna plays at Left back and Jenkinson at RB. Midfield trio should be Arteta-Wilshere-Ozil and front 3 Cazorla Giroud and Chamberlain/Rosicky.

Team News

For Arsenal, Gibbs and Monreal are doubtful while Vermaelen and Ozil are back in the squad. No other news.

For Stoke, Huth may or may not be fit while Star player Assaidi is out.

Probable Arsenal Team

----------------------------------Szczesny----------------------------------

Jenkinson--------------Mertesacker-----------Koscielny---------------Sagna

-----------------Arteta-------------------Wilshere---------------------------

Oxlade-------------------------Ozil----------------------------------Cazorla

--------------------------------Giroud--------------------------------------


Probable Stoke team

-----------------------------Begovic----------------------------------

Cameron------------Shawcross-------Wilson-------------------Pieters

-Arnautovic---------Adam-----Whelan-----Walters----------Odemwingie

-----------------------------Crouch----------------------------------

Match Facts (fourfourtwo)

• Peter Crouch has scored seven Barclays Premier League goals against the Gunners; only against Blackburn ( has he been more prolific.
  
• Arsenal have only scored in the first half of three of their last 13 Barclays Premier League matches.
  
• Stoke have had both teams scoring in their last six home matches
  
• Arsenal have won seven and lost just one of the last 10 Barclays Premier League games against Stoke City, but won none of the last three trips to the Britannia Stadium (W0 D2 L1).
  
• Peter Crouch has scored four goals his last six Premier League appearances at the Britannia Stadium.
  
• Only five teams in the Premier League have taken more points on home soil than Stoke have at the Britannia this season (21).
  
• Arsenal have hit the target with 55.3% of their shots, a divisional high shooting accuracy.
  
• The Potters have committed more fouls than any other team in the Premier League (360) and picked up the most cards (58 yellows and three reds).
  
• Stoke have lost by one goal to nil in their last three defeats
  

Final Words

3 points pls

*Monreal/Gibbs in for Jenko if they are fit

Won't get too many chances so need to be as clinical as possible. Stoke away is a hard game for most top teams in the league but we'll have it more difficult because they really hate us so let's shut them up with a fine performance.

If we can beat the rugby club, I'd be delighted.

Good work RG.

Hate stoke, but I believe we can walk away with 3 points. I think its our easiest game if you look at our next few games. Too much quality not to beat this disgusting rugby team.

Hughe's attempt to get Stoke to play passive, free flowing football will be their downfall against us. Hope we smash 3 or 4 past these imbeciles

I was reading a stoke forum the other day, never in my life have seen such sick human beings.

They dont deserve to play in the EPL.

We will win comfortably.

Was a bit nervy at the Emirates this season, believe they had it 1-1 and the momentum at one point? We surprisingly scored off a set piece which was uncharacteristic, equally unorthodox was that we allowed them spells of possession during the game.

Hope we put these demons to rest, for Rambo. Wish he could be here and score against them again.

Highburied wrote:I was reading a stoke forum the other day, never in my life have seen such sick human beings.

They dont deserve to play in the EPL.

We will win comfortably.

I agree, such sick people, was disgusted how bad they are.

Wenger, though, believes Ozil is reinvigorated by his short break and exclusion from the spotlight, and insists he does not put extra pressure on the club-record signing to live up to his significant price tag.

“I never tell Mesut: ‘You have to win us the game,’” Wenger told reporters when asked about the pressure placed on the German.

“He shouldn’t do that. It’s down to the performance of the team. But maybe he feels that a bit in a different way than I do. I just want him to enjoy it and play well.

“It is difficult for him mentally to be confronted with that pressure every three days and in every single competition.

“But he will adapt. He had a difficult game [against Bayern] because he missed that penalty and it was on his mind. Sometimes, when you are under this kind of pressure, it’s good to refresh.”

Ozil has recorded just one Premier League assist in 2014 and failed to find the back of the net, struggling to live up to his early billing, but Wenger is convinced the 25-year-old has the quality to drag himself out of his current slump.

“I don’t worry about Ozil,” the French boss continued. “He has gone a little bit through a difficult time. It can happen to anybody.

“He looks all right. He loves to play. You give him a ball and he’s happy. That’s the most important thing. And he has the quality. You always have to be behind your players. The best way is to show him support.”

Great work RG
i Want Big Yaya to start this one
maybe Flam as well

expecting Szczesny to be tested from long range a lot
so more bodies to block them first hand the better

Arnatovic vs Jenkinson would be troublesome for us similar to how we went down to 10 vs Sunderland last season, would want to avoid that

our recent record there isnt good but that doesnt mean much
lets do this
COYG

I would not start Ozil against Stoke, bring him on if we need in the second half.

--------------Szczesny
Sagna-Mertesacker-Koscielny-Vermaelen
----------Flamini-Wilshere
Chamberlain-----Rosicky-------Podolski
---------------Giroud

3-1 game.

Couldn't see Gibbs or Monreal in the training pictures. Looks like Vermaelen at left-back tomorrow.

AFC XI in last win at Stoke (Feb 2010, 3-1): Almunia; Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy; Ramsey Song; Eboue Fàbregas Nasri; Bendtner.   

Dat beast of header from mick Bendtner

interesting Stoke actually takes 2nd fewest shots from outside the box yet score 3rd most goals from the range

No time for stumbling now...   

So cute together.  

He's half a Cazorla taller than him

I am worried about Flamini, I know he will go hard at those Stoke Thugs.

No red cards please Flamini.  

Adam and Crouch will put you to the sword

Just watched the previous match. We scored three set pieces and they scored through possession (and a rebounded shot)

How ironic