Arsenal vs Stoke City 2015/16 PL (Preview/Live Thread)

[urbaNRoots]

vs

Saturday 12 September 2015 | Emirates Stadium | Kick-off 16:00 (CET)

Arsenal vs Stoke City 2015/16 PL (Preview/Live Thread)


Hope

Team news:
Arsenal: Wilshere, Welbeck and Rosicky are out of this match but Mertesacker has returned to full training.

Stoke: Shawcross, Odemwingie are out with injuries, Adam and Afellay are suspended and not available to pick for the manager while Diouf and Johnson also are in doubt.

The derby that is not a derby

While Arsenal are looking for an improvement in not only results but performances aswell, the Stoke fans are satisfied but nervous based on their start of season. Despite satisfying performances from the Stoke team they have not started the season very well, in fact they could end up last in the table if they don't get a result at the Emirates and in the next couple of games.

Injuries and suspensions have limited the choices for Mark Hughes in the Arsenal game but in attack they remain as strong as ever. Despite the main striker, Diouf, a doubt for the game, new signing Joselu could start at the heart of the attack flanked by Shaqiri and Arnautovic. In midfield should they decide with the attacking trio, the defensively stronger duo Whelan-Sidwell should be preferred over the talented youngster van Ginkel. In defense Shawcross will be a big miss who usually has a fine performance against Arsenal.

Meanwhile Arsene Wenger will most likely not give the same chance to Theo Walcott that he usually gives Olivier Giroud after a poor performance so the big man will most likely start in front of the usual Alexis/Özil/Ramsey/Cazorla/Coquelin quintet. Gabriel should also keep his place over Mertesacker who will be lacking match fitness and the Brazilian also deserves it after a strong performance against Newcastle. Arsene Wenger and Arsenal fans will be hoping that Alexis Sanchez will finally start his season, certainly a good chance against a team that is not very strong away from home.

A view from the other side:

There won't be such a feature for this fixture as the Stoke fans in the Internet are just a disgusting bunch with no respect towards our club and especially Arsene Wenger. I've found no interesting opinion or even a fun one, only pure loathe and hate.

So instead I'll leave you with this quote from Arsene Wenger's press conference:

"I am surprised that people accused me of lying. I did not know Welbeck had had a bad setback," Wenger said.

[Raptorgunner]

What a preview, love the YouTube video.

[Raptorgunner]

'Wenger-It is not always expecting someone coming down from heaven to sort out all your problems. Support is believing in the players, in the squad and this is a good opportunity to do that for our supporters.’

[Sri]

[Raptorgunner]

--------------- Cech
Bellerin - Gabriel - Koscielny - Monreal
--------Coquelin---Santi
------Ramsey - Özil - Alexis
-----------Owngoal

Would be nice give some minutes to Joel and see what he can give us this season, since Wenger pulled another Bendtner by holding him hostage.
I think Own goal will have a big game, could score few goals and win us the game.

[El Gunner]

urban

Not sure if I'm going to watch the game. But hopefully if I do miss it, it would be one of those fabulous Arsenal wins which you can't believe you missed out on.

[Sri]

I definitely miss it. Road trip to Black Forest

Spoiler:

[RealGunner]

Urban

Finally a saturday 3pm kick off. Missed those ffs.


Should be a routine win. But....

[Raptorgunner]

Had a crazy dream last night, we were down 3-0 at half time. but wait for it..........................turned the TV off, came on GL a bit later and saw we won 5-3.

[EL Patron]

someone is due a tonking, hopefully Stoke get it tomorrow

[RealGunner]

Sanchez should be much more fitter and sharper

[RealGunner]

Really want to see a front 3 of Sanchez-Giroud-Walcott

[Raptorgunner]

Wenger

“We will have to spread [the goals] through the squad,” he said. “I think Giroud, Walcott and Alexis can get around 20 goals without any problem.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20150910/wenger-football-not-an-exact-science#UAgREXyQ4pjB7sgj.99

[RealGunner]

Don't agree with him.

2 of those 3 might get 20, but not all 3 of them can. It's impossible unless you are MSN or BBC.

[El Gunner]

20 in all comps or just league?
If all comps, then I don't think it is that far off. Of course, they've had poor starts to the season, so for that to happen first Walcott needs to start and all 3 of them need to start turning it on.

[Rev]

If all 3 of them play TOGETHER with a midfield of Özil-Coq-Caz behind them it isn't far-fetched to think that each and every one of them could reach atleast 15 goals during the season.

This match btw..walk in the park

[Jay29]

Team:

Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis; Walcott

Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Arteta, Chamberlain, Campbell, Giroud

[RealGunner]

Good team

[Jay29]

Stoke team:

Butland; Bardsley, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; Shaqiri, Whelan, Van Ginkel, Arnautovic; Joselu, Diouf

[urbaNRoots]

Fair play to Wenger for giving Theo another chance. I hope he takes it.

[RealGunner]

Hope it's a Chile style formation


--------------------Cech--------------------
Bellerin------Gabriel-----Kos---------Monreal
--------------Coquelin----------------------
--------------------------Cazorla-----------
------Ramsey----------Ozil--------------------
------Walcott------------------------------------
------------------------Sanchez-----------------

[Sina]

not a good team but thats what we have as of now
must be enough to beat stoke though

COYG

[Twoism]

Gtfi that's such a Theo goal

[Twoism]

We played well against ptb team, coulda have a better lead. Hopefully we get some more goals 2nd half, Giroud super sub will shine.

[Raptorgunner]

Theo really needs to score one more.

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