Arsenal v Stoke City – English Premier League preview
As Arsenal line up against Stoke City on 23rd of February, it is time to take a look at how both the teams will treat this crucial English Premier League tie, which is scheduled to take place at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal
The Gunners are absolutely gunning on all fronts with their latest win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League first leg of the round of sixteen, Wenger’s men now turn towards domestic responsibilities as Tony Pulis’s Stoke City fight it out with the
former champions of England.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last five competitive fixtures in all competitions and on the previous weekend, the London club only managed to draw against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road stadium.
The match against Stoke presents a fine opportunity for Arsenal to close the gap on league leaders Manchester United. A win against the Potters at the Emirates stadium will allow the Gunners to cut down Manchester United’s five point lead down to just two
points.
Nonetheless, Arsene will be aware of the fact that he has to use his squad players effectively with important league and European fixtures coming up in the month of May.
The last thing Arsenal need right now is a defeat in the league along with some injuries to the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Gael Clichy thus the Frenchman will be hoping that his team can come away unscathed with all three points from this tie on Wednesday
night.
Stoke City
Stoke City have been relatively average thus far in the 2010-2011 Premier League season. With three wins from their last five competitive fixtures, Tony Pulis’s men will look make the most of their long ball strategy against an Arsenal side, which has a
tendency to shy away from physical conflict.
The Potters will be high on morale as they take on the Gunners at the Emirates stadium as they just secured their place in the last eight teams of the FA Cup following a comprehensive three goal win over Brighton over the previous weekend.
Currently at 10th in the Premier League table with 33 points from a total of 26 games, a favourable result against Arsenal can see Stoke City leapfrog to 9th place above Newcastle United.
Team news
Arsenal will be without Thomas Vermaelen and Lukasz Fabianski for their matchup against Stoke.
Johan Djourou is also a doubt for the fixture but he is scheduled to undergo a late fitness test on Wednesday morning to ascertain his fitness levels. Abou Diaby is also a doubt with his calf injury alongside the likes of Van Persie, who is suffering from
a back injury.
Expected Arsenal line-up: Wojech
Scezney, Bacary Sagna, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Alexander Song, Denilson, Nasri, Fabregas, Nicklas Bendtner, Arshavin, Chamakh
Stoke City will have to make their long trip to London without the services of Matthew Etherington. Tony Pulis’s winger sustained a back injury in his team’s win over Brighton in the FA Cup. Thomas Sorenson is also expected to miss the tie against Arsenal
whilst Mamady Sidibe is also on the sidelines for the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury.
Expected Stoke City line-up: Begovic, Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Wilson, Pugh, Jermain Pennant, Dean Whitehead, Rory Delap, Roger Walters, Kenwyne Jones, John Carew
Key players
With Robin Van Persie sidelined due to his fitness troubles, the onus now falls on Marouane Chamakh to step up to the plate for Arsenal as they take on Stoke City. The former Bordeaux striker has been an anonymous figure thus far in the Gunners season as
he has found it hard to adapt to life in the English Premier League.
However, with a healthy amount of service towards him in the Stoke penalty area from the likes of Nasri and Fabregas, expect Chamakh to hit the back of the net at least once at the Emirates stadium on Wednesday night.
Alternatively, Stoke City will no doubt bank on Kenwyne Jones to fire them through to a win or at least a draw at the Emirates stadium. With Koscielny missing the tie against Stoke City for Arsenal, Jones’s aerial presence gains further significance. The
ex-Sunderland target man has already netted five goals in the Premier League for his latest club.
Prediction
Despite the fact that Arsenal are riddled with injury troubles, Stoke City will find it hard to gain anything from this encounter given that it is indeed taking place on Arsenal’s home turf i.e. the Emirates stadium. Prediction: 2-1 to Arsenal
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