Here is how Stoke City and Arsenal will line up for this afternoon’s match at the Britannia Stadium:
Stoke City starting XI: Begovic, Cameron, Pieters, Shawcross, Wilson, Nzonzi, Adam, Arnautovic, Whelan, Crouch, Walters
Subs: Sorenson, Muniesa, Palacios, Guidetti, Etherington, Wilkinson, Ireland
Arsenal starting XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
Subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry, Sanogo
With Manchester City otherwise engaged this weekend, Arsenal and Chelsea have the chance to put a little daylight between themselves and the rest of the chasing pack.
The Gunners could go top this afternoon, but that will require quite a shock at Craven Cottage, so you can be sure Arsene Wenger will just be focusing on the efforts of his own side.
Stoke City have only won one of their last 10 home league matches, while Arsenal’s away form this season is second only to Tottenham. When you consider those facts, Wenger should be quietly confident of the victory, but he has not enjoyed the best of times on this particular trip; Arsenal have won just one of their last seven matches at the Britannia Stadium.
With two days off following their tough recent run, it will be interesting to see how the Gunners perform against something of a bogey-team, who will be desperate for points to climb further away from the relegation zone.
What do you think today’s result will be?
image: © Vincent Teeuwen
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