Arsenal visit Stoke at the Britannia on Saturday at 3pm.
Who’s in and who’s out? Here’s the latest with regard to team news for both sides:
Stoke City:
Peter Odemwingie – Odemwingie has a calf problem and will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the game. Manager Mark Hughes indicated at the weekend he is winning the battle.
Jonathan Walters – Hughes confirmed yesterday that Walters has been ill all week but that he ‘over the worst of it’. Expect him to start.
Oussama Assaidi – The impressive Liverpool loanee is ruled out of the game with a knee injury.
Robert Huth – Huth has been recovering from a knee injury and played a friendly in midweek but is not in contention to feature against Arsenal.
Arsenal:
Kieran Gibbs – Gibbs missed training for Arsenal on Friday and is struggling with a muscle injury and will undergo a late fitness test ahead of the game.
Nacho Monreal – There will also be a late test for Monreal, who also missed training with an ankle injury but Arsene Wenger is still hopeful one of the two may make it.
Thomas Vermaelen – The Belgian is fit again and Arsene Wenger has confirmed he is line to start at left-back should neither Gibbs nor Monreal make it.
Mesut Ozil – After missing the game against Sunderland with a slight injury and having a rest earlier in the week, Arsene Wenger has confirmed Ozil is raring to go and is expected to start.
Jack Wilshere – Wilshere was a full participant in training after a slight hamstring complaint.
Laurent Koscielny – The Frenchman had a minor back problem but is now fully fit and expected to start alongside Per Mertesacker.
Also out: Kim Kallstrom, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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