League leaders Arsenal will be hoping to make a return to winning ways when they visit Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday. The Gunners won 2-0 against the Potters at the Emirates Stadium in September, with Theo Walcott and top scorer Olivier Giroud on the score sheet. Arsenal won four of the last six meetings with Stoke, but the Potters did win the last two times they faced the Gunners at the Britannia Stadium. Arsenal have not won at Stoke since 2010.
Stoke are in very good form, they won three of their last four Premier League matches and are currently in seventh place. This week they defeated Norwich 3-1, recovering from a 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion in their first match of 2016. Star winger Xherdan Shaqiri will most likely miss out due to an injury, while Marc Muniesa, Stephen Ireland, Phil Bardsley and Geoff Cameron are also in doubt. The Potters have won four of their last five home matches.
League leaders Arsenal nearly pulled off a great result in midweek at Anfield Road but a late goal sealed a 3-3 draw at Liverpool. The Gunners fought back twice, Giroud even put them 3-2 ahead in the second half but Joe Allen scored late in the game. Arsenal have not lost since the 4-0 thumping at Southampton on Boxing Day, recording two home wins before the draw at Liverpool. Alexis Sanchez could make his return on Sunday, even though Arsene Wenger might choose to keep him on the bench. New signing Mohamed Elneny could make his debut if the work permit paperwork goes through in time. Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck, Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla remain out of contention.
Betting tip: Over 2.5 goals because there have been at least three goals scored in Stoke's last 3 games while Arsenal have scored at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches against the Potters.
My prediction: Arsenal to win 2-1.
Probable line-ups:
Stoke: Butland - Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters - Afellay, Whelan - Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic - Joselu
Arsenal: Cech - Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal - Flamini, Ramsey - Campbell, Ozil, Walcott - Giroud
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Stoke win - 4.33 Draw - 3.60 Arsenal win - 1.95
sharpe
8 years ago
It was a tough, tough game for Arsenal but they survived in the end at one of the toughest places to visit in the last years in the Premier League. Not a greatest result for Arsenal but an important point for them in the title race and I'm sure Venger is quite happy with this one. Stoke are maybe the strongest home side...
It was a tough, tough game for Arsenal but they survived in the end at one of the toughest places to visit in the last years in the Premier League. Not a greatest result for Arsenal but an important point for them in the title race and I'm sure Venger is quite happy with this one. Stoke are maybe the strongest home side this season and Britannia is even harder place for the visiting teams this season.
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Shumar4life
8 years ago
Arsenal had a chance to make a distance from Leicester and Arsenal, but they didn't succeeded because they had good Stoke on other side of the court. They will have a tough job to maintain good results until the end of season, in order to get a Premier league title finally, but I am sure that they have quality to do that
Arsenal had a chance to make a distance from Leicester and Arsenal, but they didn't succeeded because they had good Stoke on other side of the court. They will have a tough job to maintain good results until the end of season, in order to get a Premier league title finally, but I am sure that they have quality to do that
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ne0h 8 years ago
Stoke are in 7th place in the Premiership, they have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 7 league games played, winning in their last game 3-1 at home against Norwich. Arsenal are in 2nd place just a point behind Leicester and would like nothing better than win this game away to Stoke to day to go top, they have won...
Stoke are in 7th place in the Premiership, they have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 7 league games played, winning in their last game 3-1 at home against Norwich. Arsenal are in 2nd place just a point behind Leicester and would like nothing better than win this game away to Stoke to day to go top, they have won 5, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 7 league games played, drawing in their last game 3-3 away against Liverpool. This is a close game to call however I am taking Arsenal to win this game as they are a point behind Leicester with this game to play as they are in the slightly better form going into this game and I feel should just edge a win in this game today, although Stoke will be a hard nut to crack.
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