Stoke City vs. Arsenal Preview – Lineups, Prediction, And Odds

Stoke City vs. Arsenal Preview

Arsenal and Stoke City are not ideally where they would like to be, on the points table. Arsenal have strung two wins on the trot in the Premier League, and are starting to look better, as their injury crisis has started to look less severe. Stoke, on the other hand, have lost three in a row, and need luck on their side to avoid getting beaten for the fourth time, owing to a horror run of fixtures.

Stoke will have their home supporters cheering for them, which may spur them on to fight, while Arsenal fans will hope that they can keep the winning momentum, to safeguard a place for themselves in the top-4, rather than scramble for a scrappy fourth-place finish as has been the case in recent times. Arsenal’s play has lacked imagination at times, but they have been saved by their summer purchase, Alexis Sanchez, and Stoke will look for these opportunities to strike, with the pace of their attackers such as Bojan.

However, the gulf in class between the players at Stoke and Arsenal may decide the game. Arsenal have saved many of their games this season through late goals in the dying minutes of games. Stoke may use physical tactics to gain an advantage, but Arsenal will take the fight to Stoke. The tackle by Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross on Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey will not be forgotten very easily, but Arsenal have their fair share of players who would not think twice before making rough tackles themselves. In the same way, Stoke have added a silky, pacy approach to their football which has helped them counterattack oppositions easily, such as the counter led by Mame Biram Diouf that consigned Manchester City to a 1-0 defeat.

Both sides need the win, but Arsenal hold the advantage, owing to their current form. Stoke could surprise a jaded Arsenal team, after a gruelling week in which both Stoke and Arsenal will have played three matches. Arsenal have had tough weeks with Champions League football, which could have drained their players, but at the same time, will have made their players used to continuous football.

Alexis Sanchez could be the difference between both these sides, as he is more than capable of turning the game in Arsenal’s favour if he gets even half a chance, as has been evidenced by his great performances and his growing confidence over the past few weeks while playing under Wenger.

Predicted Line-ups

Stoke (4-4-2): Asmir Begovic – Marc Muniesa, Phil Bardsley, Ryan Shawcross, Erik Pieters – Victor Moses, Steven N’Zonzi, Steve Sidwell, Jonathan Walters – Bojan Krkic, Mame Biram Diouf.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Damian Martinez – Calum Chambers, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal – Mathieu Flamini, Aaron Ramsey – Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski – Olivier Giroud

Odds (source: Independent)

Stoke to win: 4.1

Arsenal to win: 2.04

Draw: 3.65

FFO says

Will be a tough game for Arsenal. On Paper, Arsenal are favorites but in real this match can go either way or end up as a draw.

Stoke City 1 Arsenal 1