Match preview: Stoke City - Arsenal

Two sides who had decidedly mixed fortunes in midweek go head to head at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday - and title hopefuls Arsenal are unlikely to be relishing the prospect of an aerial assault from the Potters after having their aristocratic noses put out of joint by arch-rivals Tottenham in a frenetic few minutes at the Emirates on Wednesday.

While the Gunners were squandering a 4-2 lead with a couple of minutes to go against Spurs, and had to settle for a solitary point after seeming to have banked three, Stoke were subjecting Sunderland's defence to an airborne invasion that finally yielded dividends when the umpteenth long-throw by hurler-extraordinaire Rory Delap was headed directly into the Black Cats' net by Ricardo Fuller to give Tony Pulis's team a second successive home win.

Not surprisingly, the Potters are now relishing the visit of Arsenal, whose confidence may be fragile and who will, on past form, be thrown out of their elegant stride if the ball is constantly catapulted off the turf and into the air. Arsenal's deserved reputation for irresistible, flowing football is based on stroking the ball around on the ground with pace and precision. Straining their necks to follow its overhead flight is unlikely to bring the best out of them, so Saturday's contest is likely to be a battle of tactical wills. Arsene Wenger's side will need to fight for the right to play their natural game, against opponents who will be trying to impose their more direct style on proceedings.

How Arsenal cope with this challenge will reveal much about their title chances - which have already taken a few hard knocks this season.

Stoke's win against Sunderland may not have been pretty, but it was effective, and prompted Sunderland skipper Dean Whitehead to remark that the Black Cats' trip to Chelsea this weekend will probably be an easier task than tackling the Potters. That is food for thought for Arsenal, whose eight-goal thriller in the North London derby may have been the ultimate in entertainment but ended in pure frustration for the Gunners, who conceded two goals after the 89th minute.

Although the point took Arsenal up one place into third, they saw still-unbeaten Liverpool open up a six-point gap ahead of them, with Manchester United only two points behind them with a game in hand.

By dropping points against Fulham, Hull, Sunderland and Spurs already this season, Arsenal can be said to have failed to take advantage of the least demanding of any of the Big Four's early season programmes. With a quarter of the campaign already gone, the Gunners have yet to face a fellow-Big Four member. That changes next weekend when Manchester United visit the Emirates. That will be a major test, but the Gunners can be sure that Stoke will also give them a thorough examination.

What mental state will the London outfit be in? There have been press reports that the
Arsenal players were involved in a furious dressing-room row after the 4-4 draw with Spurs, with manager Wenger ripping into them for allowing that late two-goal collapse. Full-back Gael Clichy was allegedly near to tears after his mistake allowed Jermaine Jenas to pull the score back to 4-3. Emmanuel Adebayor has questioned his side's ability to win the Premier League unless or until they develop a winning mentality, while the manager's decision-making has come under intense scrutiny recently.

Wenger's take on the outcome of the Spurs game was illuminating. “I believe that we produced an excellent game and the positive side is that we were really superior to Tottenham," he opined on the club's official website. "We produced the game we wanted to and put a lot of energy into the performance. The negative side is that we didn’t win and I believe that was down to a lack of maturity. I would like to keep the positives tonight because I believe we were really outstanding and I don’t believe that the lack of maturity is linked to experience.

“The maturity will improve with intelligence. I think my players are intelligent and they will learn from their mistakes. In life you must make the maximum with what you have. In a game like tonight we did not get the result that was available, we must think ‘how did that happen?’ and ensure that it doesn’t happen again.”

“I believe we were too cautious, we wanted to keep the ball in a negative way instead of scoring goals number five and six. We were not going forward with enough purpose and that is why we were punished. I believe that defensively we made some mistakes. At 4-2 they had given up but then we let them back into the game. Then at 4-3 they have nothing to lose. We have lost the ball in the middle and we had two opportunities to score goal number five but we lost the ball.”

In the circumstances, Stoke may well feel they couldn't be taking on Arsenal at a more opportune moment. The Potters have so far held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield and lost at home to Chelsea, while beating high-flying Aston Villa at home. They have also taken maximum points off Spurs and Sunderland, whereas the Gunners had to settle for a single point from both those opponents. The prospect of achieving a double over the two North London clubs will be a tantalising one for Pulis and his team.

But it won't be easy. For despite the sense of gloom that descended on the Emirates at the final whistle on Wednesday, Arsenal are unbeaten in six, and haven't lost in the League since 27th September when Hull won 2-1 at the Emirates.

They have also avoided defeat in all but two of their 10 Premier League games this season, and have collected 10 points out of the last 12 available, with wins at Blackburn, Bolton, and West Ham, and a draw at Sunderland. The Gunners have also failed to score in only one of their last 10 League games on the road (at Fulham). And they've racked up an impressive 44 goals in 16 matches in all competitions - getting on for three a game on average.


Different Perspectives

While many Arsenal fans appear to be somewhat disenchanted with the way this season is progressing, Stoke fans back among the elite are relishing the experience and giving their side full vocal backing. Indeed, after the Sunderland win, Pulis described the support of the Potters' fans as "fantastic." He told BBC Radio Stoke: "If we're going to be successful the supporters have to play their part and they realise that. They know how much we need them and they were fantastic again."

On the game against Sunderland, he commented: "I think that is probably the best we have played this season for 90 minutes. We have had good spells but I don't think we have played as consistently through a game and I felt we really deserved to win.

"I thought the lads kept going and the tempo throughout was very good. I can't single anyone out. There was a good togetherness and we played well as a group and as a team and moved up and down the pitch collectively."

Looking ahead to Saturday's game, he added: "Arsene Wenger has given the club a real identity of having the best young players. It's a game for everyone to enjoy and we'll be giving it our best shot."


History On Stoke's Side

This will be the first ever Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Stoke; the last time the clubs played each other in a league game was in the old First Division in 1984-85. Stoke were relegated that season with a mere 17 points. They only won three games - but one of them was against Don Howe's Arsenal on 30th March 1985, when the Potters won 2-0 at the old Victoria Ground. Incidentally, that was Stoke's last win by more than one goal in the top-flight. Arsenal had won the meeting 4-0 earlier that season at Highbury, but the Gunners' last league win on Stoke turf was back on 20th January 1982 when Alan Sunderland scored in a 1-0 victory. Stoke have won each of the last three league meetings on their own patch. However, in recent years Arsenal have knocked the Potters out of cup competitions four times - the FA Cup in 1990 (1-0 away) and 2005 (2-1 home), and the League Cup in 1988 (3-0 at home) and 1996 (over two legs: 1-1 away, 5-2 at home).

Overall, there have been 74 League meetings, home and away, in the League. Stoke have won 20, Arsenal 36, and 18 have been drawn. At Stoke only, the Potters have 15 wins to Arsenal's nine, with 13 draws.


FORM GUIDE

Stoke City

29 Oct (Premier League) v Sunderland (H) WON 1-0
26 Oct (Premier League) v Man City (A) LOST 0-3
19 Oct (Premier League) v Tottenham (H) WON 2-1
05 Oct (Premier League) v Portsmouth (A) LOST 1-2
27 Sept (Premier League) v Chelsea (H) LOST 0-2
23 Sept (Carling Cup) v Reading (H) DREW 2-2 (won 4-3 on pens)

Arsenal

28 Oct (Premier League) v Tottenham (H) DREW 4-4
26 Oct (Premier League) v West Ham (A) WON 2-0
21 Oct (Champions League) v Fenerbahce (A) WON 5-2
18 Oct (Premier League) v Everton (H) WON 3-1
04 Oct (Premier League) v Sunderland (A) DREW 1-1
30 Sept (Champions League) v FC Porto (H) WON 4-0


TEAM NEWS

Stoke

Pulis will probably stand by the team that beat Sunderland in midweek, so club record signing Dave Kitson will have to make do with a place on the bench while Ricardo Fuller continues in attack alongside Mamady Sidibe.

Ibrahima Sonko is a doubtful starter with an injury, while winger Liam Lawrence, who has missed the last four games, is expected to be out for another month after surgery to repair a torn ankle ligament suffered when tripping over his dog on the stairs and spraining his ankle.

Andrew Davies is likely to miss out with a knee injury.

Squad: Sorensen, Griffin, Shawcross, Abdoulaye Faye, Higginbotham, Soares, Diao, Olofinjana, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller, Simonsen, Kitson, Pericard, Amdy Faye, Tonge, Wilkinson, Sonko, Whelan, Cresswell, Cort.

Last Starting XI: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Soares (Tonge 69), Olofinjana (Amdy Faye 87), Diao, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller (Kitson 90).
Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Pericard, Wilkinson, Sonko.


Arsenal

Wenger is likely to be without captain William Gallas, who picked up a hamstring injury in the game against Tottenham, while Emmanuel Eboue is also regarded as an unlikely starter.
The Arsenal boss told the club's website: "It looks like Gallas will be out and maybe Eboue too. It is a little recurrence of the hamstring for William and for Manu it is his knee. He is not running properly at the moment. He still has pain."

Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo are still recovering from injuries.

Squad: Almunia, Sagna, Silvestre, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Eboue, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Van Persie, Adebayor, Fabianski, Toure, Vela, Bendtner, Diaby.

Last Starting XI: Almunia, Sagna, Silvestre, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott (Eboue 75), Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri (Song Billong 88), Van Persie (Diaby 81), Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Toure, Vela, Bendtner.


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stoke

Rory Delap is the Potters' not-so-secret weapon. Not previously renowned for his long throw, the Republic of Ireland midfielder has emerged at Stoke as a potent addition to their attacking armoury with his mammoth throws, used like free-kicks and corners for the tall strikers and central defenders to get on the end of in the opposition's penalty area. Arsenal can expect an uncomfortable time against this tactic and will be well advised not to put the ball into touch unnecessarily.

Arsenal

Manuel Almunia is in for a buffeting - it would be fascinating to see how his notoriously indignant predecessor, Jens Lehmann, would cope with Stoke's approach. But Spaniard Almunia will have to be brave, bold and decisive coming off his line and catching or punching clear. Almunia followed a fine game at West Ham last Sunday with a much less assured display against Spurs in midweek, but Arsenal need him to be at his best at the Britannia Stadium, and to support him with some resolute defending.