Britannia: A bogey stadium for the Gunners

The Britannia Stadium has been in a bogey stadium for the Gunners in recent years, with Arsene Wenger’s side getting just one league victory in the stadium in the past 25 years. Stoke have lost just one of their seven league games at the Britannia Stadium against Arsenal (W4 D2 L1).

Arsenal also beat Stoke at the Britannia in the 2010 FA Cup but it would also be forever remembered as the day Ryan Shawcross almost ended Aaron Ramsey’s career. Ramsey has grown from strength to strength since that incident, but Arsenal fans never hide their contempt for Shawcross anytime the sides meet.

Hughes is unbeaten on home soil as an opposition coach against Arsene Wenger in his last seven league matches (W5 D2), spread across five different clubs. Overall at home his record in the league versus Wenger is (W6 D2 L2).

With Manchester City hitting top gear with that victory over Crystal Palace, Arsenal will know that a victory over Stoke will be very important for their title dreams. They have dropped down to third, a point behind the league leaders, Leicester, but level on points with Man City with a lesser goal difference. The Gunners would have been comfortable before this match if they had won Liverpool at Anfield but they got a sucker punch from Joe Allen late on.

Arsenal Team News

Arsene Wenger will have to make a decision on the availability of Alexis Sanchez for the game. The Chilean had not featured since aggravating a hamstring injury in November but he was pictured training with his teammates, which means he can be available for selection. However, he ruled Tomas Rosicky out, stating that the Czech midfielder would need some Under-21 games to get a hang of things.

New signing, Mohamed Elneny, is available for selection as well, and it’s down to Wenger to decide if he’s going to start against Stoke. The boss says that Egyptian fans can be proud of their import because he’s odds on to make a good name for himself in the Premier League. Down the years, players like Mido, Hossam Ghaly, Ahmed Elmohammady, Amr Zaki and more recently, Mohamed Salah have all come to the Premier League and contributed well to their respective teams, so I expect Elneny to follow suite.

Arsenal Injury / Suspension News

Jack Wilshere (ankle), Danny Welbeck (knee), Francis Coquelin (knee), Alexis Sanchez (hamstring), Santi Cazorla (knee), David Ospina (groin), Tomas Rosicky (lack of match fitness)

Arsenal Predicted Lineup

Stoke Team News

Sensational winger, Xherdan Shaqiri, has suffered a hamstring injury that would rule him out from today’s game and Marko Arnautovic was withdrawn from the Norwich game as a precaution from a hamstring scare. He would face a late fitness test today to ascertain whether he will be fit for the game.

The Gunners would have to watch out for Jon Walters that has finally found his scoring boots again. After going on a drought of nine games without a goal, he has scored in his last three games for the Potters.

Stoke Injury / Suspension News

Shay Given (knee), Geoff Cameron (ankle), Marc Muniesa (ankle), Xherdan Shaqiri (hamstring)

Stoke Predicted Lineup

Team Form

Arsenal

• Last Five Games: L W W W D
• Last Result: Liverpool 3 (Firmino 10′, 19′, Allen 90′) – Arsenal 3 (Ramsey 14′, Giroud 25′, 55′)
• Leading Goalscorer: Olivier Giroud (18)

Stoke

• Last Five Games: L W L L W
• Last Result: Stoke 3 (Walters 49′, Joselu 67′, Bennett 0.g. 78′)– Norwich 1 (Howson 56′)
• Leading Goalscorer: Marko Arnautovic, Jonathan Walters (7)

Gooner Daily predicts a 3 – 2 win.

Sayonara.

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