Preview: ARSENAL VS STOKE CITY
After sealing top spot in the UEFA champions League on Tuesday, the Gunners can now focus on the Premier League.
A 4-1 win away in Basel saw the Gunners finish top after PSG could only draw 2-2 against Ludogorets Razgard. A win this Saturday, will see them move level on point with leaders, Chelsea who are not in action until Sunday.
They welcome a Stoke City side whom they have a good home record against this Saturday. The last time these two sides met, they played out a 0-0 draw at the Britannia after the Gunners had prevailed 2-0 at the Emirates.
Confidence is high at the Emirates, and the Gunners can cap off a successful week with victory over the potters. Lucas Perez scored a hattrick in midweek but is expected to drop to the bench, while Alex Iwobi’s goal was needed for his confidence after his own goal denied the Gunners all three points in the 2-2 draw against PSG a fortnight ago.
Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain should start behind Alexis Sanchez as the Chilean is starring in a number 9 role this season while Olivier Giroud offers a Plan-B.
For Stoke City, they come into this game on the back of two consecutive wins after a 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. An assured performance saw them beat Watford 1-0 at Vicarage Road, a game which they never looked like dropping points after taking the lead.
A 2-0 win over Burnley last Saturday, courtesy goals from Jonathan Walters and Marc Muniesa moved them into the top half of the table. A win against Arsenal this Saturday would move them into 6th position, ahead of Manchester United, a testament to the improvement they’ve made following a poor start to the season.
They have a poor record at the Emirates as they’ve lost all ties there since earning promotion to the EPL in 2008. Their poor record won’t be coming to an end anytime soon as the Gunners’ll overwhelm them.
PREDICTION: ARSENAL 2-0 STOKE CITY
