Premier League Preview: Arsenal vs Stoke

The Emirates will host Stoke City on Saturday December 18, when the Potters take on Arsenal on Matchday 18.

The Gunners are coming off a 1-0 loss to Manchester United in the week 17 fixture, and the game exposed Arsenal’s tendency to choke on big teams – and that could be the biggest hurdle to their title bid this season. Barring a second-half spell when the Gunners established a pattern, they never seemed to take three points off the game, as has been the case in their previous six meetings with the Red Devils, comprising five losses and one draw.

Blackpool ended Stoke’s five-game unbeaten run in week 17. Stoke have arguably been the most inconsistent side this season, and the 1-0 scoreline does little justice to describe Blackpool’s dominance that day. . The Seasiders ruled in midfield, their passing was sharp and they never allowed the Potters to settle.

While pre-season relegation favorites Blackpool have confounded the pundits, all season long their back line has been porous. And the fact that Stoke couldn’t break their defense is a more telling comment on the game than anything else. While Etherington and Fuller gave a good account of themselves up front, as did Begovic between the posts, near misses and a late assault couldn’t stop Tangerines from picking up three game points.

Arsenal, who despite the defeat at Old Trafford are second on the points table, have held a 3-1 lead over the 12th-placed Potters in four previous league games. The last match, in February 2010, ended 3-1 in favor of the Gunners.

While Arsene Wenger’s men have won five of their eight home games, they have lost their remaining three. Stoke have not had a great away record, losing five of eight away games, winning two and drawing one.

The Gunners will try to bounce back from their defeat to United by exploiting home advantage against Tony Pulis’s men, who lack the firepower to test Arsenal’s defensive line, rickety as it has been this season.

Arsenal featured the following men in their starting XI against Stoke: Szczesny, Sagna, Squillaci, Koscielny, Clichy, Song, Rosicky, Wilshere, Nasri, Chamakh and Arshavin. Walcott, Fabregas and van Persie were listed as substitutes.

Stoke’s starting eleven against Blackpool consisted of Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Collins, Pennant, Whitehead, Delap, Etherington, Jones and Fuller. Walters, Whelan and Sanli were the substitutes used.