Stoke City vs Arsenal

Arsenal kept their faint title hopes alive by beating Manchester United last week and will be looking to get all three points against Stoke City and hope that the match between United and Chelsea ends in a draw. After a poor run in the recent past, Arsene Wenger has taken the blame upon himself and will be looking to set things right.

Stoke City have not lost at The Britannia in 2011 having won 5 and drawn 2. They will be eager to prove that they deserve to be in the finals of the FA cup by beating the gunners.

Stoke City Form: W D L D W D
Arsenal Form: D W D D L W

Stoke City Team News:

John Carew should be available for the Potters, having recovered from a back problem.

Full back Andy Wilkinson is also expected to be available, having recovered from a knock.

Mathew Etherington’s attacking ability will be sorely missed though, as will be the services of Ricardo Fuller and Danny Higginbotham.

Arsenal Team News:

Good news for the Gunners’ fans as Thomas Vermaelen is expected to be fit for selection after a nine month injury layoff.

Djorou and Gael Clichy will have to take late fitness tests and might still make it to the playing eleven.

Cesc Fabregas is expected to miss out with a thigh injury.

Samir Nasri is expected to be absent with a hamstring injury.

Abou Diaby is also a doubt with a calf strain.

Arsenal have had the better of Stoke City the last four times they have met and will be looking to extend that record with Man City snapping at their heels and their title hopes melting away. Having failed to win a major trophy over nearly 6 years, the Gunners will be hoping to pull off a miracle and emerge as the Premier league champions. Stoke City will be optimistic, playing at home, where they have kept 4 clean sheets in their last 7 games. Not having lost all year, will only provide them with more incentive to keep their home record intact.

Men to watch:

Robin Van Persie: Perhaps has the deadliest and most clinical left foot in the world. Has scored 5 in his last 7 games and 11 in his last 11. Has scored 15 and notched up 11 assists. Combine this with the fact that he has only played in 22 Premier league games this season and you wonder how different this season could have been for Arsenal with him being fit throughout. A player of his caliber, will be hungry for success, having been starved of trophies.

Andrei Arshavin:  The diminutive Russian seems to have fallen down the pecking order to Samir Nasri, who has been in fine form, but will be looking to prove a point and is likely to start this game. Has a bag of tricks up his sleeve and can also shoot from range. Will be looking to weave his way around the Stoke City defenders and cement a place in the Arsenal starting eleven.

Kenwyne Jones:  The striker seems to have found his feet at the club and is in fine form, having scored three goals in his past four games. Can score with both head and feet and will be looking to use his strength to his advantage against Arsenal’s defence which has been inconsistent.

Make sure to catch the match at 6 : 30 PM on ESPN!

Tags: Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal, ESPN, Football, Kenwyne Jones, Premier League, Robin Van Persie, Stoke City