Arsenal vs Stoke City - English Premier League

Arsenal vs Stoke City
Premier League : 9. Round
Date : 23. October 2011
Stadium : Emirates stadium
Referee : Lee Mason

Arsene Wenger will hope to build on a crucial midweek victory over Marseille when his Arsenal side take on Stoke City on Sunday. A late Aaron Ramsey goal saw the Gunners emerge 1-0 winners in France, while Stoke's European engagement this week is at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.

This match usually promises to be a clash of styles, but after establishing themselves in the Premier League over the last few seasons Stoke are showing improvement and should they get a result on Sunday it may not be entirely through battering Arsenal into submission. Ex-Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has found some form in a Stoke shirt and both Peter Crouch and Jonathan Walters have benefited in the Stoke attack, while Stoke's set pieces have been excellent - the best conversion rate in the division, which compares favourably to Arsenal, who offer the poorest.

Since Stoke's return to the top flight, they have caused the Gunners some problems, taking two wins from six games, but with the other four results going Arsenal's way they will expect to pick up three points. In injury news, Diaby nears a return for Arsenal, but with Vermaelen and Wilshere missing the side look a little under strength through the middle. The absence of Sagna and Gibbs means that 19 year old Carl Jenkinson will be thrown in at the deep end once again, while for Stoke Andy Wilkinson has a thigh strain and Kenwyne Jones has yet to recover from a hamstring problem.

Head to Head :
Last Meeting : 8. May 2011 Stoke City 3-1 Arsenal
Wins Arsenal : 44
Wins Stokes City : 23
Draws : 20

Recent Performance :
Arsenal - Win / Win / Lose / Win / Win
Stoke City - Win / Draw / Win / Lose / Win

Possible Line-Ups :
Arsenal : Szczęsny - Jenkinson, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Traore, Arshavin, Song, Rosicky, van Persie, Walcott.
Stoke City : Begovic - Wilson, Shawcross, Upson, Woodgate, Whelan, Pennant, Delap, Etherington, Walters, Crouch.

Betting Tip / Prediction :
Arsene Wenger will hope to build on a crucial midweek victory over Marseille when his Arsenal side take on Stoke City on Sunday.
Our prediction : Arsenal Win