Stoke vs Arsenal - Saturday 1st March - 3:00pm

EuropeanSon

Stoke host Arsenal in what will be Mesut Özil's first visit to Mordor. There are several questions hanging over the German, but one we will finally see answered is "can he do it on a sunny afternoon in Stoke?"

Arsenal need a win to keep up the pressure on Chelsea at the top of the league. Some doubts over the LB slot: Vermaelen may have to sub in as Gibbs and Monreal are uncertain.

Stoke have a good home record this year, but Arsenal have so far excelled at putting weaker teams to the sword.

Possible teams:

Stoke:
Begovic
Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters
Odemwingie, Whelan, Adam, Arnautovic
Walters
Crouch

Arsenal:
Szczesny
Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs
Arteta, Flamini
Chamberlain, Özil, Cazorla
Giroud

bad2dabone

Tough game against the orcs, I reckon one nil to the arsenal

Kerrigooney

As a Liverpool fan I'm obviously hoping for an Arsenal slip up. Can't see it tho...:(

Kerrigooney

bad2dabone wrote: »

Tough game against the orcs, I reckon one nil to the arsenal

Bit unfair on Orcs.

Mickeroo

Arsenal team:Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud

subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry, Sanogo

Plenty of options on the bench if things aren't going our way.

Marty McFly

First time in a while watching a game on Setanta I'm sure there coverage and half time analysis is only impeccable.

EuropeanSon

Mickeroo wrote: »

Arsenal team:Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud

subs: Fabianski, Vermaelen, Flamini, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry, Sanogo

Plenty of options on the bench if things aren't going our way.

Wow, was miles off with the team. Made 1 wrong call on the Stoke side, Nzonzi for Odemwingie

tayto lover

Would have preferred Flamini instead of Arteta for this particular match.

Arsenal 1 win, Stoke 3 wins, Draws 2 in last 6 games here.

We need to get stuck in from the start and get an early goal I feel.
Think we will win 2 nil if we're positive.

NukaCola

Tough game, but Arsenal are in good form and will probably win by 2

Mickeroo

EuropeanSon wrote: »

Wow, was miles off with the team. Made 1 wrong call on the Stoke side, Nzonzi for Odemwingie

I'm fairly surprised at the line up, would have thought Flamini was a certainty for this fixture. The team has been rotated a good bit the last couple of weeks though and responded very well so lets hope that trend continues.

efb

Get in. Come on.

efb

Whose Lego hair presenter?

MisterAnarchy

efb wrote: »

Whose Lego hair presenter?

Is he wearing a rug ?

efb

Arteta © hair

.jacksparrow.

Really should be beating stoke, 15th in the league, no excuses.

Soups123

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Really should be beating stoke, 15th in the league, no excuses.

They are excellent at home

.jacksparrow.

Soups123 wrote: »

They are excellent at home

Don't care, if we are to win the league, we should be beating them.

MisterAnarchy

John Hartson is a terrible pundit,doesnt have a clue

Alfred Borden

Hate Stoke away, always seems a tough place to go, badly need the 3 points though with Chelsea playing again next week.

efb

If we can get a quick goal

.jacksparrow.

Jesus there fans are poison.

efb

Giroud rocking the do

efb

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Jesus there fans are poison.

Knuckle draggers

tayto lover

Stupid foul from Jack.

Marty McFly

Good pressing by Rosicky

efb

Roisky always gives 100%

greendom

Arsenal offering very little so far

tayto lover

Jack is a liability.

EuropeanSon

Jack needs to get his head right. Rosicky is good, but we've not offered a lot so far really.

Marty McFly

Brutal game so far, but kind of expected it to be playing Stoke away.

greendom

Good harrying there at least, that's the best you can say really

prettyboy81

Poor game so far.

This is crying out for the Ox

Rosicky's passing is so so poor, despite all of his strengths his passing sticks out like a sore thumb every week.

Soups123

Paceless and energyless so far

Final 3rd play has been shockingly pedestrian

greendom

AdamD wrote: »

This is crying out for the Ox

Couple of breaks we've had and Stoke have been able to get back and cover quite easily

Oranage2

How wasn't that a booking for Adam?

MisterAnarchy

Dreadful stuff,imagine paying £50 to watch this

Mickeroo

Break is on and jack hoofs it to Begovic. Wtf?

Soups123

Shocking refereeing

Marty McFly

At least that was something

greendom

Clueless from the ref!

Noo

Ooh he'd feel that!

super_furry

Stoke players really love nothing more than trying to break Arsenal players' legs.

Horrendous

Marty McFly

Fcuking hell how wasnt that a booking.

tayto lover

Please play the simple ball Cazorla.

Alfred Borden

Podolski anonymous, Wilshere's play can be infuriating. Arteta and Santi playing well. Get the ox on quick

Soups123

Lay it to Pod fckin clown!

Noo

Pass it!!!!

Marty McFly

Raf32 wrote: »

Podolski anonymous, Wilshere's play can be infuriating. Arteta and Santi playing well. Get the ox on quick

I do agree Pod has been anonymous but he seems to be playing more centrally not sure if he has just drifted in there or been instructed to keep drifting in.

But both him and Giroud are both lacking in service so far.

Mickeroo

Wrong option Santi.