Stoke are currently in the relegation zone but that can easily change as there are 7 rounds left to play in the Premier League. The bad news for them is that they have some pretty tough fixtures ahead. The first one is the clash with Arsenal that will take place this Sunday at the Emirates. So, can they get anything from that game? Find out in this Arsenal vs. Stoke match preview!
Arsenal vs. Stoke match preview
Arsenal
The Gunners are currently 6th on the Premier League Table and if they stay there, they won’t get a place in the Europa League the next season. Of course, there’s an alternative way to get there – winning that competition this season. Unfortunately for them, a few other heavyweights have the same plan – Atletico Madrid, Lazio, and of course, their next opponent, CSKA Moscow.
Obviously, Arsenal mustn’t give up on the dream of ending among the top 5 teams in the Premier League. The problem is that Chelsea, who are a spot above, have 8 points more. As the Blues take on Tottenham this Sunday, Arsenal have a chance to get a bit closer. But, for that, they need to beat Stoke first.
There’s no doubt that the Gunners have the quality to get all 3 points on Sunday, especially for the fact that the game is played on their turf. This season, Arsenal have won 11 home matches in the Premier League, which is really impressive especially compared to their away stats (3 wins in 15 away matches).
What’s making their manager optimistic is the fact that this team is on form. Arsenal have won their previous 3 matches – 2 wins against AC Milan in Europa League and a win against Watford in the Premiership. Another thing going in favor of Wenger’s boys is that they don’t have too many problems with injuries.
Stoke City
Despite being in the second-to-last place on the table, Stoke still have a good chance to avoid relegation. It’s because plenty of teams are in a similar situation. In fact, the point difference between them and Bournemouth who are in the 10th place is just 9 points.
Unfortunately for Stoke, they have a pretty tough schedule ahead. After the clash with Arsenal, they will play Tottenham, while in late April, they play Liverpool at the Anfield. Obviously, their job is not going to be easy, but no one can say that it’s impossible to snatch a couple of points from those matches.
What’s the biggest problem for this team is their poor form. Stoke are without a win since January and have lost their previous two games in the Premier League. On top of that, they’ve scored only 4 goals since January.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that their players don’t have the quality needed to compete in the top English flight. On the contrary, Stoke have some pretty decent players in the squad, including their top scorer, Xherdan Shaqiri.
Team News
Arsenal absentees:
- Santi Cazorla (injury)
- Alexandre Lacazette (injury)
Stoke absentees:
- Charlie Adam (suspension)
- Geoff Cameron (injury)
- Maxim Choupo-Moting (injury)
- Stephen Ireland (doubtful)
Possible Lineups
Arsenal:
Cech – Mustafi, Koscielny, Bellerin, Kolasinac – Xhaka, Elneny, Wilshere, Ozil, Mkhitaryan – Aubameyang
Stoke:
Butland – Shawcross, Zouma, Johnson, Stafylidis – Ndiaye, Allen, Fletcher – Shaqiri, Jesé, Choupo-Moting
Arsenal vs. Stoke: Match Prediction
There’s no doubt that Arsenal are the big favorite here, but I don’t believe they’re gonna have an easy job on Sunday. Surely, they have what it takes to outscore almost any opponent in the league, but I think their defense is very leaky. That’s why I’m pretty sure we’re gonna see goals on both ends.
Arsenal vs. Stoke: Betting Tips
BTS @1.75 (bet365)
Arsenal & BTS @2.6 (WilliamHill)
