ARSENAL v STOKE CITY
Premier League
Saturday, December 5th, 2009
The Emirates. Kick off 15.00 GMT
Arsenal’s form has dipped during their last few games. They cruised into November beating Spurs, Alkmaar and Wolves all quite comprehensibly but then got beaten 1-0 by Sunderland in a game they dominated. They regained composure against Standard Liege in the Champion League to win 2-0 (when they should have won by a lot more) but have since slipped up more drastically. A 3-0 drubbing by Chelsea was followed by the same scoreline in the League Cup midweek by Manchester City.
However, this game is the ideal spring board to get Arsenal’s season back on track. Expect the Arsenal goal machine to reignite in this game after two scoreless matches.
Stoke have not been having a disaster of a season by any means. Their home form has stood up remarkably well and has been a considerable factor in their mid-table league position. They have won the games they would have expected to win at home while only losing to Chelsea and Manchester United.
In contrast, their away form has been close to disastrous. They have won just once on their travels (at Spurs), have drawn four games, but have lost just twice. If Stoke can play to their strengths and put in a game of the season performance, they may get away with a draw. Arsenal’s firepower should be too much for them to contain, even an under-strength one.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The clubs met in a league encounter for the first time since 1985 last season when miraculously Stoke beat the Gunners 2-1. However, in the return leg at The Emirates, Arsenal gained vicious revenge by thumping their opponents 4-1. Before last season, there were only four cup meetings between the sides in which Arsenal never lost.
TEAM NEWS
The good news for Stoke fans is that Theo Walcott has been ruled out of this game with hamstring trouble and Alex Song is suspended. Van Persie, Clichy, Diaby, Bendtner, Djourou and Gibbs are all absent too but Sagna returns after an ankle injury.
Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross faces a late fitness test and will definitely be without Whitehead, who is suspended.
VERDICT
Arsenal will be anxious to return to winning ways and the fear for Stoke is that their team may suffer the consequences of the Gunners not finding the back of the net for over 180 minutes. However, 1.30 (or shorter) about a Gunners win is hardly a tempting price. The problem with this game is that we all know Arsenal are going to win, and we know there will be goals. But so do the bookies. How to get some money out of the game is the key.
We know Arsenal will score, and we know Stoke should find it difficult enough to breach the Gunners’ defence. With a home crowd behind them, Arsenal should start the game firing, especially after their last two results.
Providing Vermaelen and/or Gallas start, have a punt on either of them scoring at anytime during the game. Their aerial ability will scare the Stoke defence, especially if they are without Shawcross.
RECOMMENDED
OVER 3.5 GOALS 2.6 BETFAIR
ARSENAL TO KEEP A CLEAN SHEET 1.95 BETFAIR
ARSENAL TO WIN BOTH HALVES 2.64 BETFAIR
VERMAELEN/GALLAS TO SCORE AT ANYTIME 6/1
***Please bet responsibly. Only bet with money that you can afford to lose — not your food kitty or rent/mortgage***
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