· Tom
Premier League In Focus – Arsenal vs Stoke Preview
When? Sunday 1st April, 13:30 (UK)
Where? Emirates Stadium
What channel is it on? Sky Sports Premier League
Are tickets still available?
Arsenal & Stoke - https://www.ticketbis.net/arsenal-v-stoke-city-tickets/ev330666
Where can I stream the match? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via Sky Go
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Last five meetings: Arsenal W3, Stoke W1, D1
Premier League meetings: Arsenal W11, Stoke W5, D3
All-time meetings: Arsenal W56, Stoke W26, D24
ARSENAL
Predicted line-up: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Wilshere, Ozil; Aubameyang
Unavailable: Cazorla (Injured)
Doubtful: Wilshere (Injured), Lacazette (Injured), Kolasinac (Injured), Ramsey (Injured)
STOKE
Predicted line-up: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Zouma, Stafylidis; Cameron; Shaqiri, Allen, N'Diaye, Diouf; Crouch
Unavailable: Ireland (Injured), Grant (Injured), Choupo-Moting (Injured), Adam (Suspended), Afellay (Out of favour)
Doubtful: Cameron (Injured)
PREDICTION
Arsenal are only five games away from winning the Europa League and that poses Arsene Wenger with something of a dilemma. Does the Gunners boss decide to focus all his attention on European football between now and the end of the season while all but waving the white flag in the race for a place in the top four?
Paul Lambert’s Stoke side make the trip to North London not only lying second from bottom but also having played a game more than most of the teams that are also caught up in a relegation battle, so they desperately need to get a win on the board to boost their own chances of survival.
However, even if Arsene Wenger did decide to rest and rotate his squad you get the feeling that there will still be more than enough quality at Arsenal’s disposal to pick up all three points on Sunday.
MEMORABLE MEETING
Arsenal have a dominant record over Stoke at the Emirates and December 2016 was certainly no different as they eased to a relatively routine 3-1 win in front of their own fans. They had a slight scare when Charlie Adam put the visitors ahead from the spot just before the half hour, but then goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi made sure of all three points for the Gunners as the visitors went home empty handed once again.
