Official teams and preview of Stoke v Arsenal

If Arsenal can win away to Stoke City today it will make it four wins in a row in all competitions and would surely put the momoies of a poor start to the season firmly behind us and leave us looking forward to the rest of the season with some optimism.

But with just one win from our last eight games against the Potters, it does not looka n easy task. But the home side are ona miserable run of form and results, with three defeats in a row and some of their own injury problems to deal with. They are nothing like ours, although at least Kieran Gibbs is available to cover for the Spanish left back Nacho Monreal.

On the other side, Hector Bellerin comes in because Wenger has moved young Calum Chambers alongside Per Mertesacker, with Laurent Koscielny only fit enough to start on the bench. Our polish international keeper is also on the bench after his minor knock saw him miss a few games and he is joined there by Danny Welbeck.

So OLivier Giroud comes into the centre forward position and Alex Oxlade_Chamberlain gets another chance to impress on one flank, with our star man Alexis Sanchez on the other. It gives us a great blend of power, pace and hard work up front, with Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey adding creative ability from midfield, although the Welshman will hopefully keep his discipline and help Flamini to protect the defence.

Martinez
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs
Flamini, Ramsey, Cazorla
Alexis, Giroud, Chamberlain

subs: Szczesny, Koscielny, Ajayi, Maitland-Niles, Campbell, Podolski, Welbeck

The young players on the bench show just how stretched the Arsenal squad is, but hopefully they will not be called upon and hopefully we do not pick up any more knocks from Stoke’s tough tactics. Can we hold firm and produce the quality up front to grab a vital win?

Tags Chamberlain Giroud welbeck

370 Comments

    1. I am sorry but are we playing galatasaray? Why is Koscielny our best defender on the bench? Why screw up a settled defence? Why on earth is hector, a pint sized youth team player doing on the field against stoke city giants?This is exactly why Wenger is the biggest fool in management today. The man is clueless. You win a few games, get cocky and decide that now is the time to mess with your defence? Arsene wenger is a big fool. Yes i said it. Bastard.

    2. can’t find a singLe “AKB” comment here………. Where are they?……… Where are Y’all…….come out to wenger’s defence……. You can only be as clueless as ur bad oLd manager

    3. 1 win in 9 vs this lot.If that doesn’t show up Wenger’s inability to adapt a game plan idk what does.

      Ramsey stealing a starting spot STILL. If only we had international calibre players in reserve….

  1. Wenger claims to be tactically astute. Yet against Stoke he changes a settled back 4. He also has a midfield who is wandering out of position. Alot of the time we are playing 4-1-1-1-3. Ramsey is running all over the pitch like a headless chiken but not getting alongside flamini. Bojan, Nzonzi and Cameron are dominating the centre. Carzola does not bother to get back. You can’t set-up the team like this its suicide. Wenger must go!

    1. Honestly dude..who do u bring on? we don’t have other options. Kos must be injured. But still the players must show some fight..everyone realises its tough but at least show some fight..flamini is anonymous..and god..less said about mert the better!

      1. Sanchez May be a one man show but Kocielny is a two man show because the BFG is a shadow of a player without him.

    1. Sad thing is, nothing will change. Teams like City could very well come back and win despite being 0-3 down. But not Arsenal, when was the last time we scored 3 or 4? Burnley and Galatasaray? Please..

      There’s no hope for Arsenal. Thank you Wenger, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for ruining Arsenal.

  2. I’m so ashamed for our display so far. We made Stoke look like some galacticos! Wenger out! Or does anybody think he knows best?

  3. Lack of defensive cover costs us yet another game ! And who is to blame ?
    Talk of Wenger looking at a few youngsters he may bring in great I thought we needed a world class CB and DM but then again what do I know about football compared to our manager.

  4. I hope the fans over there did not forget the banner …
    Please Wenger, make this your last year …. Wenger out …. Search for new manager …

      1. @ muffdiver……car tyres?…… He’ll still find a way to walk back home……try dropping him in the middle of an amazon jungle ….L()L

    1. It’s horrible to say this but the only way we will see him gone is him to lose his health. Heart attack or something. Otherwise he will see out his contract: same old until 2017.

        1. I don’t hope anything like that to anyone. I’m just stating how firm is his position at Arsenal. He won’t leave unless he wants to leave. He won’t be sacked.

          How much we lose and how many times and to whom is insignificant. Even the board director said Wenger is being backed, and he doesn’t hav e a plan – then they are quiet.

          As I said, he cannot be removed from his position.

          1. @juhislihis – fair enough, sorry if I misread your earlier comment. That performance has all of us a bit testy…

  5. See we are doing well against Stoke – two nil down. I am not shocked by this, neither am I too bothered.

    Arsenal personify their manager – clueless and directionless.

    And yet he still remains in a job and there are still “Arsenal fans” who back him to the hilt.

    Wenger is useless and hopeless – I am tired of seeing his face on TV and listening to his pathetic excuses.

    Whats the new catchphrase from this demented old fart ? – ah yes, its all about “solidarity” now. There is no solidarity at Arsenal. Its all about taking one step forward and another backwards.

    Its not about the welfare of the club, instead its about Wenger feeding his ego and needing to prove the world that he is still a good manager.

    The man could have left a hero to everyone, a legend in top tier football but instead he is dragging the club down to the gutter just like he did with Monaco.

    A top class manager would have addressed the issues with the squad and tactics a long time ago.

    What a joke….

  6. Yet another awesome defensive display by the boys. Still at least Chelski lost! How one earth we throw these games away year after year and yet Wenger never signs a midfield general or decent centre back I do not know!!!

  7. good old arsenal

    even the unbeatble chelsea get beaten

    half an hour later ….

    wenger is our part of our legacy

    but 3 goals conceded? in ONE HALF? against STOKE?

    wenger will never be what he once was

  8. 3 f*cking players cannot beat Crouch to the ball. I keep saying we have too many midgets in our team and this zonal marking has been our undoing season after season. Can we blame Wenger for this? I think our players need a kick up the backside I cannot believe how lax and lethargic we are today. Cannot string three passes together, no movement off the ball…….sigh just an absolute shocker

    1. @Big gun.
      “Can we blame Wenger for this?”

      errrr…… for what exactly?
      For filling the team with midget players? Or for employing the zonal marking tactics?

      I’d rather blame Barney!

  9. One thing about arsenal players are they thought after few win, they are invincible. Right they are invisible.

  10. The worse part is that we’ve played worse than this this season. Wenger in tho, haha! Its all an ongoing joke until he leaves honestly. When will some Arsenal fans learn. And to all those who changed opinions after we went on a measly 3 match win streak, please dont even talk, because we all know you just flop opinions every other week.

  11. hell yea, 3-0, take that stoke….mmm…. wait a minute, we are the yellows?… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  12. Is it just me or does Mertescker take 50 years to decide whether to make a simple pass..??? And why doesn’t any1 make runs into the boxx?? like stoke have been

  13. AkB are you done watching this Wenger team. Glad I’m an Arsenal FC fan and will always be. But Wenger as Manager… No thanks.

  14. No player In our defence , if wenger can parade this team as our team against stoke, that means he knows nothing about football anymore.

  15. what say you now all you blind arsene knows best fans . are you still confident of this old frog in charge , relegation football is what we are playing , hahahahahahaha , arsene knows best , yeah he does .

  16. EVERY GAME WE HAVE PLAYED BAD,,, THE ONES WE HAVE WON ARE ONLY BCUS THE OPPOSITION HAVE BEEN REALLY POOR OR WE’VE BEEN LUCKY

  17. What do you expect? 3 Juniors (Martinez, Bellerin, Chamber) and one old man in our defense line. Anyway, this is is what you asked for.

  18. We’re 3-0 down. To Stoke. It’s only halftime. This simply doesn’t happen to a good team, no matter how unlucky. There is no excuse. None at all.

  19. Disgusting performance for the away fans to spend money on… I’m truly sorry for them, at least it’s easier for me to step away from the tv…

  20. Where are all the #AKB fans get to fack out ur shells & protect him now u #brainless facks say someting now #AWOUTNOW!!!!! #FACKAW & ALSO FACK THE #AKB BRAINLESS FANS ALSO NOW THUMB ME TO FACK DOWN

  21. All 3 goals comedy. Failed to beat Everton Chelsea tott manutd mancity so far. Losing 3 nil to stoke. We only beat Southampton because alderwereld was injured and they were a man down. Otherwise it was a clear draw. This is the worst season under Wenger by a mile. Piers Morgan will have a field day today.

  22. I am happy arsenal are losing I want them concede more 2 goals and I am just want them to be humiliated, well arsenal get done by them or any team with quality. NOW LETS SEE IF ARSENE’S SUPPORTERS CAN SHOW THIER FACE TO THIS WEBSITE AND MAN UP
    goodbye arsene no one can’t wait for you so therefore I am leaving this team

  23. This is a joke – against the orcs? Why on earth is Wenger changing a settled defence? For me the ice had already broken after that performance against Manure, now he’s back to the same old suicidal defensive tactics again, as if we hadn’t suffered enough already, Wenger really has to go, it was obviously not working, and he hasn’t changed up … again. Steve Bould must be telling him “I told you so”.

  24. If someone still asks Wenger to use Bellerin in an important match, i want to punch him in the face.

    1. theres just no need to use Bellerin when Koscielny is fit. Its baffling. Unless Kos picked up a knock I dont understand these decisions.

    2. And we loaned out Jenkinson who could defend????? Wenger being paid to keep Arsenal out the top 4???

  25. And yes we are back 2 our disastrous ways; arsene wenger is a huge dissappointment so ashamed 2 call. Him my club manager; if u r foolish at 65 there is no hope 4 you; arsene wenger is killing arsenal

  26. What in the world is Mertesacker doing? Is he that useless without LK6? His positioning is all over the shop. Out of position for 2 of the goals and didnt even jump for the 3rd.

    Ramsey has given the ball away 5 of the 7 times he’s been on it, and he continues to keep his place.

    Ramsey out, AOC to the middle. Maybe Giroud off as well. Welbz (who isn’t a proven goalscorer) in to give us some penetration, and Podolski on.

    Frustrating, but predictable.

  27. AKB fans will always find excuses, because they are brainwash by Arsenil Wenger. But 3-0 at half-time against Stoke, they sure must enjoyed the game. Arsene knows better how to loose…

  28. OH Mert.. what useless tw$t… now this fcking player is our captain… no wonder this team so lost in the heart & spirit…

    LOL we’re looks like mediocre team against stoke… hilarious…
    now what our high class manager (eight million man) gonna to do…

    #WengerOut even i take bould as manager right now….

  29. No coordinatin, lack of organization n wenger sits dere looking like a dumb coach; pls let’s all flood twitter with #wengerout….

  30. Did we really train, I mean train to defend or take our corner and free kick. When we taking corner, we know we are not going to score but when we are against, we are so scared for being scored, is so easy to score against us.

  31. Have we actually played 2 games in a row in the premier league with the same starting 11? Oh we can’t do that. Players pick up mystery knocks, bruises and injuries every game it seems. Diaby is set for a new contract when he’s fit lol that amazed me when wenger said that.

    Toothless

  32. Wenger changed a settled back 4 who kept 3 consecutive clean sheets. Flamini as a dmf is equal to zero. We are already 10 men with him in the team. Ramsey has lost his form not badly but very very badly. Rosicky cazorla poldi all rotting on the bench and Sanchez is forced to play every single minute of every single game and now he is really tired. Wenger has got to go its enough… 8m per year for achieving 4th and a trophy in 10 years and selling the best players.

  33. Everyone and I mean everyone knows the problems with Arsenal except the one man that gets paid to know them and to solve them.

    This is ALL Wenger’s fault. ALL of it. The lack of transfer activity – the players that were brought in – the tactics – the motivation – everything is his fault.

    If he had an ounce of dignity and humility he would quit and accept the blame.

    it really doesnt matter to me if we are outside the top four as long as he decides to leave – we are going backwards year after year.

  34. Last year we got humiliated by City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton. But now we are being totally destroyed by Stoke! Stoke, for f*ck’s sake! I’ll ask once more: does anybody still think Arsene knows best?!

  35. And u were sayin ARSENAL ARE IMPROVING…i said after winning 3 games Arsenal fans alwys 4get there problms n i got 15 thumbs down haha!

    1. It’s suprising right… LOL

      Now that feeling coming back again… Giroud useless & tend to lost the ball away….

  36. The ref has been a total joke so far but let’s be honest 2 of the 3 goals were due to hapless defending. I’d play Hayden at in the centre, take Bellerin off and move Chambers to right back. Just wish Cazorla could hit the target once in a while. 🙁

  37. For the first time,I ‘liked’ a wenger out post in FB…losing a game is acceptable,but not like this..

  38. Tomorrow there will be an article “Arsenal lost 5-1 to a good stoke city team, but it’s NOT WENGER’S FAULT!!!”

    1. Oh – they only come out after we beat Burnley or Albion. They will always be there watching, waiting for one decent performance to pounce and defend 10 years of mediocracy, they will blame the stadium, they will blame the board, they will blame the ref, they will blame the weather but Wenger… never, he is still a hero after 10 years of re-building.

  39. Sanchez is the only who knows that we can’t score from corners do he just passes it straight to the keeper. He is too smart for the rest of the team.

  40. Wenger has taken us to a new low now and yet too many Gooners still trust this out of date old fraud of a manager to win us league titles ! They need to go to specsavers and then see how far Wenger has dragged this club down.

    1. I have a theory that there are no AKBs left. That the admin is paying some idiots to pretend to be AKBs, or else there would be no one on this board who would disagree with reality and that would probably get pretty boring and take the fun out of reading and trashing stupidity.

  41. well, if we are like barcelona, stoke must be like real madrid or Bayern…………..
    PS: FACK WENGER

  42. Had a nightmare last night that Wenger singed a new 10 year contract, and sold Alexis.
    I woke up from this horrible nightmare just as the board were putting the tickets prices up by 10%

  43. Flamini playing at right back. Does this happen in any big club? Yay toure playing at rb? Matic playing at rb? Wenger is losing if very quickly.

  44. OFF the post, enough said, funny how he doesn’t have his head in his hands (giroud) and actually tries do win the ball back.

  45. Did you find it funny when sanchez was going against them from the right but nobody help him on the left. Giroud just ran behind him, is he waiting for sanchez to back heel.

  46. Heh, no need to pass the ball to anyone, Sanchez. We all know there’s only one player in our team who’s worthy of carrying the badge.

  47. Chelsea win the league, Man city buy Alexis.
    This will happen.
    a thousand + gooners have heartattacks
    Cheers Wenger (with you’re 8 million)

  48. ARSENAL CAN STILL COME 4TH!!! LETS JUST KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED…. WENGER IS D BEST COACH AT GETTING THE 4TH PLACE TROPHY….

  49. And who the frack is Tyron fracking Mings???? While Manu is looking to buy Hummels, we are looking at Mings????

    WTF??? the difference in ambition starts in the transfer market and finishes with the league table.

  50. I feel sorry for Alexis. I think he made a bad decision by joining us while Wenger is still a manager.

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