Stoke aiming for a draw at Arsenal (at least!)

Arsenal are hosting Stoke City at the Emirates this Saturday and it is vital that the Gunners get their first home win to banish the memory of our first two measly efforts, but Stoke are not going to lie down and just give the points to Arsenal.

Mark Hughes side may currently be in the bottom three with just two points, but they only lost both their home games by just 0-1, and the last one was with just nine men on the pitch. But their two away League games, at Tottenham and Norwich, have both ended in draws, and Stoke’s new £12m Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri is aiming to get another point this weekend.

“It will be a difficult game for us at Arsenal on Saturday, but it is one that we are looking forward to and one we are positive about,” he said.

“It was difficult for us in our last game, playing for the majority of the game with nine men, but even then I thought we did well and had opportunities.

“It has been nice to link back up with my international team-mates – it came at a good time as I was able to see my friends and family back in Switzerland.

“I am ready to get back to action with Stoke City now though and hopefully pick up a positive result on Saturday. We want to get at least a point from the game.”

Arsenal have an excellent home record against Stoke so I am expecting a win, but I think Stoke will be hard and physical as always and we won’t have it easy.