The game at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday really is a must win game for Arsenal. We have largely disappointed so far this season but a good performance and result against Mark Hughes and the Potters will put all that behind us and leave Arsenal in a great position.
Arsene Wenger´s team selection and tactics could be crucial though, so how should the Frenchman prepare his team for this game? There has been talk from the Stoke camp that they feel confident of getting a result and their new look side is not just going to sit back. Well I for one am not buying it. 10 men behind the ball and looking for a counter attack is what I expect.
Don´t forget that Stoke had two key players in Charle Adam and Afellay sent off in their last game and these two missing midfielders are a large part of their creative force. They are also missing Glen Johnson at right back and Shawcross at the heart of their defence, so they are vulnerable and I think we need to try to exploit this from the first whistle.
I would stick with Giroud in the middle to cope with their physical approach and bring other Gunners into play and I would go for the Ox on the right over Walcott or Ramsey, purely for his drive and dribbling skills. My other change would be to swap Arteta for Coquelin to give us more control and creativity in the centre and Gibbs for Monreal for the extra attacking threat. Here´s my team.
Cech
Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs
Arteta, Cazorla
Chamberlain, Ozil, Alexis
Giroud
How about you Gooners?