Arsenal vs Stoke City, 13:30, SS1

Alfred Borden

Big game for both teams, with bright starts for each. A win for Arsenal and they will be top of the league, while Stoke look to continue their impressive start as they get used to life under new manager Mark Hughes. Last season finished 1-0 to Arsenal, a Podolski deflected free kick breaking down a stubborn stoke defense. Expecting a good game tomorrow, with impressive performances, especially from a certain welsh maestro.
Predicted lineups are:

lertsnim

A Ramsey goal would be beautiful against this lot

FearDark

A stat stolen from another Arsenal supporter here who shall remain nameless.



My prediction?

Stoke will win,
They'll probably break someone's leg,
Definitely get a penalty,

and generally be awful.

SantryRed

FearDark wrote: »

A stat stolen from another Arsenal supporter here who shall remain nameless.



My prediction?

Stoke will win,
They'll probably break someone's leg,
Definitely get a penalty,

and generally be awful.

:rolleyes:

EuropeanSon

FearDark wrote: »

A stat stolen from another Arsenal supporter here who shall remain nameless.



My prediction?

Stoke will win,
They'll probably break someone's leg,
Definitely get a penalty,

and generally be awful.

That table is out of date. We won vs Wigan last year with him as ref. So it's 2 wins. Still looks pretty bad.

cathalio11

Mike Dean does almost all of Arsenal's games vs United/City/Chelsea. That never helped the stat.

But do remember a lot of awful decisions that he was made, with no hesitation against Arsenal.

I predict Arsenal 2-0 Stoke.

Alfred Borden

Shouldnt matter who the ref is, we are at home and on form, score early and take control of the game.

cathalio11

All eyes on Giroud to bag 5 from 5.

What a dream that would be.

Alfred Borden

cathalio11 wrote: »

All eyes on Giroud to bag 5 from 5.

What a dream that would be.

only reyes and rooney have done it first five games of a season!

Alfred Borden

Any Stoke fans here out of interest?

cathalio11

Raf32 wrote: »

only reyes and rooney have done it first five games of a season!

That's amazing. I think Reyes did it in the first 6 so do you know how many Rooney did it in?

Alfred Borden

cathalio11 wrote: »

That's amazing. I think Reyes did it in the first 6 so do you know how many Rooney did it in?

It says Reyes only did 5 in the 04/05 season so maybe one was a cup or he got 2 in 1 game? and Rooney did it the first 5 games of the 11/12 season.

cathalio11

Raf32 wrote: »

It says Reyes only did 5 in the 04/05 season so maybe one was a cup or he got 2 in 1 game? and Rooney did it the first 5 games of the 11/12 season.

You're probably right about the cup.

Big thing today is that we don't have Walcott/Gervinho up against Wilkinson and Higginbottam or whoever played left back a lot for Stoke against us.

Pieters is good and then our left winger won't be bursting with speed.

Alfred Borden

cathalio11 wrote: »

You're probably right about the cup.

Big thing today is that we don't have Walcott/Gervinho up against Wilkinson and Higginbottam or whoever played left back a lot for Stoke against us.

Pieters is good and then our left winger won't be bursting with speed.

Yup agreed, again i think a lot of the game will go through Theo so he needs to get the head up today. expect to see Wilshere and Ozil interchanging out the left so expect everything to come down our right unless Gibbs keeps up the heroics down the left, one man wrecking ball. would you put monreal left back and Gibbs left wing to give us more width and maybe more protection when stoke break on the right? gives us a chance to use jack as a sub then.

.jacksparrow.

cathalio11 wrote: »

Mike Dean does almost all of Arsenal's games vs United/City/Chelsea. That never helped the stat.

But do remember a lot of awful decisions that he was made, with no hesitation against Arsenal.

I predict Arsenal 2-0 Stoke.

Remember him doing a little dance and smile as spurs scored against us?

Think it was 2 years ago pretty sure there is a video of it on you tube!

cathalio11

Raf32 wrote: »

would you put monreal left back and Gibbs left wing to give us more width and maybe more protection when stoke break on the right? gives us a chance to use jack as a sub then.

I think it's a sound idea but it is quite risky and untested. I think Wenger fancies Monreal left wing and Gibbs left back instead though so I doubt it would happen today.

Gibbs is quite explosive though but I really like him at left back.

cathalio11

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Remember him doing a little dance and smile as spurs scored against us?

Think it was 2 years ago pretty sure there is a video of it on you tube!

It's very funny

bad2dabone

mike dean's a bad ref for arsenal but it shouldn't matter. We're in good form overall - despite a not-great performance vs Marseille during the week - and have superior players to Stoke. However as wenger says stoke's quick adaptation to Hughes' style shows they're a good side.
Looking forward to it, hopeful we'll be top of the league, and hopeful we'll see Arteta maybe and Vermaelen come off the bench to continue their recovery from injury.

2-0 to the arsenal.
Ozil to get his first gunners goal. Giroud to hopefully score 5 in 5, he's a hard worker and deserves it.

.jacksparrow.

cathalio11 wrote: »

It's very funny

Ah cheers that's the one, always gives me a laugh!

Alfred Borden

Hughes reckons Wenger will quit if he doesn't win a trophy this season.

Mickeroo

I'm hoping the better brand of football stoke are trying out will play into our hands.

Having said that I wouldn't be surprised if Hughes gets them to play more like their old selves when it's us they're against. His teams have always taken a physical approach towards Arsenal in the past, particularly in his Blackburn days. I still expect a win though, the squad aren't as soft as they used to be.

Alfred Borden

Mickeroo wrote: »

I'm hoping the better brand of football stoke are trying out will play into our hands.

Having said that I wouldn't be surprised if Hughes gets them to play more like their old selves when it's us they're against. His teams have always taken a physical approach towards Arsenal in the past, particularly in his Blackburn days. I still expect a win though, the squad aren't as soft as they used to be.

Flamini to be booked in the opening ten minutes to show we are no pushovers :pac:

HazDanz

Raf32 wrote: »

Flamini to be booked in the opening ten minutes to show we are no pushovers :pac:

Could be a shoving match thrown in there somewhere as well. He loves a good tussle!

bad2dabone

HazDanz wrote: »

Could be a shoving match thrown in there somewhere as well. He loves a good tussle!

I'm happy he's back, he's been exactly what we needed in the absence of arteta and he's tough too.

And free.

Alfred Borden

Arsenal Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud
Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Walters, Wilson, Nzonzi, Adam, Arnautovic, Jones

Alfred Borden

Bendtner is on the bench! As is Arteta who is back! Viviano also there.

.jacksparrow.

Anyone just see the wizard of oz clip featuring ozil on sky sports?

Really enjoyed it and his interview is on next!

bad2dabone

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Anyone just see the wizard of oz clip featuring ozil on sky sports?

Really enjoyed it and his interview is on next!

Aye, looking forward to it :-)

.jacksparrow.

Wenger spoke to him in German and convinced him.

Whatever opinions about Wenger the man oozes class, intelligence and knowledge.

Mickeroo

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Wenger spoke to him in German and convinced him.

Whatever opinions about Wenger the man oozes class, intelligence and knowledge.

And German!!

Alfred Borden

WOW

bad2dabone

Well rambo is the form player in the league after all

AdamD

And Wilshere only played 20 and 40 minutes in 2 of those games

.jacksparrow.

Theo out.

FearDark

Gnabry in, Walcott out. Hope its not serious.

.jacksparrow.

Our lack of squad depth is showing now, good luck gnarby.

HazDanz

FearDark wrote: »

Gnabry in, Walcott out. Hope its not serious.

Wee bit of illness.

Gnarby excited see how he does.

Soups123

Delighted to see Gnarby get a start he could be a star

Mickeroo

I'm stuck listening to palace and Swansea on the radio with updates on this thrown in. Gutted!

Hope gnabry steps up to the plate in a big way.

Is theo still on the bench?

Headshot

Niall Quinn shut the **** up

brianregan09

This could be making of Gnabry I feel the Stoke rugby lads will be out to clatter him from the get go

I think we will win well here though to be honest Stoke aren't as tough as we used to find them before

FearDark

Really looking forward to this one.

.jacksparrow.

At least gnarby has one of the best German players beside him.

bad2dabone

Big spotlight gnabry, joachim low is in the crowd too.

.jacksparrow.

Atmosphere is dead, please start singing.

FearDark

.jacksparrow. wrote: »

Atmosphere is dead, please start singing.

?

brianregan09

YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

FearDark

Easy. easy. easy!!

bad2dabone

Someone call the fire brigade!

x PyRo

The man is made of goals this season.

Mickeroo

He scores when he wants!!!!!!