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PREVIEW: Stoke v Arsenal, Injury News, Preferred XI + Prediction

By on February 28, 2014

Arsenal face a tricky away clash against Stoke City tomorrow afternoon with another three vital points at stake.

There’s been quite a bit of needle heading into the game, with disgraceful Stoke fans taking to an online club fanzine forum to plan what abuse they’re going to dish out to Aaron Ramsey and Arsene Wenger.

I’m sure the players and coaching staff are used to the abuse they receive at away grounds like the Britannia by now, so I’m sure it won’t affect them tomorrow. Well, it certainly wont affect Rambo as he’s injured!

This is a must win game if we want to keep our title hopes alive as we’ve got a nightmare run of fixtures coming up that’s really going to make or break our season. To head into them off the back of a loss would be damaging.

We’re just one point behind Chelsea – who’re away at Fulham on Saturday – so hopeful we could return to the top of the league if the Cottagers could do us a favour.

Injury/Team News

Arsene Wenger confirmed on Thursday that Nacho Monreal and Kieran Gibbs are both major doubts for the game and they didn’t appear to train on Friday, so I wouldn’t expect either to have made the trip. The good news is Thomas Vermaelen is fit again so he could come straight back in to deputise at left-back.

As I said in my preferred XI post yesterday, I’d like to see Jack given a breather for this one. Firstly because this is precisely the type of fixture he could easily pick up an injury with Stoke’s over-zealous approach. And secondly, we need to win the midfield battle and Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta are more adept at putting their foot in.

Mesut Ozil is also due back after being rested last week while Tomas Rosicky should keep his place after an excellent display against Sunderland.

Ramsey, Walcott, Diaby and Kallstrom all remain out through injury.

Preferred XI

Prediction

We haven’t won at Stoke in our last three attempts, drawing twice and losing the other, but they are on a poor run of late having only won once in their last 10, so I can see us grinding out a vital win here.

Stoke 0-1 Arsenal COYG!

What are your thoughts on the game? Are you confident? What team would you play?

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