Preview: Stoke City v. Arsenal, FA Cup 4th Round

Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
Sunday, January 24
1330 GMT, 8:30 am EST

• Referee: Martin Atkinson
  
• Last League Match: Arsenal 2 - 0 Stoke; December 5, 2009
• Head-to-Head: 47 Arsenal wins, 21 Stoke wins, 21 draws
  

Predicted Line-Up

Fabianksi
((Reserve?)) - Silvestre - Campbell - Clichy
Denilson - Eastmond - Wilshere
Walcott - Vela - Rosicky

Subs from: Alumnia, Gallas, Senderos, Vermaelen, Traore, Fabregas, Arshavin, Merida, Eduardo
Out: Diaby (calf), Sagna (shoulder), Nasri (hamstring), Ramsey (thigh), Bendtner (groin), Song and Eboue (Africa Cup), Gibbs (foot), Van Persie (ankle), Djourou (knee)

• Arsenal has not won at Stoke since the FA Cup of 1990.
• This means nothing, as Stoke was not a top flight team from 1985 to 2008.
• The Gunners have won all 7 FA Cup ties with Stoke all-time.
• As expected, Arsene Wenger will field a slightly youtful line-up, given that Arsenal Hell Month is approaching. Post about that tomorrow. I even made a pretty graphic!
• No idea who will fill that reserve spot. Emmanuel-Thomas? Coquelin?
  
• As such, one wonders if and when Wenger will throw the FA Cup entirely to the bench players, with the league title race and Champions League up for grabs.