Preview: Stoke City v. Arsenal

Arsenal's last league trip to Stoke did not go very well. Neither did that FA Cup trip. You know what? I hate the Britannia. Pic via Daily Telegraph.


Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
Saturday, February 27
1730 GMT, 12:30 pm EST

• Referee: Peter Walton
  
• This Match, Last Year: Stoke City 2 - 1 Arsenal
• All-Time in All Competitions: 47 Arsenal wins, 22 Stoke City, 21 draws
  
• Arsenal's Recent Form: W-D-L-L-W-W
• Stoke City's Recent Form: D-D-W-D-D-W
  

Predicted Line-Up
guesses italicized

Almunia
Sagna - Campbell - Vermaelen - Clichy
Fabregas - Song - Ramsey
Nasri - Bendtner - Eduardo

Subs from: Fabianski, Traore, Silvestre, Eboue, Denilson, Rosicky, Walcott
Out: Diaby (knee), Gallas (calf), Arshavin (hamstring), Merida (ankle), Gibbs (foot), Van Persie (ankle), Djourou (knee)

• In injury updates for the Gunners: Eduardo could feature as he will resume full training Friday and will make the trip to Stoke. I've listed him to start, but it's more likely that Walcott or Rosicky will start there. Gallas, Diaby, and Arshavin remain out. Judgment call on whether Sagna or Eboue starts at right back, after Eboue had a superb performance there last week.
• Arsenal has not won a league match at Stoke City since a 1-0 win at Victoria Ground on January 20, 1982. Stoke City was not a top tier side from 1985/1986 to 2008/2009.
• Arsenal lost to Stoke City 3-1 on January 24, sending the Gunners crashing out of the 2010 FA Cup.
• Arsenal did defeat Stoke 2-0 at the Emirates on December 5.
• In this league match last season, a 2-1 loss, both Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott had to be stretchered off the pitch and Robin van Persie was sent off after being provoked by Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
• Arsenal and Stoke City have both picked up 10 points in their last six Premier League matches, though Stoke is arguably in better form, as...
• Stoke's last league loss was December 28, home to Birmingham City.
• Stoke City played midweek, defeating Manchester City 3-1 after extra time in their fifth round FA Cup replay.
• You know what's a disaster for a team with a shaky defense, indecisive goalkeeper, and general height disadvantage? The opposition having a guy that can heave a throw-in practically on goal. That guy is Rory Delap.
• Stoke City have scored 17 goals with assists from Delap throw-ins in his career. Three of those have come against Arsenal, including both goals of last year's 2-1 match at the Britannia and Stoke's first goal in the FA Cup tie this year. Stoke's winning goal in extra time against Manchester City on Wednesday also came from a Delap throw-in.
• This is the third time Peter Walton will referee an Arsenal match this year, previously working a 6-2 win over Blackburn Rovers and a 2-2 draw with Everton, both at the Emirates.