Final Injury News and Predicted Line-up vs Stoke: by SV
Stoke away. Possibly one of the toughest fixtures in Arsene Wenger’s calendar. Not only do Stoke have a style that is stark contrast to Arsenal’s, but they are extremely good at playing it. As I’m sure that every Arsenal fan knows, Stoke play a physical game to say the least and it is in this kind of game when Alex Song would have come in very handy. But he’s gone so let’s focus on who we do have available.
Wenger has come out and confirmed that Koscielny will NOT be in the squad for the game, which is a big blow as Laurent has beefed up considerably since his first season at the club. But still, this is a game when Per Mertesacker will really come into his own. Stoke’s main danger man is Peter Crouch and there is possibly no centre-back in the League who is better physically equipped to deal with Crouch than our own BFG. So the cloud of Koscielny’s injury does, in fact, have a significant silver lining.
In other team news, it seems that Sczcesny has a minor rib injury – though he is expected to play – and the Ox is fit and in the squad again. However, I do not expect our dynamic midfielder to start as I expect Cazorla to get the attacking midfield role, after his sparkling performance last week. The other two midfielders will, no doubt, be Arteta and Diaby. Arteta is, as vice-captain, virtually guaranteed a start in the current circumstances and Wenger will be looking for some physical presence in Diaby.
Up front is possible the largest question mark. If it were me, I would play Podolski in the ‘left striker’ role and opt for Giroud through the middle, where his height would give us the tools to combat Stoke’s aerial strength. However, Wenger may decide that, instead of trying to beat Stoke at their game, we will do best if we beat them while playing our own. Therefore, he may opt for the same combination as last week, and go for a front three of Gervinho/Podolski/Walcott. Either way, I am confident that we will have more success in the attacking third this week as Stoke are, due to their home advantage, likely to try and do some attacking of their own, as opposed to parking the bus as Sunderland did.
So, in conclusion, my expected starting line-up is:
Gervinho – Podolski – Walcott
Cazorla
Arteta – Diaby
Gibbs – Vermaelen – Mertesacker – Jenkinson
Szczesny
As I say, this is what I expect and not what I would choose myself, but Arsene does know best.
Till tomorrow.
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