Arsenal will resume their Premier League duty when they will host Stoke City at the Emirates on Saturday. Having won their last two games, Mark Hughes’ side are high on confidence.
After a disastrous start, the Potters have turned things around in style with the team breaking into the top 10 of the table from the relegation zone. Arsenal would be the obvious favourites for the game considering their form and the venue but Stoke City will be a side who would provide a stern test for the hosts on the weekend.
Let’s take a look at some of the things the Gunners must be wary of in order to grab another home win.
Set Pieces
Stoke City under Hughes have changed their footballing approach a lot but the team still continues to retain their strength in the set-piece situations. The team has some players who are strong aerially and know when to attack a set piece which makes it very difficult to defend against.
Arsenal have been undone in those situations in the past and after their exertions in the Champions League in the midweek, the Gunners won’t relish the physical battle much which will give the visitors chances.
Deliveries In From Wide Areas
Stoke under Hughes have always preferred to attack down the flanks with some long diagonals played from the defence or deep midfield positions. The team has got some players with magical feet who are capable of beating their markers and getting to the byline to deliver dangerous crosses into the penalty area, which is something Arsenal should defend properly.
With the likes of Arnautovic and Shaqiri, players who get past their man and have very good crossing abilities, Stoke are a serious threat. Arsenal’s fullbacks must be careful not to get caught high on the pitch which will make it easy to execute those deliveries from the wide positions.
Joe Allen
Since his transfer in the summer, Joe Allen has made the biggest impact at Stoke City. The Welshman has played a hand in 6 of the 16 goals scored by his club and has been the fulcrum of the team’s play from the midfield. Allen also has the second highest number of key passes played per game, after Xherdan Shaqiri.
At Emirates, where the Potters will play on the counter, the intelligent passing of the former Liverpool player would be the key and Arsenal must ensure that the midfielder is not afforded too much time on the ball to make his mark on the game.
