If you look at our home record against Stoke since they won promotion back to the Premier League, it makes our tribulations away from home all the more confusing/irritating. In eight attempts they have never won at the Emirates, we’ve beaten them in every single game, scoring 19 goals and conceding just 3.
At the Brittania though, it’s a completely different story. Just one win, and that was the game in which Stoke were reduced to 10 men after Shawcross snapped Ramsey’s leg in two. Late goals from Vermaelen and Fabregas – before he shussshed Tony Pulis – sealed the three points. It remains our only triumph on that ground.
It’s certainly not a question of quality, it’s fairly obviously a psychological thing at this point. It has become the BOGEY GROUND for us, and it’s something we need to rid ourselves of sooner rather than later. Of course it would help if referees didn’t allow them to strangle our players with impunity, for example, but to out our woes at this ground solely down to poor officiating would be wrong.
Ultimately it’s up to us to deal with the kind of game that Stoke play and the atmosphere generated inside the ground. We know it’s going to be hostile, we know there are people without many teeth who would like to devour the entrails of our players and manager, but that’s just the way it is and we’ll have to handle it. Per Mertesacker suggests that greater experience in the side could be a factor today:
Last year we went to Stoke with a very young defence – we had Bellerin, Chambers, Martinez – and at the start of the game we got caught. Now … Cech is 34, Mertesacker 30, Koscielny 30, Monreal 30 … before we did not have that level of experience and that helps a little bit.
Interestingly he too sees this as much as a test of character and mentality as anything else, the players are well aware of the difficulties we’ve had there down the years:
I think the squad feels stronger. It is always a test at Stoke and I believe our record goes against us, but it is interesting as well because it is also a mental test to show we have moved forward and that we can deal with what they offer.
Thoughts echoed by the manager who said:
They have a strong record against us at home and they will have to maintain it but for us it is a good challenge to prove that we have made a step forward and can change that record.
If you come away from Anfield and the Brittania with four points from six, you can feel reasonably pleased with your week’s work. Conceding that late goal against Liverpool amps up the pressure for today, and this does feel like one of those games where we can make some judgements on this team’s ability to maintain the title challenge. The world we live in demands conclusions are drawn one way or the other after every game and every performance, but if this Arsenal team can overcome that mental barrier and win at Stoke for the first time since February 2010, I think we can read something into that.
Quite what the team is going to be remains to be seen. Whispers this morning say we’re going there without Mesut Ozil, which would be a bit of a blow. You assume he’s got some kind of a little injury rather than him simply not being risked due to how important he is for the rest of the campaign, but you’d rather play this one with him than without him. Alexis Sanchez was pictured yesterday in full training so I’m assuming he’s going to be involved from the bench, at least.
The other big decision the manager has is whether or not to give new boy Mohamed Elneny a baptism of fire, a debut at one of the most tricky grounds in England. He says:
Sometimes it is good to give them a taste first and sometimes it is good to throw them straight in. I remember throwing Edu straight in and he suffered at the start to adapt to that sort of pace. It can take some time, but I am convinced because Elneny is naturally mobile that he can adapt quickly.
It sounds like he’s giving it real consideration. If Ozil is missing, the temptation to bolster the midfield with fresh legs and enthusiasm would be pretty strong. What a welcome to English football it will be. Even if Stoke’s style has become less physical in recent years, it’s going to be intense, so good luck to him if he’s starting today.
A point will send us back to the top of the table after Leicester drew yesterday, but three would send us 2 clear of them and 3 of Man City who won yesterday. It’s a big challenge today, but so too is winning the title and games like are ones which can really provide you with something a bit more than just the points. A win would boost belief and confidence, and today would be a very good day to put an end to what is a dismal record at their place.
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As ever we’ll have live blog coverage of the game for you later on. Check back later for a post which has all the details. Catch you later for the game.
