Arsenal vs Stoke City match prediction: How the Premier League game might transpire
Channel: information general
Date: 10/12/2016

Arsenal vs Stoke City match prediction: How the Premier League game might transpire

EPL Preview: Steely Arsenal look the real deal to Arsene Wenger
The guilt of not finishing top of their Champions League group is not there anymore and Arsenal will look to take their renewed confidence into their Premier League match against Stoke City on Saturday. Having scored nine goals in their last two matches, the Gunners are in that sweet spot when it comes to their attack at the moment, and the last thing they'll want is for Mark Hughes' men to sour it.
All three points will be the target for the Gunners, who can go level on points with Chelsea, for a day at least, if they manage to keep their attacking rhythm going against Stoke at the Emirates.
Here is a look at how the match might pan out.
First half: Arsenal make a bit of a nervous start, and with the crowd getting edgier every passing minute, a poor pass from Shkodran Mustafi out the back gives Marko Arnautovic a chance to test Petr Cech. But, just as he is about to take his shot, Laurent Koscielny makes a great last-ditch tackle to save his central defensive partner's blushes. Mustafi soon finds his confidence, though, and so do Arsenal, as Mesut Ozil tests Lee Grant with a shot with his right foot, off a pass from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Theo Walcott is the next to take a shot, which just whistles past the right hand of Grant and the post from an angle. Arsenal are in the zone now, pinging passes, with Granit Xhaka having a greater influence on the game. His pass from deep, finds Nacho Monreal in space down the left and the Arsenal full-back stands up a cross into the box. Alexis Sanchez gets that great leap of his into play, but he cannot guide the ball past Grant, who makes a comfortable save.
Now, a sense of frustration is growing as Arsenal dominate, but fail to break Stoke City's resolve, and just when it looks like the it is going to be goalless at halftime, Sanchez and Ozil combine to setup Oxlade-Chamberlain, who slots the ball past Grant to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
Second half: Stoke begin the second 45 much better, knowing they need to be more proactive. Cech is forced into a save by Arnautovic, with Jonathan Walters, on the follow-up, unable to find the target. Monreal concedes a freekick in a dangerous area and Xherdan Shaqiri, with the freekick, is desperately unlucky as he smashes the ball onto the crossbar with Cech well beaten.
Arsenal look a little rattled now, but soon conjure up a chance as Ozil finds Aaron Ramsey in space outside the box. The Welshman goes for the strike and much to the majority's delight at the Emirates, the ball flies into the top corner. Arsene Wenger pulls out the double fist pump and Arsenal manage to keep Stoke at b
ay to take all three points.

"The results give you confidence to work in this way, though. We have got to use this momentum of the last eight league games and go on to have another good game against West Brom now."While most of Chelsea`s title rivals have been in European action this week, Conte`s side have once again had a full week to prepare for the visit of Tony Pulis`s side.

It is 32 years since West Brom last won at Chelsea, but they have drawn on two of their last three visits and have climbed to seventh in the table on the back of a four-game unbeaten run.

Guardiola`s City will look to kick their title challenge back into gear when they visit unravelling champions Leicester City on Saturday.

The ill-tempered defeat at Chelsea`s hands left a mark, with Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho picking up red cards that will keep them out until after Christmas.

City have slipped to fourth place in the table, four points below Chelsea, and although Leicester are toiling in 16th place, Pablo Zabaleta is taking nothing for granted.

"Always it`s a difficult place to go. Even if they are not doing great in the domestic competition, they are still a good team, very competitive," said the City right-back.

"It is going to be a tough game. We need to win and get three points after the big defeat last weekend to stay in the fight for the title."

While City have won their last three away matches in the league, they have won just four of their last 14 games in all competitions as Guardiola continues to search for a durable winning formula.

His problems pale in comparison, however, beside those of Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who saw a second-string side trounced 5-0 by Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.

With seven defeats already, Leicester`s league form is as alarming as last season`s was astonishing and has left them just two points above the relegation zone.

Like Chelsea, third-place Liverpool have had a week off to prepare for Sunday`s home game with West Ham

Sunday (1415 GMT unless otherwise stated):

Chelsea v West Brom (1200 GMT), Liverpool v West Ham (1630 GMT), Man United v Tottenham, Southampton v Middlesbrough