da luck： Arsenal play hosts to Stoke City this weekend hoping to close the gap between themselves and Chelsea at the summit of the Premier League table.
da roleta： The Gunners have been in impressive form recently and during the week secured top spot in their Champions League group for only the second time in six seasons.
With Arsene Wenger’s team continuously causing destruction in recent weeks, including battering West Ham 5-1 last Saturday, the Gunners must ensure Stoke become yet another victim.
Just one defeat in 22 games makes Arsenal enormous favourites for the contest, but Wenger should not underestimate the quality of the Potters.
The recent uplift in form from Mark Hughes’ side should make this an interesting match, not to mention the bi-annual subplot of Aaron Ramsey facing the team he once broke his leg against and a set of supporters who bizarrely still mock him for it.
Three points is the prize on offer for Arsenal, whilst the Welshman certainly wouldn’t mind a pinch of personal revenge.
To ensure victory, however, this is the starting XI Wenger must field against Stoke.
GK: Petr Cech
For Arsenal to have any chance of success this season, Petr Cech must ensure his performances remain to the standard previously witnessed at Chelsea.
Cech cannot allow Stoke to overpower him, especially at crosses and set-pieces. The Potters are notorious for causing goalkeepers to panic, but Cech is usually ice-cool under pressure.
RB: Gabriel Paulista
The return of Hector Bellerin must occur sooner rather than later for Arsenal to mount a considerable title challenge.
In the absence of the Spaniard, Gabriel remains the standout candidate to fill the enormous void.
But to keep his place over Carl Jenkinson, Gabriel must combat winger-forward Marko Arnautovic. This battle could be a deciding factor in the outcome of the match.
CB: Laurent Koscielny
French defender Koscielny has formed a formidable partnership with summer signing Shkodran Mustafi.
The combination will be tested this weekend with Stoke’s attacking prowess more than capable of damaging Arsenal’s chances of securing three points.
If Koscielny can cause a threat at set-pieces also, it would be an ideal time to score his first Premier League goal of the season.
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
For nearly a decade, Mustafi has been the defender that has eluded Arsene Wenger.
The German international has become an integral part of the Gunners’ recent success and rather tellingly, Arsenal are yet to lose with him in the side.
Mustafi will be hoping his impressive run of form continues against Stoke.
LB: Nacho Monreal
When it looked as though his Arsenal career was coming to a close, Monreal suddenly emerged as a key member of the Gunners’ back four.
The Spanish left-back must contain Xherdan Shaqiri this weekend as the tricky Swiss winger has proven his ability to be a match-winner in the Premier League.
An attacking display from Monreal wouldn’t go amiss as it would aid Arsenal’s attempts to stretch the Stoke back-line.
CM: Granit Xhaka
The Swiss midfielder may have cost Arsenal a fair few pennies during the summer, but he’s importantly increased Arsenal’s squad depth.
Xhaka’s ‘no-nonsense’ style has evaded the Gunners in recent seasons and Stoke are exactly the sort of opponent that have outfought the north Londoners before.
With Xhaka capable of physically going toe-to-toe with the Stoke midfield, Wenger must pick the Swiss international this weekend.
CM: Aaron Ramsey
Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been inconsistent all season, but the Welsh midfielder thrived alongside Granit Xhaka against Basel in midweek.
Perhaps more importantly, any time Ramsey comes up against Stoke, he’s always met with a rather ghastly reception of jeers – ironically because Potters favourite Ryan Shawcross once broke the midfielder’s leg with a career-threatening ‘tackle’.
That should have the 25-year-old extra pumped up for Saturday’s game as he looks to take revenge.
CAM: Mesut Ozil
German international Mesut Ozil has found a goal-scoring touch this season. Eight goals have seen him overcome his tally for last season already.
Nonetheless, a ninth goal would be widely welcomed as Stoke look set to prove rigorous opposition. The electric pace of Alexis Sanchez and Lucas Perez will allow Ozil to find spaces to thread the ball into.
RW: Theo Walcott
At last! After nearly eleven years at Arsenal, Theo Walcott has finally hit heights expected as a teenager.
With nine goals already this season, Walcott’s contribution has been invaluable to the Gunners’ title challenge.
Walcott’s pace and agility could stretch the robust Stoke defence and will help the Gunners find space behind.
LW: Alexis Sanchez
Is there a better player in the Premier League than Alexis Sanchez at the moment?
The Chile international continues to destroy defences single-handed, as witnessed against West Ham last Saturday. Sanchez’ role as a central striker has been a revolutionary move by Arsene Wenger.
But now, Wenger should restore Sanchez to the left-wing to allow another in-form striker to start against Stoke.
ST: Lucas Perez
How can Arsene Wenger contemplate dropping Spanish striker Lucas Perez after his goalscoring exploits against FC Basel in midweek?
Three goals against the Swiss outfit saw the Gunners finish top of their Champions League group. Perez, in red-hot form, could prove a decisive factor in overcoming Stoke this weekend too.
If Perez can score another goal in front of the Emirates crowd, Arsene Wenger will have an enormous selection headache for the coming weeks.