Stoke City – Arsenal Match Thread

By: Martin | May 8th, 2011

Lineups are in:

Stoke City Starters: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Whitehead, Delap, Walters, Jones Bench: Sorensen, Collins, Pugh, Diao, Carew, Faye, Shotton

Arsenal: Starters: Wojo, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Rambo, Theo, Arshavin, van Persie Bench: Lehmann, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Squillaci, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner

No real surprises there for us — with injuries, the lineup card largely filled out itself. The only thing that is somewhat surprising is that Djourou passed his late fitness test and is able to start, which means we’ll have to wait a little while to see Vermaelen. But that’s great news — I have to say that watching Djourou hobble off last week against Manchester United, with his injury history, had me fearing for the worst, so it’s a huge relief to know that it was nothing serious. I wouldn’t completely rule out a late substitution appearance for Vermaelen if Wenger has a spare sub at the end of the match, either. At any rate, it’s still very good to have Vermaelen back suiting up for the first team, whether he plays or not.

This is a big chance for us to all but clinch a top 3 finish, and maybe even put some pressure on Chelsea for 2nd. Let’s get out there and do it.

Come on Arsenal.

**************

Don’t forget to follow the Arsenal Offside on Twitter for the latest news, links, and updates

Some Related Stories:

Category: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Premiership, Stoke City

« Stoke City – Arsenal Preview | Home | Stoke City 3 – Arsenal 1 : Poor Gunners Deservedly Beaten »

Sairax

United hammering Chelsea. I knew they would be better than Chelsea this season, bloody hell, it's the only thing I'll every get right in my life. Anyway, I don't care if Chelsea lose. We have a better shot at finishing 2nd and preserving some dignity (I know I know, but still). I'm used to United winning the title anyway. I'm never speaking to my Manc-loving cousin ever again though.
Georgedb1

sort of win win - although I would have preferred the "win" where chelsea beat manure
JG

Djourou clearly wasn't ready for this game. All of the goals, he took some major part in them.
TV5, please. And a LONG talk with everyone over what it means to be an Arsenal player come the end of the season. This is inexcusable.
Brentonwalters

Watching this without commentators is the only good thing about this game.
SJGgumby

Well, Jack just took away our moral high-ground. Oh well.
Brentonwalters

This is fucking embarrassing.
SJGgumby

While I reeeeaaaaly hate losing to Stoke and playing this poorly, clinching top-4 yesterday makes it a bit easier to take. I'm also glad to see Wenger changing up the formation / team setup. We'll see if its effective or not - I'm guessing probably not, because I don't have much faith in Bendtner or Chamakh at this point based on their recent form, but glad to see that the old man still has some experimentation left in him.
Georgedb1

Can someone please get off a volley at the goal, instead of these limp dick passess to their goalie?
thechaikid

):
Georgedb1

Arsenal have lost their top 4 "aora" in the past 2 years because of our amazingly obvious weaknesses; teams used to come out on the field filled with worry as to how they could possibly manage to play against the supernatural power of a top 4 side. Now, clubs all the way down to relegation sides, know that all they have to do aganist the Arsenal is attack our shit defence, get a set piece or two, and they have at least 1 goal in the bag.

Manure has kept that aora, and it has allowed them be a medeocre side and still go undefeated for 20-odd games. They strike fear into teams even if they're 0-2 down, which forces their opposition shit their pants even when they're leading.

Chelsea has the same thing - its what has let them overtake us and challenge for the title when just a month or two ago they were firmly 5th or 6th and written off.
Perry S.

Arsenal in a heavy forward formation, been awhile.
Sairax

I'm making my podcast debut today, guys! This isn't fair. Wah.
Sairax

Bloody hell.
JG

I think I'm going to feel sick. I will devote any energy left after hoping Arsenal win the title next season to hoping Stoke get relegated next season.
Georgedb1

Don't hate stoke, its their fans that are idiots. Teams like Stoke are what makes the league interesting - yea they're rough, but thats up to the referee to stop. Every team has some fans that are idiots, Stoke's just seems to have more than their fair share.
Sairax

Stuart Robson needs a muzzle. I'm thisclose to throwing my slippers at the tv.

Oh and we conceded from a set piece. Shock, surprise, etc.
Wolffy

yeah that guy is a pain in the ass, I am about to listen to the game on mute.
Georgedb1

forget the statistic miss goals due to the cross-bar - give me a statistic of where the fuck we would be in the table if we had successfully kept out HALF the fucking set piece goals in the league
ASDF

Cant believe that the Stoke trolls in the stadium are booing Rambo!!! Its really shameful.
FredJacob

OR EVEN COME BACK AND WIN THE LEAGUE WHEN MANU LOSE THE LAST 3 GAMES AND CHELSEA LOSE THERE LAST TWO FINGERS CROSSED
Chris

Only slightly less fantasy, but would it be treason to hope for a Chelsea win today (as under 'normal' circumstances in a ManU vs Chelsea confrontation a draw would be preferable).Then for ManU to implode under the pressure of facing FCB, Chelsea to nick the title, then for us to steam through for second and poor ManU to finish with zip-all ?
Martin

Not treasonous, and if Chelsea win today they've got a really good chance of winning the league, but it's hard to see quite how we're going to finish above Manchester United -- they're playing Blackpool at home on the last day of the season, and I suspect that will be a steamrolling. All they need is 3 points in their final 3 matches to ensure that they at least finish even on points with us, and with their goal difference advantage, that will almost certainly see them finish above us in the final calculus.
Sairax

You were so close with the starting XI prediction!

Twitter has brought to my attention that we have 4 British players in the side today. Good stuff :)