Arsenal’s New Year didn’t go exactly as planned as the Gunners suffered a tough away loss at Southampton. Arsenal will have another opportunity to get that first win of 2015 at home, but it won’t be easy. Stoke will be the ones coming for a visit just over a month after beating Arsenal quite handily.
Complete your Sunday EPL experience with our preview of Southampton vs. Manchester United. Meanwhile, read on below for more on this interesting grudge match.
[sc:Soccer ]Arsenal vs. Stoke Betting Preview
Where: Emirates Stadium, London
When: Sunday, January 11, 8:30 AM ET
Line: Stoke +650 at Arsenal -300, tie +340; total 2.5 – view all EPL lines
What’s at Stake?
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Revenge. Stoke served Arsenal the worst 45 minutes of their season and led 3-0 by halftime to finish 3-2 winners in their first meeting this season. Arsenal will look to return the favor on their home turf in order to keep pace in the race for the top four.
As for Stoke, it’s another chance to strengthen their growing reputation as the team the big boys don’t want to face.
Betting on Arsenal
Arsenal’s four-match unbeaten run came to a screeching halt as they were dealt a 2-0 away loss at Southampton on New Year’s Day. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had a shocker of a game after his errors directly led to Saints goals.
The Gunners were held scoreless for the first time since a similar 2-0 away defeat to leaders Chelsea way back in October. But expect the Gunners to bounce back at home, where they have scored six goals in their last two games. Arsenal have also lost just once in nine home games this season (5-1-3).
Arsenal were shocked 3-2 at Stoke just last month, but that came at the tail end of a very hectic period in the Gunners’ schedule. They had played three games in just over a week prior to that game.
Arsenal are better rested now and they will be at home, where they have had more success than at the Brittania. Arsenal are 6-0-0 against Stoke at the Emirates every year since the Potters returned to be Premier League back in 2008-2009 with an aggregate score of 14-3.
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Betting on Stoke City
Stoke just have that habit of getting up for the big boys. Three of the Potters’ seven victories thus far this season have come against teams currently in the top eight. Those include away wins over Manchester City and Tottenham, as well as that big 3-2 home win over Arsenal.
Their most recent game on New Year’s Day saw them hold an in-form Manchester United team to a 1-1 draw at home. That was after they also gave United a very tough test at Old Trafford last month, only to go down, 2-1.
The attacking trio of Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters and Bojan Krkic all got on the scoresheet in their first half blitz of Arsenal. After missing the New Year’s clash with United with a hamstring injury, Bojan could make his return to the lineup to add that little bit of trickery to a physically strong Stoke team.
Stoke haven’t been scoring as many set piece goals as in recent years, but they still remain one of the best teams in the league through the air. Arsenal’s shaky defense is always susceptible to miscues, with their goalkeeper Szczesny particularly suspect in recent games. Look for the likes of Crouch, Mame Diouf and Ryan Shawcross to bother the Arsenal goalie from any set piece opportunity they can get.
Writer’s Prediction
Arsenal (-300) scores another home win, 2-1, over Stoke.
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