Özil’s Set-Pieces A Worry For Sorry Stoke

Match Preview – Arsenal vs Stoke – Premier League – 11.01.15

Losing is part of football but there are certain defeats that rather than sitting uncomfortably with you like the run of the mill losses gnaw away at your insides and recalling them forces bile to rise in your throat. Arsenal have had quite a few of them in recent years but the one that bothers me most came against today’s opponents.

Defeat at the hands of Stoke is never nice as they are the antithesis of Arsenal however losing to them in the fashion we did is something I’ll never forget. The second half performance was markedly better but capitulating against a team leagues below us in technical ability is almost unforgivable.

Arsenal followed up that loss with a decent run of points before blowing the opportunity to leapfrog Southampton into 4th spot on New Year’s Day however with players coming back into the fold like Özil, Ramsey, Giroud and Flamini we are looking a lot healthier in the selection department.

Arsène Wenger has a few selection headaches for today including whether or not to start Özil and if Szczesny keeps his place as a Premier League starter after his smoking antics.

Stoke will most likely come to the Emirates with a game plan of defend for a draw and hope for a win. Arsenal’s difficulty will lie in attempting to navigate the ball between two banks of four, possible even two banks of five when Stoke are defending and the responsibility for that would fall on the shoulders of Cazorla/Özil/Rosicky.

Özil may be a little too short for this game in terms of competition but if he is fit then I would start him as we all know a star-studded line-up can initially intimidate the opposition enough for you to assert your authority and/or get a foothold in the game. Regardless of who makes the first eleven we simply cannot afford to start the way we did at the Britannia.

Mesut announced his arrival in front of his home crowd in this fixture last season with his set-pieces leading to all three of Arsenal’s goals in a 3-1 win. If he starts he should be pretty motivated to do the same as Stoke have the worst set-piece record this season in the Premier League having conceded 11. For a team like Stoke that is a pretty sorry statistic and Özil’s accuracy could really hurt them.

Historically Mark Hughes teams have struggled at the Emirates which yet another one of the quirky facts spoken about Arsenal in the run up to a game that suggests history is on their side and gives you a false sense of security. Records are there to be broken and as it seems we have a record to hold onto every match the law of averages suggests one of them will be broken.

With a win against Hull in their last match and Man City the opposition in their next match it is absolutely vital that Arsenal win today to create some momentum.

Arsenal from; Szczesny, Ospina, Debuchy, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Chambers, Monreal, Bellerin. Flamini, Coquelin, Rosicky, Ramsey, Özil, Giroud, Walcott, Chamberlain, Alexis, Cazorla, Campbell.

Predicted Line-up

Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Chamberlain, Ramsey, Coquelin, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud

I expect to see substitute appearances from Monreal, Özil and Flamini

Match Quote

“We’re in January and we know that every game has a big significance and we want our form to continue. We’ve had a solid run in the last seven or eight weeks and we want to move on now.”  – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Stoke 3-2 Arsenal (06.12.14)
• Stoke 1-0 Arsenal (01.03.14)
• Arsenal 3-1 Stoke (22.09.14)

Form Guide

Arsenal Last 5
WLWWD

Stoke Last 5
WDWWL

Opposition watch

Stoke are playing a more expansive game under Mark Hughes but there are lightyears away from giving up on the Dark Arts and shaking off the Rugby team moniker. The Potters will look to impose themselves physically on this game and pressure Arsenal into keeping the ball wide were they’ll feel they can deal with it better and restrict Arsenal to crosses into the box the Stoke defence believe they will lap up.

In Bojan and Arnautovic they have players to damage Arsenal on the counter and even under Hughes it will be a case of soaking up Arsenal pressure and hoping to nick a win on the road. Plus ça change.

Factfile

• If Arsenal win in this 90th meeting of the two clubs they’ll boast a win percentage of exactly 50%
• Özil contributed to all three goals in the same fixture last season – all from set-pieces
• Stoke have the worst record for conceding from set-pieces this season
• The Potters have never won at the Emirates
• Hughes has never won at the Emirates
• Arsenal average over 1.5 goals per game against Stoke and concede less than 1 on average

Prediction

A horrible and tense game to watch with a tight scoreline is what I am expecting.

2-1 to Arsenal with Giroud and Alexis scoring.

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