Predicted Stoke City Lineup To Face Arsenal
Stoke City will welcome Champions League qualification hopefuls Arsenal to the Britannia Stadium this weekend in the Premier League.
The Potters are currently sitting 13th in the league table on 41 points and will look to get a positive result against the Gunners to try and break into the upper half of the standings. Stoke come into the game on the back of a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth last weekend, but manager Mark Hughes’ will be hoping for a better result at home.
Team News
Ibrahim Afellay (Knee Injury) and Stephen Ireland (Broken Leg) are the only two absentees for Stoke City and are unlikely to feature again this season.
Probable Stoke City Starting XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Manager: Mark Hughes
Jack Butland (GK)
The Englishman made his return from a long injury layoff recently and has looked the part since. Will keep his place between the sticks.
Glen Johnson (RB)
The former Liverpool man hasn’t had the most consistent of the seasons and hasn’t been helped by injuries either. Will want to end the season strongly though.
Ryan Shawcross (CB)
The 29-year old has been in the news, with reports of a new contract with the club doing the rounds. Will want to impress with a strong display.
Bruno Martins Indi (CB)
The loan signing has had a great season with the Potters and hasn’t missed a single game since his arrival in August. A definite starter.
Erik Pieters (LB)
Was benched for the game against Bournemouth last week in favour of Marc Muniesa. Expected to return to the starting XI.
Geoff Cameron (CM)
Cameron will start the game in one of the two pivot positions in the midfield. Will be tasked with keeping the Arsenal midfielders in check.
Glenn Whelan (CM)
Cameron will be partnered by the 33-year old Glenn Whelan. The Irishman is an important player in the middle of the park for Stoke.
Xherdan Shaqiri (RW)
The Switzerland international has scored 4 times in the league this season and has set up 2 more. Will be a serious threat on the flanks.
Joe Allen (CAM)
The former Liverpool man has missed just 2 games over the course of the season and is the leading goalscorer for the club with 6 strikes. Can cause problems in the final third.
Marko Arnautovic (LW)
The joint top-scorer with Allen, Arnautovic will slot in on the left flank and will be the biggest goal-threat for the Gunners to cope with.
Peter Crouch (ST)
The 36-year old was left on the bench last time around but could be called up for Saturday in place of Mame Diouf. Arsenal’s aerial weakness is well known and Crouch can be used as a lethal weapon in this scenario.
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