Arsenal will put their 13-match unbeaten Premier
League streak on the line on Saturday as Stoke City make their way to
the Emirates Stadium hoping to cause an upset in north London.
The Gunners can temporarily move level on points with league leaders Chelsea if they take three points against the Potters, and manager Arsene Wenger's men are in good shape after scoring 12 times in their last four games in all competitions.
S
toke travel to the Emirates in good form too, having lost just once in their last nine Premier League outings, winning five of those meetings. They have an opportunity to move up to sixth if they topple Arsenal in Week 15.
Hector Bellerin may return for Arsenal when they welcome Mark Hughes' Stoke to the Emirates on Saturday.
The Gunners full-back has been missing since suffering an ankle injury in the north London derby before the international break.
His side can go top of the table if they win by two clear goals against Stoke, with current league leaders Chelsea set to face West Brom on Sunday.
On the other side, the Potters have bounced back after a terrible start in the season. They’ve lost just one of the last nine Premier League games, winning five in the process and have moved to the upper part of the table (ninth place).
Stoke have proven proven formidable opponents for Arsenal at the Britannia, but it has been 35 years since the Potters have departed North London with three points in a league game so Wenger and his troops can feel pretty confident of extending their unbeaten league run.
Francis Coquelin returns after serving a one-game European ban but Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla remain injured.
Stoke defender Bruno Martins Indi is available despite being caught by an opponent's elbow last weekend.
However, fellow centre-back Ryan Shawcross is again set to miss out with a calf problem.
Geoff Cameron is still sidelined by a knee problem, but Marko Arnautovic is fit despite suffering a knock against Burnley.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on his side's development:"We have a good team dynamic, we have a very strong team spirit and we have more maturity, definitely. Unfortunately, the teams around us have more as well."You can assess the Premier League as very open and very interesting... December is a very important month and for us even more because we have some big games.
"Stoke is another challenge for us [to show] that we can reset, refocus and continue our development and take the points."
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "In the past as a club we've struggled to get results at places like Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge but we've been able to do that in recent times.
"This is the only one left standing so it would be great to get it out of the way. Our recent form is good and we're in good heart so confidence is high, that is huge in football, so we'll be able to benefit from that.
"It's up to us to restrict them to minimal chances and make sure we're creating chances when going the other way."
Arsenal: Cech; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sanchez.
Stoke City: Grant; Johnson, Indi, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, Imbula; Shaqiri, Allen, Arnautovic; Walters.
AgaasportNews Predicted Scores:
Arsenal Fc 2 Stoke City Fc 1
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