Saturday 12 September 2015 15:17, UK
Arsenal are looking to keep up their 100 per cent home Premier League record against Stoke when they host the Potters on Saturday.
Arsene Wenger's men have won on all seven occasions they've hosted Stoke in the Premier League, and the Gunners are bidding to go four unbeaten since losing to West Ham on the opening day.
Arsenal will have one eye on the Champions League, though, as they kick off their European campaign away to Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.
Stoke, meanwhile, lie 18th in the table after earning just two points from their opening four games and will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 3-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in the corresponding fixture last season.
Team news
Arsenal are expecting to be boosted in defence, with Per Mertesacker (illness) and Laurent Koscielny (back) set to be available.
England midfielder Jack Wilshere has, though, suffered a setback in his recovery from a hairline fracture in his left fibula, while both Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are recovering from knee surgery.
Mark Hughes has confirmed Jonathan Walters will be in Stoke's squad, despite the forward almost leaving the club on deadline day, with the Potters boss now ready to usher him back into the fold in North London after leaving him out against West Brom
Charlie Adam and Ibrahim Afellay are both suspended having being dismissed against the Baggies while Mame Diouf (hamstring), Marko Arnautovic (ankle) and Glen Johnson (groin) are all doubts for Hughes, who cannot call upon Peter Odemwingie (hamstring) and Ryan Shawcross (back).
Opta stats
The Gunners have won each of their seven home Premier League games against the Potters, their best 100 per cent home record against any side in the Premier League.
Stoke are without a win in their last seven top flight games on the road (D4 L3), a current winless streak on the road only Newcastle and Southampton (both nine) can better.
Arsenal have lost two of their last three Premier League meetings with Stoke.
In all competitions, Arsenal have now won 13 home games in a row against Stoke (dating back to 1983), their longest such winning streak against any side in the club's history.
Aaron Ramsey has netted three Premier League goals against the Potters, his joint-highest tally against any side (also three vs Sunderland).
Santi Cazorla leads the way this season with 16 Premier League chances created. Since 2012/13 (when he came to the Premier League), he's racked up a league-high 30 assists.
Merson's prediction
Ibrahim Afellay and Charlie Adam will be missing this game through suspension, having been sent off last week, so I've got to go for a home win. Arsenal are very lucky to have Stoke at home in their first game after the transfer market closed, considering they didn't buy a striker.
They would be in serious trouble if they were to get beaten here, but Stoke haven't really got going yet. The Potters are a bit too open for me, they miss Steven N'Zonzi if I'm being honest. This is a different team from the Stoke of old, with a lot of footballers, and I don't think they will be able to stop Arsenal in an open game.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
Betting
Arsenal are Sky Bet's shortest-priced favourites in the Premier League this weekend at just 2/7 to see off 11/1 outsiders Stoke, while the draw is priced at 4/1. Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez head the first goalscorer betting at 7/2 apiece, while Mame Biram Diouf is rated the visitors' biggest threat at 11/1. The Soccer Saturday pundits have made their predictions at Sky Bet, including Charlie Nicholas backing his former club to win 3-0 at odds of 13/2.
