Arsenal and Stoke have built a rivalry in recent seasons. Both sides won their home fixture when they met last season. Those games were decided by some key matchups being won and lost, and it will be the same this time around. Here are the key matchups for this encounter.
5. Mame Biram Diouf s. Laurent Koscielny
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Mame Biram Diouf is a lively, hard-working presence up front for Stoke City. Laurent Koscielny will match up with him with Per Mertesacker sweeping up behind. Diouf has good movement and will score when given the chance. Koscielny will need to be fully focused to slow him down.
4. Hector Bellerin vs. Marko Arnautovic
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Stoke City may look to make Marko Arnautovic their main outlet out wide. Bellerin’s speed will help him out when recovering on the counter but the Stoke man will look to overpower the young Spaniard. How Bellerin withstands that approach will be key.
3. Xherdan Shaqiri vs. Francis Coquelin
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Francis Coquelin will face an opponent with plenty of skill, strength and pace in the form of Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss international is a goal threat as well, and Arsenal will be in trouble if he gets the better of Coquelin.
2. Olivier Giroud vs. Geoff Cameron
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Olivier Giroud will continue to lead the line for Arsenal. His physical presence will be a big help against an always solid Stoke City defense. Geoff Cameron can hold his own against Giroud and can make the Frenchman work defensively as well.
1. Alexis Sanchez vs. Glen Johnson
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Alexis Sanchez is still yet to fire fully for Arsenal this season, but it’s only a matter of time before that changes. Glen Johnson is an experienced defender but doesn’t have the pace of old and can lose focus sometimes. Sanchez may just get the chance to open his account for the season and help Arsenal to victory if Johnson isn’t at his best.
Always Thinking Football 