Mesut Ozil will be the cynosure as Arsenal travel to the Britannia to take on Stoke City in the English Premier League.
Ozil has come for much criticism of late, following disappointing performances, particularly in the Champions League last 16 first leg against Bayern Munich, and the German international, after being rested for the 4-1 win over Sunderland last weekend, will be keen to get up and running in the proverbial cold afternoon in Stoke.
Arsenal are currently one point behind leaders Chelsea, who play Fulham at the same time, and Arsene Wenger will be keen to take advantage of any possible slip up from the fellow Londoners.
Even if this Stoke side might be a little different under Mark Hughes, from the tough and rugged side under Tony Pulis, Tomas Rosicky is expecting a pretty similar game from the ones Arsenal have experienced over the past few years, very much to their detriment.
"[I'm expecting] a typical game when you go to Stoke," the midfielder told Arsenal Player. "It's always very similar -- they are a very physical side, very aggressive and it's a very tough place to go.
"All the away games are pretty similar so we need to be really well prepared [for a] physical and aggressive style of play. We need to match them in those attributes and, if we do that, we can be successful.
"For me, [the crowd at the Britannia] doesn't matter at all. The atmosphere in the stadiums here in England is great anywhere you go, so that side doesn't bother me at all.
"What I'm thinking about is [what performance] we will produce on the pitch and if we will be as aggressive and strong as Stoke. If we do that, we can beat them."
After a difficult February, Arsenal face an equally testing March, with the North London side set to face Tottenham, Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Bayern Munich. Wenger knows this month will make or break Arsenal.
"We have a great opportunity to show that we are strong, which is what I think," the Frenchman said. "At the end of March we will know much more. The aim is to win the next game."
Stoke are only three points above the relegation zone and have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games; but Hughes' men have beaten Chelsea and Manchester United at the Britannia this season.
"This game doesn't hold any fears for us, because we have come up against other so called stronger teams in the league and performed really well, especially at home," Hughes told Stoke City Player. "We are really looking forward to the game to be perfectly honest, and there is absolutely no apprehension in terms of our attitude to the game.
"It's all about going out there, doing the right things and then hopefully being rewarded with all three points -- that is the aim. It's a credit to the lads that they have been able to produce what they have done against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium this season.
"Because of that we know that we can cause the stronger teams in the league a lot of problems, and Arsenal will know that themselves too. They won't underestimate us one bit, just as nobody does when they come here to face us at our place."
English Premier League: Stoke City vs Arsenal Live TV Information (Match starts 3 pm GMT, 8.30 pm IST, 10 am ET)
Country | TV Broadcaster |
India | Star Sports |
US | NBC Sports Network |
Canada | TSN |
United Kingdom | Talksport Radio and Arsenal Player |
Middle East | Bein SportsArabia |
Australia | Fox Sports |
South Africa | SuperSport |
English Premier League: Stoke City vs Arsenal Online Live Streaming Information:
Country | Online links |
India | Star Sports |
US | NBC |
UK | Talksport [Radio] & Arsenal Player |
Middle East | Bein Sports |
Canada | TSN |
Australia | Fox Sports |
South Africa | SuperSport |
Latin America | Direct TV |
Team news: Stoke City: Oussama Assaidi remains sidelined but Robert Huth could be named in the squad after missing the last three months with a knee injury.
Arsenal: Aaron Ramsey, who suffered that scary broken leg at Stoke four years ago, which has in turn soured the relationship between the two clubs' fans, is ruled out with a thigh injury, along with long-term injury victims Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby.
Left-back's Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal are doubts, which could mean Thomas Vermaelen to fill in at the fullback position after the Belgian's return to fitness.
Key men: Stoke City: Ryan Shawcross will, no doubt, face the wrath of the travelling Arsenal fans, and the defender will do well to keep his concentration on matters on the pitch.
Arsenal: Ozil has a lot to prove, while Rosicky and Jack Wilshere were quite influential against Sunderland.
Expected lineups: Stoke City: Begovic; Cameron, Wilson, Shawcross, Pieters; Adam, Whelan; Odemwingie, Walters, Arnautovic; Crouch.
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Wilshere; Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla; Giroud.
Prediction: 2-0 to Arsenal