Stoke v Arsenal

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Sunday, 8 May Kick-off: 1405 BST
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson is expected to overcome the dead leg that caused him to be substituted during last weekend’s draw at Blackpool.

Manager Tony Pulis has no other fresh injury concerns.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas remains sidelined, and Samir Nasri is missing with a hamstring injury.

Defenders Gael Clichy and Johan Djourou are both doubts, but Thomas Vermaelen has fully recovered from the Achilles problem he suffered in September.

Stoke

Doubtful: Wilkinson (dead leg)

Injured: Etherington (hamstring), Fuller & Sidibe (both Achilles), Higginbotham (knee)

Arsenal

Doubtful: Clichy (hamstring), Djourou (ankle)

Injured: Bartley (knee), Diaby (calf), Fabianski (shoulder), Fabregas & Mannone (both thigh), Nasri (hamstring)

MATCH PREVIEW

Six points off the top with three games to play, Arsenal take on The Potters in need of snookers. Furthermore, Arsene Wenger’s side will hardly be able to count on Stoke taking it easy ahead of their FA Cup final outing next week.

I have said many times that only Aaron Ramsey can forgive Shawcross. He has been hurt and I don’t think that is a needed debate before the game Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Wenger has long complained of Stoke taking a robust approach more akin to rugby, and the ill feeling between the sides has lingered since the horror tackle by Ryan Shawcross that left Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey with a broken leg 14 months ago.

Arsenal were only a point behind the leaders after winning this season’s reverse fixture in February but have since imploded – managing only two league victories in eight attempts, beaten by Birmingham in the Carling Cup final and knocked out of Europe and the FA Cup.

Nonetheless, they kept alive their faint hopes of a first trophy since 2005 by beating leaders Manchester United last weekend. With United playing second-placed Chelsea once this game has finished, Sunday is shaping up to be the day of reckoning for The Gunners.

Stoke are the better prospects for silverware this season. Their first ever FA Cup final is on the horizon, with a probable Europa League spot on offer even if they lose. However, manager Tony Pulis has urged his side to stay focused on the league as they seek a first top-10 finish since 1975.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Arsenal have won four successive Premier League matches against Stoke.

• Stoke’s four-match winning run at home to The Gunners was ended by a 3-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium last season.

Stoke

• Stoke have only lost one of their last six league matches.

• The Potters have not lost a league match in which they opened the scoring (W9, D4).

• They are looking to keep three Premier League clean sheets in a row for the first time in 13 months.

• If they finish the season in the top 10 it will be their highest league position since coming fifth in the old First Division in 1974-75.

• Ryan Shawcross will be playing his 150th game for Stoke, while Glenn Whelan should make his 100th league appearance for the club.

Arsenal

• The Gunners are looking to win consecutive league matches for the first time since beating Wolves and Stoke in February.

• They have the best away record in the division – picking up 30 points from 17 matches.

• Arsene Wenger’s side have given away nine league penalties this season, more than any other club in the division.

• Robin van Persie has scored 18 goals in 20 games for Arsenal in 2011, including the last seven successive league away matches.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Stoke

Jones: 11 goals (8 league); Walters: 11 goals (5 league)

Arsenal

Van Persie: 19 goals (15 league); Nasri: 15 goals (10 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mark Halsey

Assistant referees: Ceri Richards & Glenn Turner

Fourth official: Michael Oliver

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Stoke (D0-0 v Blackpool, a): Begovic; Wilkinson (Shotton 56), Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant (Diao 90), Whitehead, Whelan, Delap (Carew 81), Walters, Jones. Subs not used: Sorensen, Collins, Pugh, Faye.

Arsenal (W1-0 v Manchester United, h): Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou (Squillaci 69), Clichy, Song, Ramsey, Wilshere, Walcott (Eboue 78), Nasri (Arshavin 46), van Persie. Subs not used: Lehmann, Gibbs, Chamakh, Bendtner.