Arsenal v Stoke Tip

Arsenal have been on dazzling form and would always be heavily odds-on (4/11 Boylesports) to beat Stoke at home pretty much regardless, but Sunday’s fixture may be closer than many would assume.

First of all it’s interesting to note that the Gunners have been better on the road in the last few months having won a club record ten in a row on their travels. But nobody was singing Arsene Wenger’s praises just a month ago when Aston Villa came to the Emirates and triumphed 3-1.

Secondly, Stoke City have been pretty mean everywhere so far under Mark Hughes. A 1-0 defeat at Anfield could have better, then Palace were beaten 2-1, before a 1-0 victory at Upton Park was followed by a 0-0 draw with Man City at the Britannia Stadium.

The two fixtures between these sides in 2012-13 ended 0-0 in the Potteries and 1-0 to the Arsenal at the Emirates in February. I think that latter scoreline could easily be repeated here at best odds of 7/1 with Ladbrokes.