Arsenal vs Stoke: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Emirates Stadium

Arsene Wenger is looking forward to 2015 (Getty Images)

Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat on New Year’s Day to Southampton, with victory over Stoke City on Sunday.

The Gunners did get back to winning ways against Hull in the FA Cup, but Arsene Wenger will want to rectify his side’s league form, which has seen them slump to sixth in the table.

While the Potters are notoriously something of a bogey side for Arsenal at the Britannia, the Gunners’ record at home to Stoke is exemplary, and the return of Olivier Giroud from suspension adds more firepower to their attack.

Mark Hughes, meanwhile, will be hoping his side show the kind of resilience they did to force a late comeback against non-league Wrexham in the FA Cup last weekend, and the attacking quality that saw them score three times in the first half when the teams last met in December.

Sitting 11th in the Premier League, just three points off eighth-placed Liverpool, it has been another solid season for Stoke and another win over Arsenal would push them closer towards a European spot.

KICK-OFF: Sunday, 1.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Stoke 3 (Crouch, Bojan, Walters) Arsenal 2 (Cazorla, Ramsey), Premier League, December 2014

Stoke 1 (Walters) Arsenal 0, Premier League, March 2014

Arsenal 3 (Ramsey, Mertesacker, Sagna) Stoke 1 (Cameron), Premier League, September 2013

STATS…

Arsenal have won every league meeting between the sides at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have fielded 12 different starting back four combinations this season.

Mark Hughes has never won a league game at Arsenal as a coach in seven attempts.

No Premier League team has conceded more goals from set-pieces this season than Stoke.

Arsenal have gone six games without a clean sheet in the Premier League.

ODDS…

Arsenal to win: 1.5

Stoke to win: 8.5

Draw: 4.6

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 1.30pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm.