PREVIOUS MEETING

January 9, 2005

Arsenal @2

(Reyes 50, van Persie 70)

Stoke @1

(Thomas 45)

AROUND 5,000 Stoke fans were dreaming the impossible in the FA Cup third round when Wayne Thomas netted seconds before the break and then scampered the length of the pitch to join their celebrations. But Stoke, for whom goalkeeper Steve Simonsen and lone striker Ade Akinbiyi were especially outstanding, succumbed to Arsenal's second-half comeback to prevent a shock for Wenger and Co.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue (Hoyte, 71), Clichy, Toure, Senderos, Pennant, Fabregas, Vieira, Pires, Reyes, van Persie.

Stoke: Simonsen, Thomas, Hall, Taggart, Buxton, Russell, Greenacre (Asaba, 77), Halls (Henry, 52), Clarke (Eustace, 77), Jarrett, Akinbiyi.

Attendance: 36,579.

FORM GUIDE

Stoke: LLWLW

Arsenal: DWWWD

WHO WE'D LIKE TO BUY

Who wouldn't want Theo Walcott's explosive pace and finishing?

WHO TO BOO

Centre-half Mikael Silvestre for his Man United connections.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Rob Styles (Hants), left. Back in Premier League action after recent demotion following controversial red card for Newcastle's Habib Beye (later rescinded) in game v Man City.

TEAMS

Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Shawcross, Ab Faye, Tonge, Diao, Olofinjana, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Clichy, Silvestre, Toure, Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Van Persie, Adebayor.

PREDICTION

Arsenal swagger into a 4-2 lead before Stoke grab two in the final two minutes.