Depending on your level of empathy, the fact Arsenal have won five out of their last six matches is either a corner turned, or a false position given the calibre of some of the opposition. Outside the top four, there would appear to be no team better than Stoke to test how much progress Arsenal have made in terms of defensive solidity. The partnership between Per Mertersacker and Laurent Koscielny, with Alex Song clearing up in front, worked well in the Champions League, but dealing with Rory Delap's throws and the dimensions of Peter Crouch and Kenwyne Jones is a whole new ball game. Stoke, however, have endured hangovers after their European excursions this season, losing heavily against Swansea and Sunderland. Besides, their status as a bogey team for Arsenal heavily relates to the Britannia Stadium – Arsène Wenger's side have won their last nine home games against the Potters. Amy Lawrence
Venue Emirates Stadium, Sunday 1.30pm
Tickets £41-70 (0844 277 3625)
Last season Arsenal 1 Stoke 0
Referee Lee Mason
This season's matches 4 Y20, R0, 5.00 cards per game
Odds Arsenal 7-12 Stoke 6-1 Draw 10-3
Arsenal
Subs from Fabianski, Mannone, Miquel, Squillaci, Benayoun, Eastmond, Park, Coquelin, Frimpong, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Miyaichi, Arshavin, Chamakh,
Doubtful None
Injured Vermaelen (ankle, 1 Nov), Diaby (ankle, 5 Nov), Gibbs (stomach,5 Nov), Jenkinson (knee, 5 Nov), Sagna (broken leg, Jan), Wilshere (ankle, Feb)
Suspended None
Form guide WLWLWL
Disciplinary record Y18 R3
Leading scorer Van Persie 5
Stoke City
Subs from Nash, Sorensen, Whelan, Huth, Shotton, Jerome, Upson, Jones, Diao, Whitehead, Arismendi, Soares, Tonge, Higginbotham, Cuvelier, Lund
Doubtful Higginbotham (knee), Pennant (hamstring)
Injured Sidibe (match fitness, 5 Nov), Fuller (achilles, 19 Nov)
Suspended None
Form guide WLDLWW
Disciplinary record Y16 R0
Leading scorer Walters 2
Match pointers
• Stoke have managed just six shots on target and one goal (from a penalty) in their last three league visits to the Emirates Stadium
• Stoke have not won at Arsenal since August 1981 when Lee Chapman got the only goal of the game for the visitors – he was subsequently bought by the Gunners at the end of the season
• Stoke have not kept a clean sheet in any of their seven meetings with Arsenal in all competitions since promotion to the Premier League
• Robin van Persie has scored 23 goals in 25 top-flight games this calendar year
• Stoke have scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces (67%), while Arsenal have managed the lowest proportion (8%)
