Five reasons Arsenal will defeat Stoke

Stoke City’s psychological advantage over Arsenal appears to be in the past. The Gunners should have no problem with the Potters this weekend

Arsenal travel to the bet365 Stadium this weekend for a meeting with the club’s one time bogey team Stoke City.

Since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2008 the Potters have historically been Arsenal’s nemesis.

The Gunners’ first league visit to Stoke-on-Trent in November 2008 set the tone for the future of this fixture. Stoke scored two goals from long throw-ins by Rory Delap and finished 2-1 winners. Adding further insult to the result was the fact that Arsenal’s Robin van Persie was sent off.

The rivalry was forever fueled in a February 2010 match. Arsenal were 1-3 victors, but the result was overshadowed by a horrific injury to a then 19-year-old Aaron Ramsey. Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross put in a challenge on the Welshman that left Ramsey writhing in pain.  It was later confirmed that he had broken his tibia and fibula and his career looked to be in jeopardy.

Ramsey recovered but instead of sympathy he has been the recipient of vitriol and anger from Stoke supporters  every time he returns to the Potters’ home stadium.

Arsenal appear to have turned things around over the past few seasons. Since January of 2015 the Gunners’ record versus Stoke includes four wins and one draw.

Here are five reasons why Arsenal will have no problem defeating Stoke this weekend.