Stoke City vs Arsenal Betting Pick | English Premier

English Premier

2012-04-28 - Stoke City vs Arsenal

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Stoke City v Arsenal
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 28 April 2012 - Kick Off 3pm

Stoke City

Stoke City have had one of the longest seasons out of the clubs in the top flight, but they have regularly got up for games against the big teams and pride themselves on the fact that they are tough to beat in front of their passionate home support.

They are currently 14th in the Premier League table having gained 42 points so far. Stoke have remained tough to beat at the Brittania Stadium where they are 7-5-4 this season, scoring 21 goals and conceding 16.

The team have won just 1 of their last 8 games in all competitions, but most of those results have come away from the Brittania Stadium. Stoke have actually won 3 of their last 4 home games in the Premier League, while the exception was when they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw. They should get further confidence from the fact that only Newcastle United from the top 6 teams have won here this season with Arsenal the final visitor from that group.

Andy Wilkinson will miss out, while Jermaine Pennant is in the squad but not expected to start against his former club having just recovered from an illness.

Arsenal

It looked like everything was going to plan for Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal side as they had timed their run to Champions League qualification to perfection. However, they are now under a little more pressure to secure the 3rd spot in the Premier League with Chelsea reaching the Champions League Final- if Chelsea win that competition, it will mean only the top 3 places in the League will mean Champions League football.

Arsenal are 3 points clear of Newcastle United for 3rd place in the Premier League table and a further 3 clear of Tottenham Hotspur in 5th place. The Gunners have been strong away from home where they have compiled a 8-2-7 record, scoring 31 goals and conceding 29, with only the top two sides winning more games on their travels so far.

The team have now failed to win any of their last 2 League games and have actually lost 2 of their last 5 games. Arsenal have won 4 of their last 5 League away games, but 2 of those came thanks to last gasp goals, while they were also beaten at QPR during that time.

Theo Walcott has been ruled out until next season, but Tomas Rosicky has returned to the squad. Yossi Benayoun is another that returned to the squad having been ineligible to play against Chelsea last week, but Abou Diaby is ruled out.

Head to Head

Arsenal beat Stoke City 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season, but have not had so much success at the Brittania Stadium.

This will be the fifth meeting between the teams since Stoke returned to the top flight and Stoke have actually won 3 of the previous 4 at the Brittania Stadium.

The corresponding fixture ended 3-1 to Stoke last season.

Prediction

I have been racking my brains trying to figure out how best to attack this game, but I do know I want to oppose an Arsenal side that has not looked that great over the last month or so.

My biggest concern for Stoke City is that they have played a lot of football all season and the players may just be looking forward to a well deserved break in the Summer, but they have a very strong record against Arsenal at home as well as giving all the top sides a tough examination here at the Brittania Stadium.

Stoke don't have a lot to play for, but Tony Pulis has always had his team a little more fired up when they face Arsenal, especially as Arsene Wenger has regularly used their name as a team that is 'anti-football' calling them a 'rugby' team last year.

The 4.50 was awfully appealing in taking Stoke for the straight win, something they have achieved in 3 of their last 4 home games against the Gunners, but instead I will take the somewhat safer option that they avoid a defeat.

Stoke have held Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City to draws here, while beating Liverpool and an in-form Tottenham Hotspur side and I don't think Arsenal deserve an odds-on quote to win this game even if they 'need' it.

The Statistics :

STOKE_CITY LAST SIX HOME FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2012-04-07	W	2-1	H v Wolves
	2012-03-24	D	1-1	H v Man_City
	2012-03-03	W	1-0	H v Norwich
	2012-02-26	W	2-0	H v Swansea
	2012-02-04	L	0-1	H v Sunderland
	2012-01-21	L	1-2	H v WBA

ARSENAL LAST SIX AWAY FORM
	DATE	RESULT		OPPOSITION
	2012-04-11	W	0-3	A v Wolves
	2012-03-31	L	2-1	A v QPR
	2012-03-21	W	0-1	A v Everton
	2012-03-03	W	1-2	A v Liverpool
	2012-02-11	W	1-2	A v Sunderland
	2012-02-01	D	0-0	A v Bolton