Gunnerrob says:

With Walcott being so ineffective of late, I think Chris’s line up is just about spot on. Im also intrigued to see how our seemingly more solid defensive set up copes with the aerial threat and set pieces of Stoke. This is an interesting test and a chance to really see if we’re making progress.

Arsenal says:

Switch Koscielny and Djourou because if you look at the Marsielle and Sunderland game Koscielny was fantastic aerially, and thats something we’ll need. Djourou looked good (not great, just good) when he came on against Marsielle so hopefully that continues. Also, start Roscky, and bring on Ramsey at halftime to give the Czech a break. Also switch Chamberlain with Benayoun (you know how Stoke feel about promising youngsters), and bring the Ox on when the orc army are tired, so he’ll offer something new. Also, final subistitution should be RVP at around the 80 minute mark to let Chamahk hopefully get another goal this season

sam says:

great line up chris!
but for the sake robin fitness, benching him could be a good idea.
maybe a chance to see walcott playing in the middle with 2 wingers feeding him the ball all day.
how about gervinho/walcott/chamberlain up front? second half we sub one of them for park if we are winning or robin if we are struggling.

Rookie says:

Koscielny is our best defender at the moment (other than verma), i wont trust djourou over there, i think its best he goes at RB. Koscielny is better in the air than both mertesacker and djourou. I think the best possible defense IF koscielny gets moved to RB is Song and Mertesacker at CB, with Coquline or Frimpong (coqulin prefered) in CDM. I think this game is too physical for AOC since he has no EPL experience though Id like for him to start. If we DO win this game, it will surely be the turning point. (Im a bit scared about our confidence against next week chelsea though). 7th place with a win surely.

Charade says:

I don’t know if Ox is quite ready for a starting berth and personally what I’d like to see is Walcott exploiting the fact that Stoke play 4 centre backs in defence. What I would personally like to see is a very stable passing midfield to retain possession so that whether they play a low or high back line we can use the space they give us.

————————-Szczesny——————————
Djourou—-Mertesacker——Koscielny——Santos
———————-Song—————————————
——————————–Coquelin————————
—Arteta—————–Ramsey—————Gervinho
————————van Persie—————————-

Arteta has shown his ability on the right for Everton in a similar position. He is good at tracking back. The slightly more defensive pairing of Coquelin and Song is good cover–our fullbacks have been exposed and Stoke plays through the wings more often than not with Etherington and Pennant always looking lively. I think disrupting the blossoming partership Mert and Kos are showing at this stage spells danger; stability is a hugely important factor. Djourou just needs to learn how to mark and we’ll be fine. The position Ramsey excels in is almost Lampard-like in that he needs a free roam and the ability to meet balls coming into the box. For a young lad his finishing is generally pretty amazing.

I would decide on Gervinho over Walcott, as the direct running may trouble Stoke, and bring on Walcott later when the defence is tired. Giving them something to think about in the fact that Walcott is the fastest man on the pitch means they’re not likely to push forward with Theo lurking.

Here’s to a win!

summerbreez says:

I would play beayoon in the midfield with song arteta and song rest vanpercie and have chervinho park and oxi up front we can bring in ramsy vanpersi and chamach in the second half if need be we could also go with freepong benayoon and song in the center and get right up on with a physical approach to the match which ever MR wenger selects they better be in form and up to beat stoke we got stand up load come on you Arsenal

rvpking says:

I agree chris , great line up . Benayoun to come off the bench along with walcott if we need them . Who knows we may even get a look at park .
I dont think this is the game for him though but i will be crossing my fingers for a chamberlain start though .

message to mertesacker , today you will be seriously tested and we are all behind you .

Come on arsenal

Haris says:

I just hope Walcott won`t be in the starting line up. Recently he has been useless. Rosicky or Alex should get a chance.

faizan says:

scezny
jenkinson mertesaker konscielny santos
arteta ramsey song
walcott/chamberlain ….gervinho
chamack
then chu young shud come frm bench after half time …to replace chamack if hes not playing well …

paris86 says:

Jenkinson-Chamakh partnership would do good against Stoke with Carl’s ability to cross…to bad Jenkinson is injured, but we’ll do fine

Skavorn says:

Agree Mostly with your line up.
I doubt Chamberlain is going to play because of the Carling cup match.
Miyaichi and Park will probably feature that game too.
I don’t think Djourou should play at center back at times he lazy and hes concentration level is not high to play a full 90 minutes..
Miquel would be a better call.
I would also like to see benayoun an some stage in the game.