As Arsenal prepare to take on Stoke in the midday kick-off tomorrow Arsene seemed in high spirits during his pre-match presser. And why shouldn’t he be? Having won 4 out of their last 5 home games and only losing once this season, we have begun to play with more verve and swagger when at the Emirates. It is our away form that has cost us so far – winning 4 and losing 4 from 11 games. However, Wenger says he is under no illusion that, despite “our recent good run” it will not be an easy game.

“Stoke always difficult to play against [but] At Emirates we have a good record against them and we want to continue that” Optastats – Stoke haму lost their last 12 games away to Arsenal

Arsenes’ buoyant mood will have no doubt also been influenced by good news(!) on the injury front, with Ramsey, Flamini and Ozil all having returned to training last week and the latter two available for selection, however it is doubtful that Ozil will start. For more details on Wengers’ views of Ozil.

Also returning to the squad will be Giroud, fresh from his 3 game suspension for (ridiculously) head-butting Nedum Onuha against QPR. He will no doubt want to prove himself and get back into monsieur Wengers’ good books with a strong performance. And with Welbeck not fit for selection – “Next week maybe”, Giroud returning is vital. His strength on and off the ball and his aerial presence will be exactly what we need against a very physical team. The last time we played stoke he was just coming back from injury so here is hoping he will prove more dangerous this time.

Wenger revealed how frustrated he and the team were after that match stating “It was a winnable game at stoke and [we] came away feeling frustrated after coming back to 3-2 with 10 men [and] if we had stayed with 10 men we would have come back in the game”

All in all I feel that we will win this game - we are on a decent run barring that shocker against Southampton where, if it hadn’t been for the mistakes made by Szczesny, (who could see his place lost to Martinez after being caught up in a smoking row) it could’ve been a different game entirely. However, we will go into the match full of confidence and with a strong desire to atone for the result away to stoke earlier in the season.

Transfer news

There has been no fresh developments regarding any transfers in or out – Wenger was asked about a number of players including defenders Loic Perrin and Gabriel Paulista, both to which he denied any interest. He also denied interest in Petr Cech and Isco, stating we have enough players in both departments.

However Le Professeur did confess to be an admirer of 17yr old Krystian Bielik (dubbed the ‘Next Vieira’) - “He’s a young boy that we follow”. But despite quotes from the “boy” himself that he has chosen Arsenal to sign for, see here –

Wenger says that a deal is “not close”.

On our current players, Arsene has stated that he wants Joel Campbell to stay despite purported interest from Benfica, however, it looks certain that he will let Yaya Sanogo out on loan – “Preferably to a club in England”

Expected line up Vs Stoke City

Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud