Mark Hughes keen for Stoke to maintain good record against Arsenal
Mark Hughes is confident Stoke can continue Arsenal's Britannia Stadium hoodoo this weekend, even if the Potters are now a very different proposition from the Tony Pulis era.
Arsene Wenger has claimed just a solitary victory from the Gunners' seven Barclays Premier League visits to Staffordshire since Stoke entered the top flight back in 2008.
In their early meetings, when Pulis was at the club's helm, Arsenal were typically undone by a more physical style of play that they have moved on from since Hughes arrived and installed a philosophy more akin to Wenger's own ideology.
However, having won both of his Britannia Stadium meetings with the Gunners during his spell in charge, Hughes has ensured trips to Stoke have remained unhappy ones for Wenger's men.
"Our record is good. It's a record we'd like to think we can expect to maintain," he said ahead of Sunday's meeting.
"It's something that we're proud of. We've always caused good Arsenal teams here real problems, even before my time. It's something that we want to continue, something we have the capability of doing.
"We may play in a slightly different way to other times when they've struggled here. In the last couple of occasions we've gone up against them at the Britannia, we've played a different type of football but still caused them problems.
"Either way they know they're going to be in a game that's intense, with high quality, and questions will be asked of them."
Hughes will come up against a manager who this year celebrates 20 years in charge of the same club - an achievement the Welshman does not believe will be emulated in the modern era.
Wenger and Bournemouth's Eddie Howe are the only two Premier League bosses to have longer tenures than Hughes, who believes the Frenchman's early success helped him retain his position during nine trophy-less years recently.
"That time doesn't exist now - you're judged on a weekly basis rather than yearly or seasonal basis," Hughes said.
"That opportunity to really impact on your group of players and have the time to bring the type of players that you want into your club, that's not afforded to any manager at any level in this day and age. That's why it's such a challenge to be a Premier League manager.
"Arsene very quickly started winning trophies for Arsenal. I think that's sustained him because he had a period in recent years where he wasn't winning trophies but, as a consequence of what he's done in the past, he very much deserved to keep his position. Now he looks very, very close to getting the title again, which is what everyone connected to Arsenal would want.
"That longevity is something that not too many clubs have. I'm sat here and been at this club for two and a half years and (third) behind Arsene Wenger - that tells you how crazy it is. It is what it is; every manager understands that longevity is something to desire. but it's not something that's guaranteed."
Xherdan Shaqiri will once again be missing with a hamstring strain while Geoff Cameron (ankle) is highly doubtful. Marko Arnautovic (hip) is fine to feature.
Wenger is expecting another stern test of his side's Premier League title credentials.
The Britannia Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners, who have won just once in the Potteries in the Premier League era.
Wenger's men drew 3-3 at Liverpool on Wednesday, having led going into stoppage time only to concede a late Joe Allen equaliser.
With Stoke having already beaten Manchester City and Manchester United and drawn with champions Chelsea at home so far this season, Wenger knows his players will have to match their level of performance from in midweek to break their Staffordshire hoodoo.
"It's a similar test to Liverpool," he said.
"On our side, we'll need the same intensity again, four days later, and the same desire and focus. What we learn in this Premier League is that every week you think 'look how many surprises we have seen today, that will not happen again'.
"And the week after, it happens again and again and again, since the start of the season. That shows you that the consistency of your focus, the consistency of your determination will certainly play a big part in the outcome of this league."
Alexis Sanchez has a chance of being involved following his hamstring injury while new recruit Mohamed Elneny could also make his debut.
Source: DSG
