Stoke City FC

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• Founded:1863
• Manager:Tony Pulis

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Preview: Stoke City v Arsenal

25 Feb 2010 - 15:57:22

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Arsenal attempt to keep their title push on track at Stoke City but they will not find it easy to beat a Potters side that has not lost a league game so far in 2010.

Tony Pulis' side ended 2009 in poor form and were in danger of being dragged into a relegation dog-fight but since then they have embarked on a seven-match unbeaten run in the league.

They beat the Gunners 3-1 in an FA Cup fourth round clash last month and also emerged victorious in a Premier League clash at the Britannia Stadium last term.

Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana netted for City last season in a game which saw Robin van Persie red-carded and Theo Walcott stretchered off so it is a far from a happy hunting ground for Arsene Wenger's team.

Saturday's last-gasp 2-1 win for Stoke at Portsmouth was achieved despite playing for the last 17 minutes with ten men following Andy Wilkinson's controversial dismissal and showed just how much character there is in Pulis' squad.

Abdou Faye serves the final game of his three-match suspension while Matthew Etherington is sidelined with a knee injury.

It will certainly be a tough encounter for the Gunners who go into this weekend's fixtures six points adrift of leaders Chelsea with 11 games of the season remaining.

Successive defeats against the Blues and Manchester United appeared to have ended Arsenal's title hopes for another season but, with no team being able to put together a string of consistent displays and results, Wenger's side cannot be discounted just yet.

They have responded to those losses by beating Liverpool and Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium as they continue to search for their first title in six years.

However, Robin van Persie (ankle), Kieran Gibbs (foot), Johan Djourou (knee) and William Gallas (calf) remain on the long-term injury list, while Eduardo, Andrey Arshavin (both hamstring) and Abou Diaby (knee) remain doubts for Saturday's match.