csconstantine.com

LONDON (SE) - Arsenal could move to within a point of the Premier League summit with a win over Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Just a week after beating Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League, the Gunners play host to a club whose direct style is the antithesis of the Catalan giants’ passing game.

There is little love lost between Arsenal and Stoke, and an already strained relationship was further tested when Gunners manager Arsene Wenger compared the Potters’ tactics to that of a rugby game earlier this season.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has constantly defended his team’s approach to matches, and would be justified if he pointed to a disciplinary record that is significantly better than Arsenal’s so far this season.

However, it would be an injustice to talk about Stoke’s style as they continue to exceed expectations in their third season in the top flight. Currently tenth in the league, a weakened Potters line-up also reached their second FA Cup quarter-final in two years with a 3-0 win over Brighton on Saturday.

“We worked very hard all over the pitch,” Pulis said after the cup win. “Without the players’ commitment and attitude, irrespective of what the manager does, you’re not going to win.

“If you look at that (the Stoke team selection), I think it showed respect for the FA Cup and respect for Brighton.

“We were able to do it because we have got a good period where we play Arsenal on Wednesday and then West Brom on the following Monday - there is a good break between the games, and that is very important.”

In contrast, Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient on Sunday means that they can add an FA Cup replay to a hectic schedule of five games in 14 days, including the League Cup final against Birmingham and the return trip to Barcelona in the Champions League \2013 a fixture list which justifies Wenger’s decision to rest a number of key players for the weekend’s cup tie.

Despite the fixture pileup, Arsenal midfielder Alex Song is confident the Gunners can go on and win trophies this season, but has stressed how vital it is to pick up maximum points against Stoke.

“We have a very good team and always work very hard in training because this year is very important for us,” said the Cameroon international. “We want to do very well because everyone has been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“We are in a strong position because we are in four competitions and that is very good for us.

“We need just to take game by game. The next step is Wednesday against Stoke which is very important. It is important just to take the next step. If we win this game we are a point behind Manchester United.”

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere, Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri all may return to the Arsenal starting line-up on Wednesday, although Johan Djourou is a doubt with a back injury and Abou Diaby remains unavailable through suspension.

Stoke are likely to start on-loan striker John Carew, but winger Matthew Etherington faces a late fitness test on a back problem and Mama Sidibe is unavailable due to recurrence of an Achilles injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

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