Arsenal – Stoke Prediction & Picks (01.04.2018)

On Easter Sunday, Arsenal London play Stoke City in the 32nd round of the Premier League. Due to schedule overlaps with the FA Cup had to be postponed some games on the final day, including those of Arsenal London, who play a disappointing championship with 48 points after 30 games. The Champions League ranks are barely reachable with 13 points behind Arsenal and even qualifying for the Europa League is in danger. Even more precarious is the situation with the Potters from Stoke-on-Trent, who have to fight against relegation. With 27 points Stoke City occupies the penultimate place, but it still has three points behind a non-relegation place itself in the hand to hold the class. The kick-off for this game will be at the Emirates Stadium in London at 13:30.

Arsenal:

The Gunners do not want to run this season. Arsenal has never been worse off than fourth in the last 20 years until last season. Last season, fifth place and missing the Champions League has been a low point for decades, and this year Arsene Wenger’s troupe seems on the verge of undercutting it in the current season. In 30 games Arsenal only scored 48 points, 13 points behind fourth place. Even the fifth-placed Chelsea London are already missing eight points. At the moment, sixth place would probably mean the Europa League, unless Southampton FC sensationally wins the FA Cup, but this is also not secured by just five points clear of Burnley FC. Europa League are in the weak season still the most beautiful two words for the Gunners. In this Arsenal is in the quarter-finals, where he meets the Russians CSKA Moscow. By winning the Europa League, the season would be halfway rescued and they would also qualify on the most extraordinary way for the premier class.

In the winter transfer period, the team was again changed significantly and exchanged with Manchester United Alexis Sanchez for Henrik Mkhitaryan, sold Olivier Giroud to the city rivals Chelsea and brought Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund. The desired effect had these changes but not at all. In the first five league games after the player exchange the Gunners lost four times and went only once as the winner of the place. It was better in the Europa League, in the Arsenal AC Milan with two wins (2: 0 away, 3: 1 at home) in the second round eliminated sovereign. Between the two games in the Europa League Watford FC could be shot off with 3: 0, in which, among other things, two winter entrances could contribute with Henrik Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goals. At least the home advantage Arsenal seems to be able to rely on. 35 of the 48 points were won by the captains at the Emirates Stadium. Most Arsenal was doing very dominant and could win eight wins with at least two goals difference.

Stoke:

In the last nine years, Stoke City has made a name for itself in the Premier League and never was considered acutely relegated. The Potters have never been ranked lower than 14th, but this season Stoke is in the middle of a relegation battle. With only 27 points after 31 games, only West Bromwich Albion scored less points and finished second to last. Reason to stick your head in the sand, but there is not yet, because the distance to the front ranks is not really big. The first non-relegation spot is only three points away, even the 13th place is only five points ahead of the Potters.

In order for the mission to survive in the league, however, the defensive of the coach Paul Lambert, who was hired in January, has to improve drastically. With 58 goals Stoke is the shooting gallery of the Premier League – no other team received more hits. The away weakness is also a crucial factor in the team’s failure. Only a single victory and four draws could win the Potters in foreign stadiums. Especially against the top clubs of the league Stoke looked abroad always very bad and was mostly shot down. After a victory in the debut of coach Paul Lambert followed again seven games without full success. Stoke at home lost to Everton FC with a late goal in the 84th minute. The Scottish coach still believes in his team before the game against Arsenal: “We have to fight for our lives and we will do that – as long as we continue to fight and give everything we have we have a real chance.”