Arsene Wenger has called on his Arsenal players to assert their title credentials by putting an end to their long record of suffering at Stoke City, who he admitted have often proved “a bit rough for us”.
Arsenal have lost three of their past five trips to the Britannia Stadium, where they have not won since 2010.
Wenger said that victory would be a significant indicator of their ability to remain at the top of the Premier League. No team have won the title in a season in which they have lost at the Britannia.
“We have to show we have made a big step forward and can beat them,” said Wenger, who last season was abused by irate travelling fans at Stoke-on-Trent train station after a 3-2 defeat at the Britannia.
The sight of Arsenal’s away strip tends to bring out the bully in Stoke’s players and supporters. Wenger admitted that last season’s defeat was particularly chastening, as Arsenal’s callow defence collapsed under the pressure applied by the hosts, who stomped into a three-goal lead before half-time. Wenger believes his team are much more sturdy now.
More stable
“When we had a very young team they had a style that was maybe a bit rough for us and we couldn’t always cope,” he said. “Last year we had Bellerin, Chambers and Emiliano Martinez and at the start of the game we got caught.
“Now look: Cech is 33, Mertesacker is 31, Koscielny is 30 and Monreal is 29. Before we did not have the same level of experience. We feel stronger and more stable. Still, Stoke is always a test for us.
“Our record there goes against us but that is interesting because it is a mental test as well. Let’s show we can move forward and can deal with what Stoke have to offer.
“We have beaten Manchester City and United so we can do it anywhere else.”
Formidable opponents
Wenger acknowledges that under Mark Hughes Stoke’s style has evolved beyond the “efficient, traditional English style that teams did not like playing against” but still sees them as formidable opponents. “
“They have moved forward and improved their creative potential with players like Arnautovic, Bojan and Shaqiri. They can create and play. It will be a similar game to the one at Liverpool on Wednesday. We’ll need the same intensity and the same desire.”
Wenger has the option of deploying his new midfielder Mohamed Elneny, recently signed from Swiss club Basel, but said he had yet to decide whether to thrust the Egyptian straight into battle at the Britannia.
Wenger suggested he was unlikely to make further purchases this month but did not rule it out. “Ideally I would prefer to have players back from injuries, like Welbeck, who has been out since April last year and will be back in two to three weeks. . .”
Wenger also said that Alexis Sanchez would undergo fitness tests to determine whether the forward has fully recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered against Norwich City in late November.
Guardian Service
