Frank Lee
Saturday teatime. Arsenal, with three fixtures remaining, almost certainly need to win them all to give themselves some hope of a top four place. To Arsene Wenger, who has for a long time held his consistent ability to deliver Champions League football without failure (except for the season when he first arrived in England, when only two sides qualified), it’s a matter of personal pride, perhaps even vindication.
Will the club’s finishing position have an influence on whether he stays or goes? CL qualification would certainly strengthen his position, in the event that there is some doubt, although perhaps the bigger factor may be whether the manager is willing to work under a different structure, with some of the staff that work with him recruited by a director of football – even if the manager somewhat farcically claims not to know what a D.O.F. actually does. Maybe he should have a word with the club’s main transfer negotiator, Dick Law, who seems perfectly clear what the role entails.
Anyway, in a sea of uncertainty currently surrounding the club (and who know which players will be there at the conclusion of the next transfer window, whether a new manager will be picking the team or if not, then working under a different CEO), at least one thing seems beyond doubt. Arsenal need to win at Stoke tomorrow.
Since the Potteries club were promoted to the top flight under Tony Pulis in 2008, Arsenal’s record at the Britannia in the Premier League reads Played 8 Won 1 Drew 3 Lost 4. To complete the picture, Wenger’s side also lost an FA Cup 4th Round tie there in January 2010, the same season they achieved their solitary victory in the league.
So, with two home matches to follow against teams with nothing to play for, it is fair to say this is the make or break fixture. Punters who wish to find the best sport betting offers online will find that Arsenal are actually clear favourites to win tomorrow. Recent form is certainly on their side, having won five of their last six games. Stoke, on the other hand, have only won one. And yet, there are different rules when it comes to this particular meeting. It does not seem to apply when Arsenal are the hosts, but at the Britannia, there is no doubt that the home crowd raise themselves for this game.
It’s developed into a real must win match for them, the equivalent of a derby in its intensity. Mark Hughes may be the manager now, and made them slightly more of a footballing outfit with the use of players like Shaquiri, but there is unquestionably still a physicality in their approach, one that their supporters will ensure is carried out with total commitment. This is real ‘they don’t like it up ‘em’ stuff. The origins of this dislike go as far back as the memorable clashes in the early 1970s, not least the FA Cup Semi-Final in which Stoke narrowly lost to the Gunners after a replay.
However, in recent times, the bad feeling has been refueled. In their first visit to Stoke after their promotion, Arsenal were bullied off the pitch and lost 2-1. They were unable to handle Rory Delap’s long throw-ins, had Adebayor and Walcott injured due to bad challenges and Robin van Persie sent off. In fairness to Wenger, he did not complain too much, but things changed soon enough. The following season saw the infamous match in which Ryan Shawcross broke Aaron Ramsey’s leg with a wreckless challenge and the following August, Wenger described Stoke as a rugby team by talking about a game his team were not even involved in.
The atmosphere was intense enough before that, but ever since, this is one match the home support, and the players, get themselves worked up for and love to win. So we see things like Stoke fans sporting Wenger masks and flailing their arms around in imitation of the Arsenal manager, and Charlie Adam tackling Alexis Sanchez by the throat.
Wenger could pull off a remarkable fourth spot if Manchester City, or more likely Liverpool, drop points, but if they do, it will mean them winning a fixture they have only managed to once in their last nine attempts. So whether you rely on the law of averages, form, or an Arsenal team turning up, don’t put your mortgage on an away win. The Gunners’ last three defeats have been to sides managed by Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce and Mauricio Pochettino. On none of those occasions did it look like the players really wanted to win their physical battles against more determined opposition.
