Stoke City vs Arsenal as it happened: Gunners go to within one point of Champions League places

Follow all the action as it happened from the Bet365 Stadium

Wenger was jubilant to finally get a win away to Stoke (Getty)

Arsenal head to Stoke this weekend knowing that failure to win will destroy their top four hopes, which are hanging by a thread. Their record in this fixture is poor as the hosts have proven a bogey team to the Gunners, who have often struggled to deal with the home side’s physical approach. That said, Arsenal have not lost to Stoke since December 2014 and will be encouraged by their recent run of form, which includes just one loss (albeit to Tottenham) since April 10th.

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Follow all the live action below...

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What time does it start?

Stoke City vs Arsenal kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday 13th May.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports 1, with coverage beginning at 5pm. Highlights will be shown the same evening at 10:20pm on BBC2 and at 10:30pm on Sky Sports 1.

It’s a big game for…

Sanchez set Arsenal on the path to victory at St Mary's (Getty)

Alexis Sanchez. He scored Arsenal’s first goal against Southampton in midweek with a great effort, collecting Mesut Ozil’s through ball and faking to shoot and sending the defenders flying, before slotting past Fraser Forster. If Arsenal are to somehow claw their way into the Champions League places, Sanchez, with 25 goals and 14 assists this season, will have been at the heart of it, and he must continue his good scoring form against Stoke.

Best stat…

Arsenal have won just 1 of their last 8 games away at Stoke City. This is their second worst away win ratio, second only to their record of 3 wins in 25 games at Old Trafford.

Remember when…

Arsenal beat Stoke 1-3 at the Brittania Stadium in February 2010, which was the last time they won this fixture. The match was overshadowed by Ryan Shawcross’ horror tackle which broke Aaron Ramsey’s leg; the incident and its aftermath was the catalyst for the bad air which currently exists between the two teams.

Player to watch...

Sobhi is an exciting talent (Getty)

Ramadan Sobhi. If the talented Egyptian winger gets the opportunity which many Stoke fans so desperately crave that he will, he has the potential to get at Arsenal. He’s made 15 appearances for Stoke this season and particularly stood out in their draw with Manchester City in March. There are big hopes for the 20 year-old, who is still acclimatising to Premier League football, and Mark Hughes may consider bringing him in, at least from the bench, to freshen things up in his attack.

Past three meetings…

Arsenal 3-1 Stoke, Premier League, December 2016
Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal, Premier League, January 2016
Arsenal 2-0 Stoke City, Premier League, September 2015

Form guide…

Stoke City: LWLDD

Arsenal: WWLWW

Odds…

Stoke City to win: 37/10
Arsenal to win: 3/4
Draw: 14/5
(Odds courtesy of 888 sport)

[13 May 2017 16:46 · Jack Austin]

[13 May 2017 16:46 · Jack Austin]

[13 May 2017 17:01 · Charles Reynolds]

So it's the final fixture of the day, Stoke v Arsenal. The visitors desperately trying to make up ground in the race for the top four.

[13 May 2017 17:11 · Charles Reynolds]

[13 May 2017 17:12 · Charles Reynolds]

Just under 20 minutes to go until kick off at the Britannia, sorry Bet365 Stadium.

[13 May 2017 17:30 · Charles Reynolds]

400 Premier League appearances for Petr Cech today 

[13 May 2017 17:30 · Charles Reynolds]

The teams are out on the pitch now, kick off very shortly...

[13 May 2017 17:31 · Charles Reynolds]

[13 May 2017 17:31 · Charles Reynolds]

[13 May 2017 17:31 · Charles Reynolds]

Stoke 0 Arsenal 0: And we're off!