#2 Arsenal vs Stoke City: Potters have new verve
From being the long-ball team, Stoke City have come a long way. Having established themselves as a side which relied on long balls and set pieces for their attacking inputs, the team now has the likes of Shaqiri, Bojan and Arnautovic for creativity and goals.
The Potters have become more of a threat from open play and the improvement in attacking terms is noticeable as they finished with 39 goals from open play last season. Mark Hughes has been instrumental in this transformation and his side will travel to the Emirates knowing that the Gunners are susceptible to the occasional defensive lapse.
However, Arsenal’s blistering form will make them favourites for this fixture and Arsene Wenger will hope that the high of topping their Champions League group rubs off on their performance. The Gunners will play ahead of Chelsea this weekend and anything less than a win is sure to get tongues wagging at the Emirates.
Match Prediction: Arsenal 3 v 1 Stoke City
