Stoke vs. Arsenal: Picking a Gunners Team to Down the Potters

Arsenal will look to take a crucial step towards solidifying a third-place finish against Stoke City at the Britannia on Saturday.

Perhaps people are still caught up in the wave of good feeling generated by Arsenal's generally good run of form during recent weeks because the Gunners' grip of the last guaranteed Champions League position is quite weak.

Newcastle, who, in contrast to Tottenham, have recently surged as Arsenal have declined, are three points back with a game in hand, and the Magpies will travel to 16th-placed Wigan this weekend to try and heap even more pressure on the Gunners.

So, though it is a somewhat tired cliché, Arsenal must treat each of their remaining games like a cup final, as there is nothing else to play for and a whole summer to rest and reflect on the team's accomplishments of disappointments.

The first of those massive final three fixtures is Stoke in the Potters' home stadium, where Arsene Wenger's men have been frustrated and brutally injured before by a team that plays a completely different style than Arsenal's technically demanding, flowing style of play.

Thus, it will be vital for the manager to find the correct balance of grit and guile in his team selection for a very tricky tie. But even with injuries and poor form, Wenger has options at his disposal.

In goal, Wojciech Szczesny will undoubtedly keep his place, barring any unforeseen injuries. The Pole has been utterly superb for Arsenal between the sticks this season and does not look at all like relinquishing his starting spot to compatriot Lukasz Fabianski.

Shielding him will likely be a back four of Bacary Sagna, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs.

The first three virtually pick themselves, both due to the trio's consistent performances and a general lack of squad depth. But in choosing between Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos, Arsene Wenger will probably opt for the former.

As odd as it is to say, Gibbs has been fairly stable defensively in recent games, and he's finding something of a groove as he has gotten several consecutive games in the squad. While he is no world-beater, he has been much more consistent than Santos, who frequently gets caught napping in defence and sometimes devotes too much of his energy to attacking efforts.

The midfield is even easier to select.

Alex Song will continue to occupy the role of defensive midfield enforcer and creative genius, although he might want to refrain from attempting so many through balls when simply maintaining the pace of the attack would be more intelligent.

Aaron Ramsey will be forced to take Mikel Arteta's place as the fulcrum of the midfield, transitioning play between defence and attack while keeping possession for Arsenal. The Welshman has received much undue criticism from Arsenal supporters (some of it vile in nature), but he is one of the harder-working and more active players in the squad.

Theoretically, Abou Diaby could operate in this role to great effect, but his fitness levels are questionable and he looked quite rusty in his brief cameo against Chelsea. Plus, there is unfortunately the risk of injury with every lengthy appearance he makes.

At the front of the midfield triangle will certainly be the resurgent Tomas Rosicky, who contributes volumes to both Arsenal's attack and defence with his boundless energy to both create chances and press high up the pitch to win the ball back.

If the Gunners should need that spark to create a chance when none seem forthcoming, Rosicky would certainly be among the candidates to provide it or even apply the finishing touch himself.

Up front is where things get a bit hairy, though.

The suddenly stagnant Robin van Persie will certainly retain his place at striker ahead of the comically ineffective Marouane Chamakh and Ju Young Park.

But what to do on the wings? Theo Walcott is out for the rest of the season after twanging his hamstring, that most fragile of leg muscles, so there are two spots open for three players.

Wenger could opt for a dynamic combination of Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on either side, but the former has been in a terrible run of form recently, and the manager will be reluctant to rely on an 18-year-old to provide much of Arsenal's attacking spark on a consistent basis.

Yossi Benayoun returns to the team after missing the Chelsea match due to Premier League loan restrictions, and his unequaled work rate and consistent production in a position marred by a lack thereof will probably see him return to the Starting XI for one of the last times.

On the right will likely be Gervinho, who did perform better in his brief cameo against Chelsea than he has most of the time, and who must break out some time. Furthermore, his ability to penetrate defences and create chances will be much needed against a very well-organized Stoke side.

And if one of these two fails to meet expectations, there will always be the dynamic threat of Oxlade-Chamberlain off the bench to revitalize the Gunners' attack late in the match. 

If this side starts to click and slide through the battering ram of Stoke City's defence, it will be extremely difficult for Tony Pulis' side to keep up, and it might just bring Arsenal the crucial victory that they so desperately need.

The players still must be wary, however, of old dangers coming back to haunt them. Stoke could still hit on the counterattack at any moment, and a relatively short central defensive pairing might have a tough time contending with the powerful aerial threat of Peter Crouch and the monster throw-ins of Rory Delap.

However, this is an Arsenal side that knows how to get the job done. And, more importantly, they know they must get it done. 

With a team like this, the Gunners could definitely secure a result that would take them one humongous step closer to third place.

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