Stoke City vs Arsenal. Premier League.
Bet365 StadiumAttendance29,459.
Saturday 19 August 2017 17:48, UK
Jese Rodriguez could make his Stoke debut in Saturday's late Premier League game at home to Arsenal (kick-off 5.30pm).
The former Real Madrid striker, who this week sealed a loan move from Paris Saint-Germain, is available for the Saturday evening kick-off and manager Mark Hughes has indicated he wants all of his summer signings to be involved.
"We are hoping to involve all the ones we have brought if we can, albeit some will be on the bench and some will start," said the Stoke boss.
That suggests Bruno Martins Indi, Darren Fletcher, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Josh Tymon and Kurt Zouma will all play some part.
However, Arsenal will once again be without Alexis Sanchez, who remains sidelined with an abdominal injury.
Arsene Wenger confirmed this week there has been no progress over contract talks with the forward, who has been linked with a move away from the Emirates during the transfer window.
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will miss the match as he serves the last of a three-game ban.
Shkodran Mustafi, Per Mertesacker and Francis Coquelin should all be available after missing the 4-3 win over Leicester last Friday.
Stoke forward Julien Ngoy looks set for up to six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh problem. while Ibrahim Afellay (knee) and Stephen Ireland (broken leg) continue to recover from long-term injuries.
Stoke have lost just once in their last seven home games against the Gunners (W3 D3 L1), although it came last time out in May, losing 4-1.
But Arsenal have won four of their last five Premier League games in all against Stoke, drawing the other.
Arsenal will be looking to win their opening two games in a Premier League season for the first time since 2009-10.
Olivier Giroud's winner against Leicester in the opening game was his 99th goal for Arsenal - he's looking to become the 19th player to score a century of goals for the Gunners.
Alexandre Lacazette could become the first Arsenal player to score in both of his opening two Premier League appearances for the club, should he net in this fixture.
Hughes has lost more Premier League matches against Wenger (13) than he has versus any other manager in the competition.
I was impressed with Arsenal against Leicester, in the sense that it was what you expect from Arsenal - scoring lots of goals and letting in a lot. You want to watch them play.
Will Arsenal improve at the back when they get players back from injury? No. They play a certain way and that's why they won't win the Premier League.
But Stoke didn't do well at Everton and they don't frighten you anymore. They are not like the old Stoke teams, now it's a good place to go and play.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Arsenal are marginally odds-on for the victory at 17/20 with Sky Bet, who make Stoke 3/1 outsiders and price the draw up at 11/4. Arsenal drifted out slightly to 10/1 for the title despite salvaging a late win against Leicester, although they do remain 8/11 for a top-four finish.
Alexandre Lacazette heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 while Peter Crouch is considered the hosts' main threat at 17/2 to net first.
