Stoke come into the FA Cup 4th Round having beaten York City by a comfortable 3-1 margin in the 3rd Round. Despite the vast difference in quality between the two clubs’ respective leagues, the match at first seemed in doubt.
Bad weather delayed the opposition’s arrival at Britannia Stadium, causing some to question whether the game would go on at all. And as if to add insult to injury when they finally did get there, York had the cheek to score the opening goal! The temporarily-stunned Potters regained their composure, though, and as the game progressed any doubts of their eventual victory diminished in equal proportions.
Are the Potters taking a turn for the better?
Generally-speaking, however, the Potters have had a tough time of it recently. Stoke’s last two results were a 1-1 draw with a struggling Liverpool and a 3-2 victory over Fulham. Not so bad. But these results were preceded by three consecutive defeats. The Liverpool and Fulham games may represent a good turn of form developing, but it’s too early yet to assume that the Potters will have a better second half of the season than they did in the first.
Is there an Arsenal dynasty in the offing?
Arsenal’s ticket to the 4th Round on the other hand came courtesy of Premier League competitors
and local rivals West Ham, whom the Gunners beat 2-1 at Upton Park. Late goals from Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo brought Arsenal back from behind. As if their position at the top of the league didn’t say enough about the quality of Arsene Wenger’s young team, the facts of the win over West Ham highlight aspects of Arsenal’s game that herald a bright future. They have a young squad of high-quality players who have proven they can come from behind and win. It is upon such fundamentals that football dynasties are built.
Only a 2-2 draw with Everton, a match that Arsenal was fortunate to come away from with a point in their pocket, has marred the Gunners' record in the past six outings. Back to back wins home and away this week against Bolton as well as wins over Hull, Villa and Portsmouth have propelled Arsenal to the top on 48 points in 22 games, just enough to pip Chelsea, at least for the moment. With luck we will bear witness to a ding-dong battle for the top spot in the 2nd half of the season.
Hard work will be the key for the Potters while the Gunners adjust their sights
No one will expect manager Tony Pulis’s Potters to display much guile or cunning against Arsenal but the Stoke faithful will at least hope that their team can display a robust and enthusiastic approach to the match. With luck and hard work they might be able to blunt the Gunners’ creativity. A victory at home against the new league leaders would be a highlight of Stoke's season and would provide a glimmer of hope that a little piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet may not be a complete fantasy.
Despite the long term loss through injury of Dutch International Robin van Persie and young Fullback Keiran Gibbs, Arsene Wenger’s side is slowly getting back to a position of strength, as recent results have suggested. And now that the Gunners are league leaders Wenger will undoubtedly consider the domestic double as achievable. He’ll therefore consider a win at Stoke on Sunday as nothing less than essential.
