Here are 15 things you should know about Stoke and Arsenal prior to kick-off this afternoon.
1. Last weekend, against Chelsea, was only the second time this season Arsenal failed to score in a Premier League fixture.
2. Robin van Persie still holds the title for the Premier League’s top goal scorer this season, despite only scoring once in his last seven Premier League outings.
3. However, when Van Persie is presented with a chance in front of goal he’s the most likely player in the Premier League to hit the target.
4. So far this season 62% of Van Persie 145 shots have made the keeper work. On average Van Persie scores once in every six attempts.
5. Van Persie has scored 39.7% of the total goals Arsenal have scored this season.
6. Wojciech Szczesny and the Dutch striker are the only two Arsenal players to have played in all of the club’s 35 Premier League games this season.
7. Peter Crouch has scored nine goals for Stoke this season and remains the club’s top goal scorer.
8. Matthew Etherington is Stoke’s highest-ranking player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, he’s currently ranked 55th overall.
9. 76% of Etherington’s shots have been on target so far this season. Of his 16 shots on target he’s picked up three Premier League goals.
10. Etherington has been a penetrating midfielder for Stoke this season, completing 28 dribbles and delivering 83 crosses.
11. Etherington is 11th in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for crosses completed.
12. The Potters have managed to score the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League this season (63%), while the Gunners are the lowest in this department with just 13%.
13. Stoke have won three of their last four home matches in all competitions against Arsenal.
14. 38% of Stoke’s goals this season have been scored by headers.
15. So far this season, Arsenal have only managed to concede five headed goals, the joint fewest in the Premier League.
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One thing you should know about Stoke, we hate them