Arsenal Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Stoke

Everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon

Arsenal return to domestic action aiming to restore some pride in a disappointing Premier League season which sees them currently sit in sixth place.

The Gunners face Stoke on Sunday and with a top four spot seemingly out of the question it could be a case of having one eye on Thursday's Europa League quarter-final clash against CSKA Moscow.

Arsene Wenger's side were dealt a scare with the news that Jack Wilshere sustained an injury on international duty but his return means that Arsenal almost have a fully fit squad to choose from.

The Gunners will be wary of Peter Crouch if he plays, as the gangly striker has scored nine Premier League goals against Arsenal, with Robbie Fowler (10) and Wayne Rooney (12) the only two players who have scored more.

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Arsenal injuries

Jack Wilshere and Sead Kolasinac are back in the squad following their respective knee and ankle problems.

Alexandre Lacazette has had a full week of first-team training under his belt and is expected to be named among the substitutes.

Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.

Arsenal suspensions

Arsenal have no players suspended for this game.

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam will serve the first of a three-match ban following his red card against Everton.

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Arsenal potential starting line-up

Wenger is likely to field his first choice back four with Kolasinac available following his injury lay-off.

Wilshere's fitness boost means he could start alongside Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey in midfield, with Mohamed Elneny an option in the defensive midfield area days after signing a new contract extension with the club.

Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil are likely to start in support of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Lacazette expected to be on the bench after his return from injury.

Stoke team news

Mame Biram Diouf could be available after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury, while defender Erik Pieters is expected to be back after breaking a curfew and being left out of the squad for the defeat to Everton.

Joe Allen was among the players in training this week with Eric Choupo-Moting out for several weeks with a groin injury and Ibrahim Afellay told to stay away from the squad by manager Paul Lambert.

The Potters lost their last two league matches against Everton and Manchester City but will take faith from the 1-0 win over Arsenal at the bet365 stadium earlier in the season.

Xherdan Shaqiri is the club's top scorer with seven goals to his name so far this season.

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Best Opta match facts

Arsenal have won their last 15 home matches against Stoke in all competitions, a run that stretches back to August 1981 when Stoke won 1-0 at Highbury thanks to a goal by Lee Chapman.
Stoke, 1-0 winners at the Bet365 Stadium earlier this season, haven’t completed a league double over Arsenal since the 1975-76 season.
Arsenal’s current run of 12 consecutive home top-flight wins against Stoke is their longest winning run in their top-flight history.
72.9% of Arsenal’s Premier League points this season have been won in home games, the highest ratio in the division (35/48).
Jese made his Premier League debut in the reverse fixture, scoring the only goal in a game in which he had two shots on target. Since then, he’s played 545 minutes in 12 Premier League games, has had just two more shots on target, hasn’t scored and hasn’t been on the winning side (D4 L8).
Mesut Ozil has been directly involved in five goals in his five Premier League starts against Stoke (2 goals, 3 assists).
In just 406 minutes on the pitch together in the Premier League this season, Arsenal pair Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have combined for three goals – no duo has linked up for more at the club this season.