Arsenal vs Stoke LIVE updates: Premier League team news, line-ups, score & stream details

Arsenal host struggling Stoke and head into the weekend 13 points adrift of north London rivals Tottenham, who currently occupy fourth spot.

Arsene Wenger’s side missed out on Champions League football as they finished fifth last year and a return to the top four seems all-but impossible given the current gap and the fact there are a maximum of 24 points to play for.

Instead, the Gunners could secure a return to the Champions League by following the route of Manchester United last season.

Stoke are desperate for points down the other end of the table but have lost on all nine previous visits to the Emirates.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Tommy: Stoke fans outside already singing Aaron Ramsey walks with a limp. Let’s stuff this lot!

Keith: Good to see the boy Jack Wilshere starting! Hopefully he scores Arsenal’s 6th and sends Stoke spiralling down the divisions.

James: Would love to see Stoke get anything out of the game for some Arsenal Fan TV. Hilarity but probably gonna get smashed up 4-0.

Not a lot of love for Stoke. Tony Pulis would be proud of his legacy…

TEAM NEWS – STOKE

12:40: Erik Pieters and Mame Biram Diouf are back for Stoke having recovered from injury.

Charlie Adam, who is suspended having been sent off against Everton last weekend, and Eric Choupo-Moting (injured) miss out.

TEAM NEWS – ARSENAL

12:35: Jack is back! I can hear the Arsenal celebrations from here…

Wilshere returns to the starting XI after missing England’s friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy through injury.

Aaron Ramsey is also included in Arsene Wenger’s selection.

Laurent Koscielny, Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette are all named on the Arsenal bench.

David Ospina replaces Petr Cech between the sticks.

ARSENAL vs STOKE

12:30: And here are your line-ups for today’s clash. Arsene Wenger clearly has one eye on Thursday’s Europa League tie with CSKA Moscow.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Chambers, Monreal, Ramsey, Elneny, Wilshere, Ozil, Aubameyang, Welbeck.

Subs: Macey, Koscielny, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette, Iwobi, Xhaka, Kolasinac.

Stoke XI: Butland, Bauer, Martins Indi, Shawcross, Johnson, Pieters, Allen, Ndiaye, Diouf, Shaqiri, Sobhi.

Subs: Haugaard, Ireland, Berahino, Cameron, Crouch, Campbell, Sorenson.

GET INVOLVED

12:28: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

GOOD AFTERNOON

12:25: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League.

Did you all enjoy the fight?

I understand that Anthony Joshua showed incredible craft, guile and technique, but deep down I just wanted a tear up.

I suppose I can pop into the nearest Weatherspoon’s to get my fix.

Anyway, we’re at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal entertain relegation-threatened Stoke.

Arsene Wenger’s side have a 100 per cent winning home Premier League record against the Potters. Surely this is just a formality, right?

ARSENAL vs STOKE

Arsenal should have Jack Wilshere fit and available. Wilshere missed both England friendlies with a knee problem but is expected to be in contention to keep his place in the Arsenal midfield. Alexandre Lacazette (knee) is also ready to return having been sidelined since February 10, while Santi Cazorla (Achilles) is a long-term absentee.

Stoke could welcome back forward Mame Biram Diouf. He has missed the last two matches with a shoulder problem but is expected to return along with defender Erik Pieters, who was fined and left out of the squad for the defeat by Everton two weeks ago after breaking a curfew. Midfielder Charlie Adam begins a three-match ban following his red card against Everton while forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is expected to be sidelined for several weeks by a groin problem. Ibrahim Afellay has been banished from the squad by manager Paul Lambert.

Last season: Stoke 1 Arsenal 4, Arsenal 3 Stoke 1

Last five league matches: Arsenal W L L L W; Stoke D D D L L

Top scorers (all competitions): Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) 20; Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke) 7

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)