Arsene Wenger reveals the orders he's given his Arsenal stars for Stoke clash

ARSENE WENGER has ordered his side to go out at the Britannia on Sunday and show how far they have come in their bid to become Premier League champions.

 

Arsene Wenger has regained the support of most fans since Arsenal's loss at Stoke last season

 

Since Stoke arrived in the Premier League they have been something of a bogey team for Arsenal on their home ground, with the Gunners winning just one of their seven encounters.

But even though the club have developed from Tony Pulis’ well-organised uncompromising force into something more stylish under Mark Hughes, Wenger wants his own players to show they have progressed even more.

“It is a good challenge for us as well because they have to maintain their record and we can show we have taken a big step forward and can beat them,” Wenger said.

“It is an opportunity we want to take.

“We have had difficulties at Stoke, they have a good record against us in recent years and I must say as well they have overall a good record against Man United, City, the big teams.

“They have done very well. they have moved forward as well because they have improved their creative potential with players like Artautovic, Affelay, Shaqiri, Bojan - they can create and play.

“But overall for me personally our last game against Liverpool was a positive team performance.

Our last game against Liverpool was a positive team performance

Arsene Wenger

"What is most important is that we looked like a real team who is up for the fight.

"Above the result, what is more important is that we have shown that we are a real team and we are ready in every single game to fight for a positive result.

“Stoke is a similar test to Liverpool where on our side we need the same intensity again four days later and the same desire and focus again.

"The consistency of your determination will certainly play a big part in the outcome of this league.”

On their last trip to the Britannia, it was Arsenal’s own supporters who were the problem, booing the players after their defeat as they waited to board a train down south.

 

Wenger, though, remains undeterred in his travel plans and will again let the train take the strain – even though he is concerned that the abuse could steadily increase with time.

“I took it the people were upset because we lost a game and didn’t take it personally,” he recalled.

“It was my function and the fact that I’m responsible for the club that was attacked.

“I was sad and upset more by the result than by the individual reactions of people, which I can understand.

"When you love a club, you want the results to be positive. It’s a more common thing now and I believe it will be a problem in the coming years.

“It exists a lot in France, with disenchanted people coming out and having an aggressive behaviour.

"It might be one of the problems that football has to face in the coming years. You see it in many countries now, more and more.”