Stoke City vs Arsenal preview - Pulis wants top-10 finish

Posted Saturday, April 28, 2012 by PA

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is calling for one final push to claim what he believes would be a deserved top-half finish.

The Potters have four games of a long but eventful campaign remaining, starting with the visit of Arsenal.

Stoke have slipped to 14th in the Barclays Premier League but are well clear of the relegation issues concerning the bottom six and are just six points off seventh place.

Pulis wants to secure a top-10 finish for the first time since winning promotion in 2008 and feels that would be just reward for a season which has featured a lengthy Europa League run.

Pulis said: "It has been a long season for us - 52 games already - and we just hope and pray in the next four games we can pick up enough points to be where we deserve to be, and that is the top half of the table.

"The way the lads have worked this year after we started in July - their attitude and commitment has been fantastic - it would be lovely to finish with enough points to be in the top half.

"When it is all finished we will look back - it has been a long, long season, but it has been an exciting season and one I think everyone has enjoyed.

"What we need now is our supporters to raise the roof and the players to give it a right blast."

Pulis is not expecting a gentle run-in with the visit of Champions League hopefuls Arsenal followed by clashes with European-chasing Everton and relegation battlers QPR and Bolton.

The Welshman said: "Every game we play in is difficult but that is the way the Premier League is. It is a difficult four games.

"We have got to give it our best shot. If we do that and pick up the points, brilliant. If we don't, at least we'll have given it our best.

"We have three games at home so the supporters can play a big part. It will be a great atmosphere for the next three games."

Pulis would take great satisfaction from frustrating the Gunners with Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea having already dropped points at the Britannia Stadium this season.

Pulis is looking for a strong reaction against Arsene Wenger's men after a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle last week.

Stoke have beaten the Londoners in three of their last four meetings, in all competitions, at the Britannia but Pulis insists that counts for nothing.

Stoke will be without defender Andy Wilkinson due to a groin injury but Pulis is hopeful he will feature again this season.

Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal will have to "combat" Stoke's aerial threat, but feels the Gunners can play their way to victory.

Arsenal do not have the best of records at Stoke, winning on just one of the last four visits, which came in the most testing of circumstances in February 2010 when midfielder Aaron Ramsey suffered a broken leg.

However, despite being acutely aware of the need for his side not to be outmuscled again by Pulis' men, Wenger believes if his team play to their own strengths, then the Gunners can get the victory needed to stay on track for third place.

"We have to combat in the air because with [Peter] Crouch up front, he is technically good, he can bring other people in, but as well we cannot forget to put the ball down and play our game," Wenger said.

"We are ready to win. If you think are we ready to win petty, it depends what you call petty, but we will be faithful to the way we play football, that is for sure."

Arsenal have forced themselves back up into the top four of the Premier League with a fine run of form.

However, there is still some work ahead to secure third place, after losing at home to Wigan and then be held to a frustrating goalless draw by Chelsea before their famous result in Barcelona.

Should the Blues go on to win the Champions League against hosts Bayern Munich in May and fail to finish in the top four, then they would usurp one of their rivals to enter the group stages.

Wenger's men currently lead Newcastle by three points, but having played a match more.

Midfielder Abou Diaby will be assessed after suffering from a virus.

Czech international Tomas Rosicky has shrugged off a similar illness, while on-loan Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun comes back in after being ineligible to play against his parent club last weekend.

Winger Theo Walcott (hamstring) may feature before the end of the season but Mikel Arteta (ankle) is out along with Jack Wilshere (ankle) and German centre-back Per Mertesacker (ankle).

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