Stoke V Arsenal - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Hughes hoping for more home helpMark Hughes hopes Stoke's fans can help them get back on track when Arsenal visit the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.Potters fans enjoy nothing more than beating Arsenal and always give Gunners manager Arsene Wenger - a critic of their style of play under previous boss Tony Pulis - a 'warm' welcome.The rowdy atmosphere has inspired Stoke in recent matches against Arsenal, with the Potters losing just one of the last eight clashes between the teams at the Britannia.Keeping that run going would be particularly timely as Hughes' team look to end a run of three straight defeats."This fixture always seems to generate a really good atmosphere," said the Stoke boss."It started before my time I would suggestIt's an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium for matches like this and it takes a good team to deal with it."For the most part Arsenal are an outstanding team but in recent times we've done very well
The help we've had from our crowd has been part of that
It's a huge part when you're trying to get positive results
I enjoy coming up against them and I am sure the lads do, too."We are performing well at the moment - we just aren't converting our chances when they come along
From my experience in the game, these runs can't keep on going."If we play as well as we have done recently then we will soon start to win matches in a convincing manner, I am certain of that."After losing their last home match to Burnley, Stoke have suffered narrow losses on the road against Liverpool and Manchester United, leaving them only three points above the relegation zone.Hughes has made evolving Stoke's style of play a priority since replacing Pulis prior to last season but insists Arsenal should not expect an easier time of it."Over the years we've made it difficult for Arsenal to play their game," he said
"We're a different team now but we can still compete
After going up against Liverpool and Manchester United, we certainly won't fear Arsenal."Wenger has endured a difficult start to the season, with calls from some fans for his long tenure to be brought to an end, although Arsenal have won their last three games.Hughes said: "I think most respect the job he's done
He won a trophy last year
In football, sometimes familiarity brings contempt
Maybe some people want a change for change's sake
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for."Hughes has plenty of injury problems to deal with but is hoping one or two players could be back, with Jonathan Walters and Robert Huth the most likely contenders."It is undoubtedly the worst run of injuries that I have had during my time at the club and, when you consider the fact that we have had a bout of illness going around the place too, we have been unfortunate," said Hughes."Stephen Ireland has picked a bit of illness up disappointingly, because we thought we had seen the last of that."Wenger is confident his side can cope with whatever awaits them at Stoke, but could do without "exaggerated" pre-match comments aimed at turning up the heat.Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross - whose horror tackle on Aaron Ramsey in 2010 left the Gunners' midfielder with a double leg break - claims the home fans "dislike" of Arsenal will lead to a "tasty game" at the Britannia Stadium.Wenger - who once labelled Stoke's tactics under former boss Tony Pulis as "rugby on the goalkeepers" - believes his side must concentrate on their own game rather than worry about what they might face both on and off the pitch."I think that is exaggerated
It is a football game, it is not a hate game
You want to focus on playing football," said Wenger, whose side have just one win at Stoke from seven matches since 2008."Stoke is always a tough and very committed place to go, but we prepare ourselves to be at the level of our commitment and dictate the way we want to play
The most important thing is to not forget how we play our game."They have a little bit of a different style (under new manager Hughes), but against us it is always a very committed game anyway."Wenger added: "We are in a job where you have risks
The physical risk is part of our job, we accept that."What you want is to go into a game with everybody being 100 per cent committed, but fair
After, you accept that any accident can happen."You do not want to have any suspicions before the match starts, that is not very good."Since the disappointment of losing at home to Manchester United, Arsenal have put together three straight wins with three clean sheets to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League and close up on the Barclays Premier League top four.Chile forward Alexis Sanchez netted a late winner against Southampton on Wednesday night to continue his impressive form since a big-money summer move from Barcelona.Wenger feels the 25-year-old "is in the red zone" given how many matches he has played this season for both club and country, so must be carefully managed over the hectic Christmas schedule."Unfortunately you never know how far you can push (a player)
We are not scientific enough to predict that completely, but he has a great recovery potential," said Wenger."He recovers very quickly, is always sharp and wants to play."Alexis has a huge desire, no complex, and has a fighting attitude that means even when he misses something it doesn't affect him."He is very mobile, very determined and he has the sense to be in the right place in the box."Sanchez has netted 14 goals so far, but Wenger feels it is unjust to label Arsenal as a one-man team."Let's say it does not reflect the truth," Wenger added."On the goalscoring record, you can say he is dominant, but in the game of course not."Arsenal have some defensive worries, with Nacho Monreal having suffered ankle ligament damage early on against the Saints, and so could be out for a few weeks.Centre-back Laurent Koscielny will be assessed on his inflamed Achilles.Full-back Mathieu Debuchy is close to a return from three months recovery from an ankle injury, and may be taken to Istanbul for next week's Champions League tie at Galatasaray.Arsenal have been linked with a move for promising Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings when the transfer window opens in January.Wenger said: "On the defensive front, we will try to bring somebody in, but we are not on any special case."We are on a few young players yes, that we always follow
He (Mings) is one of the players we follow, but we are not close to signing anybody at the moment."
Source : PA
Source: PA