Neanderthals tomorrow

So the eagerly anticipated visit of Stoke City Rugby Football Club awaits, unfortunately it's being anticipated for all the wrong reasons, much like the way in which our sad media covered Shawcross' awful tackle on Aaron Ramsey, the focus is all wrong. Tony Pulis and his Stoke side are not popular with neutrals for obvious reasons, they are even less popular with Arsenal fans. There is something about Stoke's rather basic and savage philosophy that particularly grates, they are as anti-football as one can get without rolling the tanks in.

Stoke fans who dislike my take on events and who happen to stumble upon my objective perfection here may well wish to read this excellent perspective from the ever subtle Mr Booth at rantingmad. The ref tomorrow is Peter Walton, I also happened to glance ahead to the ref for the cup final and it's Mike Dean, what a terrible disaster, Dean is an utter weasel of an official.

The only absentees for us are Kosielny and RVP (short term injuries-back for Sunday touch wood), Diaby (injured and suspended), Vermaelen (hopefully back soonish). I am sure Arsene will have an eye on the cup final though, still I can't see him not playing Djourou given his aerial prowess against the Stoke assault. It would also seem wise to play Song, given his aerial strength, especially given Diaby's absence. I'd hope to see Bendtner starting up top given RVP's injury and Chamkh's poor form, it will be a bit of a poser as to whether to line up with Arshavin or Nasri. Generally I'd expect a pretty much full strength side though:

Szczesny
Sagna Djourou Squillaci Clichy
Song Wilshere Cesc
Walcott Bendtner Nasri

The result and performance at the weekend against the mighty Os was a bit disappointing to say the least, still we're still in the cup and it wasn't all negative. I have had a hectic spell at work so have had to catch up on the game this week, wasn't as bad as I expected to be honest, we created more than enough to have buried Orient, with some better finishing it would have been done and dusted well before the equaliser. The defending was poor for their goal, Miguel was particularly at fault with Gibbs, both far too square and caught on their heels.

This Stoke game is a tricky one, it's on a bit of a come down after beating Barca, it's before a cup final too, there's a real danger of dropping points, precious precious points too. Stoke are a very tricky side to play, despite the negatives of Pulis, he has done a terrific job in terms of results and the way they play makes them tough tough opponents. Come on you Gunners!