Wenger wary of Stoke style

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes it is vital his side dictate the play at Stoke on Sunday if they are to secure all three points.

Stoke have an impressive record on home soil and Wenger admits his players must impose themselves upon the game if they are to seal the win. "It is a bit of a fight for who dictates his style. If we manage to do that I enjoy it, if we do not manage to do that I don't enjoy it at all because then you really suffer at Stoke," Wenger said. "It a question of being strong enough to dictate your style. You know you need some qualities when you go to Stoke which are different. You need to be good in the air, of course." "However, Stoke changed their style last year when they played more on the ground because of being in Europe. I think it will go on like that." Arsenal will welcome back Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for the trip to the Britannia Stadium and Olivier Giroud is expected to make his first start since his summer switch from Montpellier, but Laurent Koscielny is sidelined with a calf problem.