Strong man Sead is lifting spirits for happy Wenger
the game. The Arsenal manager is Public Enemy No1 with Stoke fans – and there will be 2,500 more in the ground today.
One end of the notoriously vocal bet365 Stadium has been extended, meaning the Potters will have their biggest crowd in 30 years.
And boss Mark Hughes has revealed there is a simmering anger over the flak they have been taking for a perceived lack of ambition, with Wenger – never forgiven for branding Stoke a “rugby team” – and his men set to bear the brunt of it. Hughes said: “We just feel people are taking maybe a few cheap shots – and it all builds up.
“We feel some of the criticism is unfair and we don’t like that. Will the negativity motivate us? Well, we’re at that point. Arsenal coming to town maybe helps that. I’ve been here when Stoke fans have felt aggrieved by the opposition or by individual players or, dare I say it, by referees.
“Once they feel we’re not getting a fair crack of the whip, then we come together. You don’t need too much motivating here, certainly to have a go at Arsenal.
“When our fans get behind the team from minute one to the last minute, then there’s no more intimidating place.
“We’re at a point where people want to show that others can’t take liberties with what we’re doing or question what we’re doing.
“When that happens, we circle the wagons.”