Arsenal team news: Wenger facing headache with in-form star out injured

Arsenal take on Stoke City in a must win game for the north London-based club.

The Gunners cannot afford to drop any points in their remaining Premier League fixtures if they are to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Arsenal are currently in fifth place, three points behind fourth placed Manchester City. Arsene Wenger’s side are also six points behind third place Liverpool but do have two games in hand over the Reds.

The Gunners have failed to defeat Stoke City at the Bet365 Arena in their last five attempts.

Mesut Ozil will be looking to add to his assist record after setting up Alexis Sanchez for the Gunners opener earlier this week.

Arsenal injuries:

Arsenal will be without the in-form Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for their clash with Stoke. The England international was forced off with an injury against Southampton. Hector Bellerin is expected to start in his place.

Both Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny are carrying slight injuries but are expected to start this weekend.

Suspensions:

Arsenal come into Saturday’s encounter without any suspensions.

Provisional squad:

Cech, Ospina, Martinez, Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Xhaka, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Iwobi, Sanchez, Perez, Welbeck, Giroud.