Stoke v Arsenal preview

On-loan Stoke striker John Carew will be hoping for another run-out after recovering from a back problem. Carew came on in the second half last weekend when they drew with Blackpool following a frustrating time since his short-term move from Aston Villa. Full-back Andy Wilkinson is expected to recover from a knock but Matthew Etherington, Ricardo Fuller and Danny Higginbotham are ruled out through injury. Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen could return for Arsenal after nine months out with a niggling Achilles problem. Full-back Gael Clichy (hamstring) and defender Johan Djourou (ankle) face fitness tests. However, captain Cesc Fabregas (thigh), Samir Nasri (hamstring) and Abou Diaby (calf) are all still out. Stoke (from): Begovic, Wilkinson, Shotton, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant, Whelan, Delap, Jones, Walters, Sorensen, Whitehead, Diao, Collins, Faye, Pugh, Carew. Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Clichy, Gibbs, Djourou, Squillaci, Koscielny, Sagna, Walcott, Song, Arshavin, Ramsey, Wilshere, van Persie, Lehmann, Eboue, Chamakh, Bendtner, Vermaelen, Denilson.