A FACTUAL look at this weekend’s opening home game of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League campaign, against Arsenal.
#DOMINANT: Since Stoke’s return to the top flight in 2008, there have been five meetings in all competitions between the two sides at the Britannia Stadium, with the Potters winning three to the Gunners’ one.
#PROLIFIC: Peter Crouch has scored seven Premier League goals against Arsenal; only versus Blackburn (8) has he been more prolific. He has scored in both games for the Potters against the Gunners.
#CONTRAST: In 2011-12, Stoke scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League (58%), while Arsenal scored the lowest percentage from dead ball situations (14%). Six of the nine goals Stoke have scored against Arsenal have come from set pieces.
#MAESTRO: Arsenal new boy Santi Cazorla set up seven scoring chances on the opening weekend of the campaign; more than any other top-flight player.
#TWENTYTWENTY: Stoke have picked up 20 points in 20 Premier League games in 2012.
#IRREPLACEABLE: Robin van Persie (30 goals 9 assists) and Alex Song (1 goal, 11 assists (4 for RVP)) scored or assisted 47 of Arsenal's 74 PL goals in 2011-12; 64% of the team total.
#EXPLOSIVE: Stoke have scored first in all five games they have played against Arsenal in all competitions at the Britannia Stadium under Tony Pulis, and on four of those occasions inside 11 minutes.
#UNBEATEN: Stoke are unbeaten in their last seven home matches (W3 D4 L0), but have drawn the last three in a row; the first of those a 1-1 with Arsenal.
#SLACK: Arsenal have won just one of their last six Premier League matches (W1 D4 L1).
#TRIO: Three members of the Potters squad; Michael Kightly, Goeff Cameron and Jamie Ness, could all make their Britannia Stadium debuts against Arsenal.
#FLYING: Michael Kightly got off to a flying start on his Potters debut last weekend, scoring just 34 minutes into his first start. Fellow Potters Cameron Jerome, Ryan Shawcross and Kenwyne Jones (first spell) all scored on their debuts for the Club.