Hughes anticipating tough weekend

Stoke are in good shape but will find it tough to beat Arsenal on Saturday, manager Mark Hughes has admitted.

After a difficult start to the campaign, Stoke have won five of their last seven Premier League games to climb to ninth in the table, while Arsenal are currently second, just three points of league leaders Chelsea.

Stoke have yet to win a league game at the Emirates since winning promotion in 2008 and Hughes knows his side will have to be at their very best against a team he is tipping for the title.

"We are in the best place we could be in. We don't have a great record there and we would love to change that at the weekend. It will be tough but we are in a good place," Hughes told his pre-match press conference.

"Arsenal, as a team, look in good shape and whilst we have a lot of confidence, given their form too, it isn't a good time to play them.

"At times, Arsenal have struggled with consistency, and it has cost them, but you sense this could be their year. It's important for us to give ourselves an opportunity to get something out of the game, we need to stay in the match and frustrate them."

As well as Arsenal, the Potters are due to play Liverpool and Chelsea before the end of the month and Hughes is confident they can enjoy a strong festive period.

"We had opportunities in those games last season, when people thought we would struggle, and we want the same to happen this season," he said.

"We are almost exactly where we thought we would be after 14 games, so we are back on track and now we want a strong festive period.

"We have had a good run and we want that to continue - the longer that goes on the better from our point of view."

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