Arsenal's Wenger talks of Stoke, smoking and Podolski

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday (January 9) that Sunday's home game against Stoke City will be difficult.

The Gunners sit sixth in the Premier League ahead of the visit from traditional bogey team Stoke, who inflicted an embarrassing 3-2 reverse on Wenger's side at the start of December.

Stoke's traditionally combative approach has frequently exposed Arsenal's famed soft underbelly and with manager Mark Hughes's side comfortably placed in mid-table, Wenger is expecting another testing afternoon.

"Look, Stoke is a good side and is always difficult to play against. At the Emirates we have a good record against them, a very good one and we just want to continue that, to dictate our game. And you speak about that game over there, I think it was under special circumstances. But we just want, we are quite on a solid run if you - apart from the defeat at Southampton - so we want to continue that," Wenger told a news conference at the club's training ground northwest of London.