Premier League team news and statistics
Soccer:All the latest team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League fixtures.
Saturday, February 2nd
Arsenal (6) v Stoke (10)
New signing Nacho Monreal could go straight into the Arsenal side. Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (ankle) is a doubt, but midfielder Mikel Arteta may return after his calf injury. Left-back Kieran Gibbs is out for around six weeks with a thigh problem, while Francis Coquelin (hamstring) is also sidelined and forward Gervinho is away at the African Nations Cup.
Stoke have no new injury problems but new signings Jack Butland and Brek Shea will not be involved, goalkeeper Butland has been loaned back to Birmingham and winger Shea is recovering from a foot operation. Matthew Upson and Rory Delap have left the club and fellow defender Marc Wilson, out since October with a broken leg, hopes to play a reserve game next week as he builds up to a first-team return.
Last season:Stoke 1 Arsenal 1, Arsenal 3 Stoke 1
Last five league matches:Arsenal D L L W D; Stoke D L L L D
Top scorers(all competitions): Theo Walcott (Arsenal) 18; Jonathan Walters (Stoke) 8
Match odds:H 4-9 A 11-2 D 16-5
Referee:Chris Foy (Merseyside).
Everton (5) v Aston Villa (19)
Everton midfielder Darron Gibson, out since December with a thigh problem, could start. It remains to be seen whether or not striker Nikica Jelavic will be restored to the first XI and it is not expected that teenager John Stones, recruited from Barnsley on transfer deadline day, will be involved. Fellow defenders Seamus Coleman (thigh) and Tony Hibbert (calf) remain sidelined.
Newcomers Yacouba Sylla and Simon Dawkins are included in Villa’s squad — midfielder Sylla was signed from French Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot while winger Dawkins joins on loan from Tottenham. Boss Paul Lambert will check on the fitness of midfielder Fabian Delph (ankle) but hopes of a return for defender Richard Dunne are dashed by a recurrence of his groin problem.
Last season:Aston Villa 1 Everton 1, Everton 2 Aston Villa 2
Last five league matches:Everton L W D D W; Aston Villa L D L D L
Top scorers(all competitions): Marouane Fellaini (Everton) 9; Christian Benteke (Aston Villa) 15
Match odds:H 2-5 A 6-1 D 7-2
Referee:Mike Jones (Cheshire).
Fulham (12) v Man Utd (1)
A hamstring injury rules out Fulham’s former United striker Dimitar Berbatov for up to 10 days. Steve Sidwell, Mahamadou Diarra (both knee), Kerim Frei (pelvis) and Kieran Richardson (calf) are also sidelined but AC Milan loanee Urby Emanuelson could make his debut, although fellow deadline day signings Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh are unavailable as they wait for their work permits.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is intending to make changes, with Rio Ferdinand in line for a recall and fellow defender Jonny Evans back after a hamstring injury. However, midfielder Ashley Young (knee) remains sidelined.
Last season:Man Utd 1 Fulham 0, Fulham 0 Man Utd 5
Last five league matches:Fulham L W D L W; Man Utd W W W D W
Top scorers(all competitions): Dimitar Berbatov (Fulham) 8; Robin van Persie (Man Utd) 22
Match odds:H 9-2 A 4-7 D 14-5
Referee:Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).
Newcastle (15) v Chelsea (3)
Magpies midfielders Sylvain Marveaux and Moussa Sissoko, striker Yoan Gouffran and defender Steven Taylor will be available. Only midfielders Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring) and Cheick Tiote, who is on duty with Ivory Coast at the African Nations Cup, will not figure for the home side.
