[Teams] Stoke vs Arsenal: Mannone Starts For Gunners

Arsenal take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium today but go into the game with their third choice goalkeeper – Vito Mannone – in goal.

Wojciech Szczesny has failed to recover from a rib injury while second choice Lukas Fabianski is also ruled out with a back complaint. This leaves Wenger having to rely upon Italian stopper Mannone.

As predicted in my match preview, Olivier Giroud comes in to make his first start for the club with Theo Walcott dropping to the bench.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Stoke Team

Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Pennant, Cameron, Whelan, Kightly; Walters, Crouch

SUBS: Sorensen, Palacios, Jones, Upson, Delap, Shotton, Jerome

Arsenal Team

Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Diaby, Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski, Giroud

SUBS: Martinez, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Djourou, Coquelin

We’ll have highlights from the game up shortly after the final whistle, so check back later.