The significant action will occur off the pitch and not on it at Emirates Stadium as the Arsenal supporters come either to praise Arsene Wenger or bury him during the club's final game of the season against Stoke City.
The Frenchman formerly enjoyed the kind of omnipotence that Julis Caesar once exercised over Rome but is his North London empire crumbling in the face of criticism and disappointing results?
The future of the Frenchman has been widely debated in recent days with fears growing over his position following some unusually vague quotes from Wenger regarding the Real Madrid job.
Fears over a summer departure have since been allayed by manager and club alike but after his methods were called into question by shareholders, a development that stung the proud three-time Premier League winner, the reception he receives from supporters will be illuminating as to his real standing at the club.
Whispers of a march in support of the manager and the repeated chanting of his name have been doing the rounds and if a chorus of approval rains down then expect all to be well in Wenger’s world again.
If the atmosphere is decidedly apathetic, expect those rumours to continue apace.
The game itself is something of a dead rubber given that Arsenal are guaranteed to finish in fourth place and Stoke have already avoided relegation following a tremendous season under Tony Pulis.
Even the potential excitement of a row between the two managers – following accusations from Wenger earlier in the season that Stoke set out to injure his players – has been defused after the Gunners boss sent Pulis a congratulatory letter upon his completion of the London marathon.
Arsenal’s own capital title race was ended at the half-way mark when five defeats before Christmas – including a loss at The Britannia Stadium – curtailed their hopes of winning a first Premier League trophy since 2004.
Fourth is the limit of the club’s ambitions and they can be expected to finish in positive fashion having lost their last game at Emirates Stadium 4-1 to Chelsea. Those were the only goals they have conceded in nine home games in the league.
Stoke could remarkably finish above big-spending Manchester City with a victory as they sit two points shy of Mark Hughes’ side.
The stand-out team news from the tie is that Emmanuel Adebayor has been denied what could be a farewell game due to a fitness problem, but Lukasz Fabianski will play.
PIVOTAL PLAYER: Nicklas Bendtner. With Adebayor absent, the Dane has the chance to convince Arsene Wenger that he is a genuine rival to the Togo international for next season, or a potential replacement.
PREDICTION: 2-0
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| Team |
Arsenal |
Stoke City |
| Games Played |
37 |
37 |
| Goal Attempts |
|
|
| Goals |
64 |
37 |
| Ave Goals per game |
1.73 |
1.00 |
| Shots (excl blocked shots) |
470 |
278 |
| % Shots on Target |
45% |
35% |
| % Goals to Shots |
14% |
13% |
| Passing |
|
|
| Short Passes |
16,342 |
7,095 |
| Long Passes |
1,986 |
2,125 |
| Overall Pass Completion % |
82% |
64% |
| Crossing |
|
|
| Total Crosses |
1034 |
688 |
| Cross Completion % |
21% |
22% |
| Defending |
|
|
| Goals Conceded |
36 |
51 |
| Ave goals conceded per game |
0.97 |
1.38 |
| Tackles |
857 |
663 |
| Tackles Won % |
75% |
73% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions |
2214 |
2242 |
| Discipline |
|
|
| Fouls |
453 |
513 |
| Yellow Cards |
57 |
73 |
| Red Cards |
3 |
5 |
|