Wenger in search of Stoke revenge as he returns to scene of last season’s low point

Arsene Wenger returns to Stoke City’s Britannia Stadium this weekend for the first time since he was forced to endure one of the lowest points of his 20-year reign as Arsenal manager.

The visit in December 2014 ended with Wenger and his players forced to run a gauntlet of angry Arsenal fans as they boarded a train back to London following a 3-2 defeat that left the Gunners in sixth place, 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

Those critical voices had largely been silenced by last May after a dramatic improvement during the second half of the season that was capped by the FA Cup triumph.

And having sustained that progress, Wenger’s side head into the latest round of matches positioned at the head of the table and with a growing belief they can lift the Premier League title.

Wenger is entitled to feel vindicated although the leading group is so tightly packed, Arsenal could find themselves in third position by the time they kick-off against Stoke if Leicester City and Manchester City have both secured victories 24 hours earlier.

The north London club would have established more breathing space had they been able to hang on to the lead at Liverpool midweek, eventually conceding an equaliser late on as the home side fought back to claim a 3-3 draw.