Match preview- Stoke Res. v Arsenal Res.

Arsenal reserves will be looking to start 2009 with a win when they take on their Stoke counterparts this evening.

The big team news is that Eduardo will continue up-front, whilst there are several changes elsewhere. Kieran Gibbs is left out ahead of the FA Cup tie with Cardiff on Sunday, so Thomas Cruise starts his second game of the season at left-back. There is also a new centre-back partnership in Kyle Bartley and the returning Havard Nordtveit. There are changes in the midfield too, with Lansbury and Bischoff coming in, the latter is expected to start in a withdrawn role behind Eduardo.

—————————-Mannone————————–

—Coquelin—Bartley——————–Nordtveit—–Cruise

—Lansbury–Randall——————-Merida———Wilshere

—————————-Bischoff—————————————

—————————-Eduardo————————————-

subs: Eastmond, Frimpong, Sunu, Fonte, Emmanuel-Thomas