Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta has been impressed by this season's Stoke City.

Arteta acknowledges this is a new-look Stoke side under Mark Hughes who have beaten Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United this season on merit rather than strong-arm tactics.

"It will be a real test or us because Stoke have shown they have battered the big teams up there, they play really good football. They don't just play long balls, they have been playing good football and it will be tough again.

"I think Mark Hughes has done a fantastic job. I think the recruitment has changed as well. He wants a different kind of football and he changed the philosophy completely even though the fans probably were happy with the results, but he believes in another kind of football and you can tell he trusts different players."