It is impossible to remark upon the unique challenge of facing Stoke City without unwittingly evoking the tired joke about a "wet and windy Tuesday night", but Arsenal have struggled at the Britannia Stadium since the Potters' promotion four years ago. The only time Arsène Wenger's side have returned to London with three points, they lost Aaron Ramsey with a broken leg.

This fixture is the most blatant contrast of styles in the Premier League – Arsenal finished with the highest average possession in the division last season, 60%, while Stoke's was the lowest at 40%.

Tactically, it is fascinating – one is concerned primarily with territory, the other with possession.

It is essentially a balancing act for the managers: how much do they adapt to the threat of the opposition, and how much do they attempt to impose their own style on the game? Tony Pulis still demands long balls, but he's wary of letting Arsenal settle in possession. Therefore, expect heavy pressing and a strong Stoke tackle within the first couple of minutes – last year it was Dean Whitehead's firm but fair challenge sending Tomas Rosicky crashing to the floor, his head thrown back like a discarded rag doll. Discipline remains important, though, and Whitehead is suspended for this fixture after being dismissed at Reading last weekend.

Wenger does not alter his strategy significantly against Stoke; he believes ball retention is the best method for preventing long balls. Facing Stoke is a more complex tactical task than simply winning plenty of headers, and most teams attempt to defend high up the pitch, pushing Stoke's strikers away from goal. But goalkeeper Asmir Begovic boasts a huge kick, forcing the opposition centre-backs to retreat, so last season the Everton manager David Moyes told his striker Nikica Jelavic to stand in front of Begovic when he had the ball in his hands. This prevented the Bosnian dropping the ball and hitting a long, flat clearance from the ground – instead he had to drop-kick, which didn't send the ball as far.

Similarly, Stoke's long throws aren't merely effective because of the ball's destination, but because attackers can't be offside, so the opposition are unable to keep a high defensive line. Rory Delap's deliveries from the halfway line often forced the opposition to retreat to their own box, and then Stoke could exploit the space in front of the defence. The Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once deliberately conceded a corner in order to prevent a throw, possibly a first in Premier League football, although throw-ins only resulted in two Stoke goals in 2011-12. When Arsenal first visited back in 2008-09, two were scored that afternoon.

There are subtle features of Stoke's play. They focus passing significantly down the right wing, which is maybe why Sir Alex Ferguson used Patrice Evra at left midfield a couple of years ago, with John O'Shea at left-back.

Half Arsenal's greatest defence, Lee Dixon and Steve Bould, arrived from Stoke, an unthinkable event today. As a pundit, Dixon has offered interesting views on combatting Stoke's throws – advocating a system where the players all stand on the goalline before rushing forward in unison to clear, like a hockey side defending a penalty corner. Bould has recently become Wenger's assistant – will he also have original ideas?

That is why Stoke, for all their long balls, do contribute to intelligent football – it's not just about coping physically against them, it's about adapting strategically.

The return of Sam Allardyce to the Premier League means Pulis isn't the only route one advocate in the Premier League. West Ham's trip to Swansea is, in theory, another clash between directness and intricate passing, but last weekend only Newcastle played more long balls than Swansea's 68.

The passing is still neat and quick, but Swansea seem more purposeful in possession under Michael Laudrup.

Brendan Rodgers faces a difficult selection decision in his first home league game as Liverpool manager, because Daniel Agger is suspended following his red card against West Brom.

The selection of Jamie Carragher for Thursday's Europa League tie against Hearts suggests that Rodgers wants to continue with the veteran against Manchester City on Sunday, but the Uruguayan youngster Sebastián Coates is quicker, better on the ball and therefore more suited to Rodgers's gameplan in the long term.