ARSENAL and Leicester are destined for a two-horse race for the Premier League title — because of the Stoke Effect.
The top two have both come away unbeaten from matches at the Britannia Stadium unlike Manchester rivals City and United.
And history tells us that means Arsene Wenger and Claudio Ranieri’s men are the teams who can lift the crown by the end of May.
For since Stoke arrived in the top flight for the 2008/09 season, no team they have beaten at home has ever gone on to be crowned champions that year.
That spells misery for Manuel Pellegrini and Louis van Gaal who have both been on the wrong end of 2-0 defeats from their trips to the Poterries this season.
Of the genuine title contenders left in the race this year, only Tottenham have still to play Stoke away.
So if the amazing sequence continues, they will have to make sure they come away without defeat when they make the journey north on April 16 if they are to have any hope of winning their first title since 1961.
The uncanny run began in 2008/09 when Manchester United were crowned champions having won 1-0 at the Britannia.
The following year Chelsea won 2-1 there on the way to the title before United again triumphed on the back of a 2-1 win of their own in 2010/11.
City drew 1-1 at Stoke as they went on to win their first Premier League title in 2012, and United’s 2-0 victory helped them to glory the next season.
History repeated itself two years ago as City finished top on the back of a goalless draw in the Potteries before Chelsea returned to London with a 2-0 win on the way to their title success last season.
Leicester’s 2-2 draw in September and yesterday’s point for Arsenal means only those two clubs of the title hopefuls have avoided defeat at Stoke this season.
So there you have it — the race for the Premier League is down to two (and possibly Tottenham)*. All because of the Stoke Effect!
*No responsibility will be taken if City or United triumph
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