Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger happy to face Stoke boo boys as he looks for rare win at the bet365 Stadium

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Arsene Wenger insists he will happily take one for the team and face the Stoke boo-boys when Arsenal visit the bet365 Stadium on Saturday — if it means his side keep in the hunt for the top four.

Arsenal and Stoke are separated by 150 miles yet the teams have developed an unlikely rivalry with Wenger the target of vicious abuse from Stoke supporters.

'If the game is difficult for me and good for the team, I am very happy to take that,' said Wenger.

Arsene Wenger has not won at Stoke since February 2010 - a run of six games

'I believe that I forget about that and focus on the game always. That's the most important.'

The rivalry has developed from repeated rows between Arsenal's manager and former Stoke manager Tony Pulis, Ryan Shawcross breaking Aaron Ramsey's leg with a sickening tackle and Wenger labelling Stoke a 'rugby team'.

Stoke boss Mark Hughes continued the tradition, displaying little sympathy for Wenger in 2014.

Wenger shows his frustration during a 3-1 defeat away at Stoke back in May 2011

'Stick your fingers in your ear if you don't want to hear it,' he said of the supporters' abuse. '

'As an experienced manager, it shouldn't affect you too much anyway.'

With four wins from the last five games, including back-to-back wins against Manchester United and Southampton, Arsenal have an outside chance of overtaking either Liverpool or Manchester City to qualify for the Champions League, a feat the Frenchman has never failed to achieve in his 20 years at the club.