Mark Hughes hits back at Stoke City critics and warns Arsenal to expect a response as bet365 Stadium prepares to welcome record crowd on Saturday

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Mark Hughes has hit back at Stoke City’s critics and warned Arsenal they face a backlash from home fans.

It comes after Marko Arnautovic claimed West Ham are ‘a bigger and more ambitious club’ in a parting shot at Stoke when he left for £25million.

But Hughes, who has brought in several summer signings, including former Real Madrid star Jese Rodriguez, feels the criticism has been unfair.

Stoke City manager Hughes says that criticism of his club has been unfair this summer

Former Potter Marko Arnautovic questioned Stoke's ambition before Jese Rodriguez arrived

He said: ‘There’s been too much negativity about what we’re going to do this year.

'People are taking a few cheap shots and it all builds up. When that happens, we circle the wagons and show people what we’re about.

'We’re at that point. Arsenal coming to town, maybe helps that.’

Stoke are set for their biggest home crowd for 29 years after the capacity of the bet365 Stadium was extended to just over 30,000, and Hughes added: ‘When our fans get behind the team, there’s no more intimidating place.’

Hughes responded to Arnautovic’s jibe by claiming: ‘That was probably a means to an end.

'It’s easy to say that when you’re not in possession of the facts, which players never are.’

Arsenal yesterday sold defender Gabriel to Valencia for £11m.

Stoke will be roared on by a record crowd on Saturday after the bet365 Stadium was expanded

Their opponents are Arsenal, who have won just one of their last seven games on Stoke soil