Stoke City come up short at Emirates against firing Gunners

Stoke City put to the sword by a clinical Arsenal side who moved top of the Premier League table.

It was a scoreline and result that perhaps many expected before the 3pm kick-offs got underway on Saturday.

The Potters took the lead inside the opening half-hour after Granit Xhaka left an elbow on Joe Allen.

Theo Walcott equalised for the Gunners just before the break,  before two second-half efforts from Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi were enough to turn the game around and send the Gunners to the summit of the Premier League.

A first-half pendulum

Despite Arsenal entering the game as obvious favourites, the Potters had been on a decent run of form themselves.

The Gunners came into Saturday having not tasted defeat since the opening day of the season at the hands of Liverpool.

Stoke meanwhile had only lost one of the previous nine games, winning five in the same run.

On the balance of the first-half, Stoke would have been frustrated not to have gone into the break with their 1-0 lead intact.

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Walcott’s stinging shot brought the first genuine save from keeper Lee Grant. With Stoke City more than holding their own, the chances began to come at the other end.

Allen’s drive fired was fired wide of Petr Cech’s post. Good hold-up play from false-nine Marko Arnautovic from Charlie Adam’s pass gave the Welshman the opportunity.

Shortly after, referee Lee Mason awarded Stoke a spot-kick. Xhaka’s elbow caught Allen as he attempted to block the run from the midfielder.

Arguably lucky to still be on the pitch, the Swiss escaped any further punishment. Adam was placed onto penalty duty and made no mistake.

Arsenal substitute Hector Bellerin was having lots of joy down the right-hand side for the home team. His hard work paid off when Walcott latched onto his driven cross to level matters on half-time.

Gunners take second-half initiative

Buoyed by going into the dressing rooms on level terms, the home side came out for the second-half full of energy.

With minutes on the clock, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s clipped ball over the top was met by Ozil who looped his header over the stranded Grant.

Arsenal’s assertiveness was growing. Chances were coming.

Peter Crouch was brought on in place of the relatively ineffective Mame Biram Diouf and saw his header held by Cech before going over the line.

A third goal was looking more likely than a leveller for Stoke City. Shortly after his introduction, Iwobi made the most of an advantage played by Mason and placed his shot calmly into the corner.

Arsenal were heading for three points and the top of the league.

Mark Hughes brought youngsters Ramadan and Julien Ngoy on late in the game, however the damage was already done.

The result could have been closer and arguably flattered the Gunners, however Hughes was satisfied with the performance:

Stoke City will look to get back to winning ways on Wednesday night when Southampton visit the Bet365 Stadium.