Arsenal 1-0 Stoke: Gunners Stoked to crack Potters

Arsene Wenger decided to kill two birds with one stone by giving new signing Nacho Monreal his debut against the Potters today afternoon. He was able to both introduce the Spain international to the physicality of English football and help him endear himself to the Emirates Stadium faithful.

The Frenchman made several changes from the side that came from behind to draw Liverpool last week. Captain Thomas Vermaelen had suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury and was replaced by Laurent Koscielny in the heart of defence. Monreal was selected ahead of Andre Santos at left-back.

Two of the three players who featured in midfield against Liverpool were rested against Tony Pulis’ men. Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla – rather surprisingly – were both omitted from the starting eleven with the experienced Mikel Arteta and the rangy Abou Diaby coming in. On the left wing, Alex Oxlade-Chamberalain replaced Lukas Podolski.

Welshman Pulis was unable to use either of his new arrivals. Brek Shea was out with a foot complaint and Jack Butland will spend the remainder of the season at Birmingham City after joining the Potters from the Midlands side over the winter. Key players Charlie Adam, Michael Kightly and the Caribbean duo of Kenwyne Jones and Cameron Jerome were all rested, possibly with the intention of saving them later for the match.

The first thirty minutes of the game was typically Arsenal. Plenty of passing and probing from the Gunners, but they were unable to breach the Stoke rearguard. Steadfast blocking from the likes of Ryans Shotton and Shawcross saw Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic rarely tested.

Until the half hour mark.

An incoming flighted ball from the Gunners from the right saw Per Mertesacker get his head to the ball, and he decided to flick on the ball for Chamberlain in the 31st minute. Poor marking from Ryan Shotton saw the Englishman chest the ball with his first touch and fire goalwards with his second, only for Begovic to pull off an excellent save to keep the score at nil-nil.

With the home fans eager to see the ball played forward at more regular intervals, Olivier Giroud had a chance to score his sixth goal in four games. He elected to flick it on to a colleague in the 36th minute. That colleague happened to be Laurent Koscielny, who once again only managed to direct his effort at Begovic.

Theo Walcott had a double effort saved by the Bosnian with less than five minutes remaining in the first half, as he seemed, like the rest of the Stoke team, determined to keep the game scoreless.

But Chamberlain could have changed that. Diaby shrugged off Jonathan Walters in midfield and found Wilshere square. He in turn picked out the run of his countryman who curled a vicious shot towards the far corner, only for the brilliant Begovic to deny him again.

Two minutes of stoppage time were signalled, partly due to an aerial battle with Monreal and Walters which saw the Irishman come off worse with a cut on his cranium. Not one to go down easily, Walters left the field for treatment but came back to the field of play shortly afterwards, sporting a rather large white bandage after receiving stitches.

With referee Chris Foy blowing for half time seconds later, Stoke could be proud of the scoreline going into half time, employing a rigid, efficient, well organised, formation that the Gunners did come close to breaking down, and could be thankful for Asmir Begovic with neither side managing to break the deadlock.

If the first half was characterised by a dearth of free-kicks, the second half began with one. Jack Wilshere was fouled in the centre of the Stoke half, but could not do anything with the opportunity.

It was more of the same in terms of possession for the Gunners, who will feel they were denied a free kick when Walcott was at the receiving end of a flailing arm by Andy Wilkinson. Despite staying down, Arsenal continued to play before Stoke put the ball out so that the number 14 could receive treatment.

For the first time in the game, Stoke began to enjoy a modicum of possession as the hour mark came along. Arsenal, however, dealt with the aerial threat of the Potters easily although their clearances were peppered with nerves. Stoke were extremely solid at the back, and Wenger decided to add more firepower to break down the Potteries. On came Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla for Chamberlain and Diaby.

The little Spaniard’s first contribution to the game was to earn his side a foul off Glenn Whelan. Foy booked the Republic of Ireland international for the first card of the game.

Stoke may be set-piece specialists, but Wilkinson’s battle with Walcott all afternoon would not end well for the full-back and his side. His foul on the winger just outside the box resulted in a second Stoke booking and, more dangerously, a free kick just outside the penalty area.

With Arsenal spoilt for choice in the set piece department, Podolski and Arteta were standing over the set piece. It was the German who elected to power an effort goalwards.

After 78 minutes of passing and probing, Arsenal had broken the deadlock, as their number nine’s powerful drive took a massive deflection off Geoff Cameron and bobbled past a helpless Begovic.

But the goal was not without controversy. The linesman on the far side had decreed that Walcott was offside when the kick was taken, despite going in off the American. After a quick discussion between Foy and his colleague, with both players trying to butt in to try and influence the incident their way, Foy decreed that although Walcott was offside, he was not involved in play.

The goal stood.

It seemed to gee up the Arsenal players. Cazorla zoomed forward and attempted to fire his team’s second past Begovic, only for the Bosnian to make another astute save. Stoke responded by making wholesale substitutions with Cameron Jerome, Kenwyne Jones and veteran Michael Owen came on as Stoke tried to find a way back into this game.

With Ryan Shawcross also electing to raid forward, his reward for helping out up front was a yellow card for a nasty tackle on Koscielny. Despite vociferous protests from the Stoke skipper, his argument that the ball was there to contest for was rebuffed. The Englishman was roundly booed by the Ashburton Grove faithful, who will unfortunately remember him for that horrible challenge on Aaron Ramsey two years ago.

With one out of the four allocated minutes of stoppage time being played, Walcott was withdrawn for Ramsey. The Englishman was given a warm round of applause, the Welshman’s name was sung as he came on.

With both sides now being stretched as Stoke tried to commit men forward, the game took a turn for the worse when Michael Owen reacted to a heavy, but fair challenge from Arteta. No cards were issued as players began to face off against each other by a referee who is known for keeping his cards in his pocket.

With Gooners chanting ‘to the football team one-nil’, given Stoke’s physical style of play, Foy blew the whistle to give Arsenal a crucial win as Stoke’s slump continued. The Gunners needed resilience to break down a Stoke team who defended extremely well throughout the game, and will feel hard done by with the way they conceded.

Podolski’s 12th goal of the season means Arsenal pick up three very vital points in their race for fourth place. Stoke can look back on an excellent showing where things just about didn’t go their way.

Lineups:

Arsenal 1-0 Stoke City (Podolski 78′)

Referee: Chris Foy

Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Diaby, Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Chamberlain, Giroud

Subs: Mannone, Santos, Jenkinson, Rosicky, Cazorla, Ramsey, Podolski

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Stoke City: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson; Whelan, N’Zonzi, Cameron, Etherington; Walters, Crouch

Subs: Sorensen, Adam, Whitehead, Kightly, Jones, Owen, Jerome

Manager: Tony Pulis

Stats:

Arsenal: Shots (on target): 23(4), fouls: 3, corner kicks: 11, offsides: 2, yellow cards:0, red cards: 0, saves: 1

Stoke City: Shots (on target): 7(1), fouls: 13, corner kicks: 1, offsides: 2, yellow cards:3, red cards: 0, saves: 3

Possession: Arsenal 67% – 33% Stoke City

Next Fixture:

Arsenal: Barclays Premier League vs. Sunderland, Stadium of Light, 09 February 2013

Stoke City: Barclays Premier League vs. Reading, Britannia Stadium, 09 February 2013