In Saturday’s late kick-off, Stoke City welcomed a rampant Arsenal side to the Bet365 stadium. The Gunners went into the game still clinging on to the hope of Champions League qualification while Stoke had seemingly had nothing to play for. What followed was an extraordinary game of football.
After dominating possession in the first half, Arsenal’s pressure finally prevailed in the 41st minute as Hector Bellerin broke down the right and fed Olivier Giroud an easy tap-in. Mesut Ozil soon doubled proceedings 10 minutes after the break, after coolly disposing an eye of the needle through ball from Alexis Sanchez.
The game took an unexpected turn when Peter Crouch pulled a goal back for the home team in the 66th minute. However, a powerful drive from Alexis Sanchez and another Giroud tap-in finally put the game to bed.
The win takes Arsenal within one point of Liverpool with two games of the season left.
Here are the five biggest talking points from the game.
#5 Shaqiri is not fulfilling his potential
As a man that has started games for European giants like Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, Xhedran Shaqiri really hasn’t lived up to his £12m price tag. With miles of open space in front of him, Shaqiri refused to make use of the freedom. Nacho Monreal, in fact, spent most of his time on the other side of the pitch, so Shaqiri spent most of the game unmarked but he failed to have any impact on the game whatsoever.
In that time, the Swiss international failed at two take-ons, produced nice unsuccessful crosses and misplaced eight passes. All in all, Shaqiri failed to show his boss Mark Hughes why he should feel warranted for displaying much faith in him.
#4 Hector Bellerin is finding his feet
I don’t know what’s happened to the Spaniard, but Hector Bellerin has been a shell of the player he was last season. Last year the full-back was hailed as the most exciting defensive prospect in world football and was set for a real breakthrough season. However, at times this season, he has looked lost. But as of recently, the Spaniard has seemingly found his feet again. Many have called for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to permanently replace the youngster in the right-back position. However, those calls have now stopped.
The former La Masia student was in fine form against Stoke as he bombed up and down the right flank against an overworked Erik Pieters. Bellerin created two chances, completed one take-on and completed 15 passes in the attacking third. All in all, the 22-year old showed fans again why he’s still the best young full-back on the planet.
#3 Peter Crouch’s hand of God
If there was ever an example of why video refereeing should be introduced into football, Peter Crouch provided the perfect evidence. In the 66th minute, the game nearly turned on his head when Peter Crouch scored a goal with his HAND.
To make matters worse, Mike Dean completely ignored a blatant foul on Hector Bellerin 20 seconds before. At 2-1, the game was anybody’s for the taking and the end result could have easily been overturned. Thank God such a blatant case of cheating didn’t affect the eventual outcome of the game.
#2 The decision to play Coquelin instead of Ramsey
Perhaps due to his sentimental ties with the game or maybe it was just a tactical decision, but Arsène Wenger felt it suitable to play Francis Coquelin over Aaron Ramsey despite the Welshman putting in one of his best shifts in the previous game against Manchester United. Coquelin positioned himself next to Granit Xhaka in the midfield pivot where the Frenchman surprisingly acted as the more advanced of the two, regularly making runs into the final third.
Coquelin acted as a box-to-box midfielder that broke up play and then simultaneously charged up the pitch with the ball. He retained possession well and didn’t resemble his normal reckless self. The Frenchman was even attempting take-ons, successfully completing one in the final third. Ramsey’s attacking movement wasn’t missed as Coquelin replicated his attacking patterns and contribution immaculately.
#1 Monreal became Arsenal’s best attacker
After a few games at Left Centre-Back in a back three, Nacho Monreal was finally restored to his rightful position of Left Wing Back. A role where he can roam into the opposition’s box as much as he wants. The Spaniard was a constant threat down the left flank, acting as an ever-present passing option for Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka. He terrorised Glen Johnson throughout the game, doubling up on him with Alexis Sanchez.
Monreal completed 92% (12/13) of his passes in the final third, completed 100% of his take-ons and created two chances. The 31-year old gave us a lesson in modern wing-back duties, as he took Glen Johnson to the cleaners on many an occasion.
