Arsenal prevailed as Walcott and Giroud proved their doubters wrong, with both scoring in a 2-0 win over Stoke City. As expected, Stoke City were defeated easily, a loss that brings them down to 20th position on the Premier League table.
An outstanding showing from Arsenal’s midfielders ensured the Gunners would wholly earn the win. Coquelin, Ozil and Ramsey lead the way in a comfortable performance, and created opportunities for their teammates throughout. This pressure proved too much, as it was a poor performance by Stoke City overall, who exhibited an alarming lack of control over the game, albeit one played away from home. Stoke struggled to keep possession, and managed to allow Arsenal an astonishing 21 shots on goal. Only the goalkeeper Jack Butland saved the game from becoming an absolute rout. If there is one positive for Stoke to take away from this pitiful display, it’s that his fine performance may have caught the eye of the England boss.
Alas, even with Butland’s heroics, and Olivier Giroud Missing chances like this, Arsenal still cantered to victory. Theo Walcott scored a brilliant header from Ozil’s beautiful long ball, a pass lifted with perfection from inside Arsenal’s defensive half. Giroud also placed a magnificent header into the back of the net late in the game.
So, what did we learn?
Diouf doesn’t serve himself
Mame Biram Diouf is not the type of player who dribbles through entire defences, (well, er, at least not often) but in this game he was trying to be. This may have been a frustrated reaction to the fact the he alone has scored two-thirds of his side’s goals so far this season, or maybe it was a result of Mark Hughes’ tactics. Either way, he doesn’t need to try and do it all himself. Diouf needs to calm down and not force things, trusting that his teammates will be there to provide for him, as they have in other games this season; his goals so far have both been headers, coming from beautiful passes from his teammates. If Diouf can play more symbiotically, then the goals will come.
You shall not pass
Stoke City’s pass accuracy in this match was verging into the disgraceful. Hughes’ team had seemingly grown out of their old ways, but here all the bad habits came roaring back, along with an inexact counter-attacking, aerial ball-heavy play style. Arsenal should be praised for forcing Stoke to play this way, and the Potters definitely improved in the second half. It is difficult when you’re facing players like Sanchez and Ozil, who were an integral part of the match, ensuring Arsenal dominated the ball. Still, Hughes cannot excuse the fact that the Gunners completed the game with 68% possession and three times as many shots on target as his side managed.
Arsenal’s striking issues are yet to hurt them
Arsenal’s season started off horribly with a 2-0 defeat to West Ham. Fans were pleading with Arsene Wenger to buy a striker in the transfer window. The manager might well be smiling to himself now as makeshift striker Walcott and so-called inferior striker Giroud scored the only goals in this match. You can expect Walcott to feature as a central forward throughout the season, and for Giroud to share similar minutes to him. Yes, chances were missed by both players against Stoke, and in truth, the score should have swelled out to a margin of four or five. But if Arsenal can utilise their amazing midfield, while relying on these two forwards to score a least a few of the chances created, they can be a real title threat this season. The question, however, of depth remains; the Gunners are playing in a lot of competitions this season, and an injury to one or, heaven forbid, both of their strikers will send them spinning back into a familiar crisis.
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In Arsene We Trust
The acquisition of Chelsea’s Petr Cech was met with praise by the Arsenal supporters. But they wanted more and Arsene Wenger didn’t give it to them. In spite of being the only club in England not to sign an outfield player this season, Arsenal are still finding it easy to play their patented sharp and skillful style. For a team that has the highest ticket prices in the league, they certainly pack the stadium and give the fans a show. When Cech struggled in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham, the doubters returned. Since then, the Czech international has improved his performances considerably and was comfortable in the match against Stoke. Arsenal are now in 2nd place after that win and look to be in good form coming into Cech’s anticipated return to Stamford Bridge.
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