reporters Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City
guardian
It was as this game entered its final 10 minutes that the Arsenal supporters were able to truly show their appreciation for Mesut Özil. They came here excited to see the German make his home debut, and after an impressive display lit up by a key role in all three goals the hosts scored against a willing but limited Stoke side, he received a standing ovation upon being substituted. On this evidence, the £42.5m man is likely to receive much more acclaim in these parts as the season goes on.
Arsenal's preparations were disrupted when Theo Walcott had to be pulled out of the starting line-up shortly before kick-off because of a pelvic injury. His place was taken by Serge Gnarby. Mark Hughes, meanwhile, made one change to the Stoke side that drew with Manchester City last week with summer recruit Marko Arnautovic, who impressed as a second-half substitute against City, replacing Matthew Etherington.
If Hughes had hoped playing Arnautovic would cause further, early disruption to Arsenal he saw his plans turn to dust inside five minutes as the hosts took the lead. Anticipation gripped this arena as Özil lined up a free-kick just outside the area following a Charlie Adam foul on Jack Wilshere and soon there were cheers as the German's low, curling shot was parried by Asmir Begovic into the path of Aaron Ramsey, who could not fail to score from close range and continue his remarkable start to the season, having now scored seven goals in all competitions.
That should have been the cue for an onslaught but while Arsenal dominated possession, Stoke's disciplined shape reduced the men in red and white to playing eye-of-a-needle through passes and shooting from long-range. Stationed so deep, however, the visitors struggled to offer any genuine threat on the counter-attack.
It came as a surprise, then, when Stoke equalised on 26 minutes. Steven Nzonzi, stood just outside the area, drifted a cross towards the far post where, running into space, Arnautovic was waiting to strike. The Austrian's volley hit the post but as the ball rolled into space, Geoff Cameron was waiting to hit a side-footed drive past Wojciech Szczesny in impressive style, even more so given it was the American who had instigated the initial attack.
Arsenal's response was vigorous, with their play stepping up a couple of gears in the search for a second goal. Per Mertesacker thought he had got it with a glancing header from Özil's right-sided corner only to see Gnarby unintentionally block the effort inches in front of the goal. No matter as nine minutes from half-time, the German was able to glance in özil's corner from the same side . Somewhat ironic given these teams' history that Arsenal should score past Stoke with a header from a set-piece.
Given the frantic nature of the first-half it was perhaps no surprise that the second period began at a rather sedate pace, so much so that Stoke were able to build up possession and gradually move into the opposition's half. Arsenal were never likely to be pinned back for long, however, and soon their free-moving, guile-heavy midfield were taking charge once again. Özil was, quite literally, central to that and he showed his class by drifting past Cameron as if the defender was not there and playing a quick, well-judged pass to Olivier Giroud which the Frenchman ballooned wide. The German then had a chance himself, collecting Wilshere's flick-on before hitting a low drive which Begovic was able to save comfortably.
In between, and with his team looking increasingly unlikely to get back into the contest, Hughes made a change, bringing Stephen Ireland on for Adam. Somewhat indirectly, the substitution added pep to Stoke's play, seen best when Marc Wilson drove through midfield and hit a swerving shot which Szczesny had to push away for a corner.
The visitors were suddenly threatening to make the final portion of this game uncomfortable for Arsenal yet any thoughts of a comeback were extinguished on 72 minutes when Bacary Sagna got a third for the hosts, heading Ozil's free-kick from the left past Begovic's reach.
Eight minutes later, Arsène Wenger decided to replace his record signing with Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard being roared on to the field for his first appearance of the season having recovered from a thigh injury. His condition, as well as that of Arsenal as a whole, is improving all the time. Once in the midst of a fresh crisis, this team sits happily at the top of the table.
Arsenal's preparations were disrupted when Theo Walcott had to be pulled out of the starting line-up shortly before kick-off because of a pelvic injury. His place was taken by Serge Gnarby. Mark Hughes, meanwhile, made one change to the Stoke side that drew with Manchester City last week with summer recruit Marko Arnautovic, who impressed as a second-half substitute against City, replacing Matthew Etherington.
If Hughes had hoped playing Arnautovic would cause further, early disruption to Arsenal he saw his plans turn to dust inside five minutes as the hosts took the lead. Anticipation gripped this arena as Özil lined up a free-kick just outside the area following a Charlie Adam foul on Jack Wilshere and soon there were cheers as the German's low, curling shot was parried by Asmir Begovic into the path of Aaron Ramsey, who could not fail to score from close range and continue his remarkable start to the season, having now scored seven goals in all competitions.
That should have been the cue for an onslaught but while Arsenal dominated possession, Stoke's disciplined shape reduced the men in red and white to playing eye-of-a-needle through passes and shooting from long-range. Stationed so deep, however, the visitors struggled to offer any genuine threat on the counter-attack.
It came as a surprise, then, when Stoke equalised on 26 minutes. Steven Nzonzi, stood just outside the area, drifted a cross towards the far post where, running into space, Arnautovic was waiting to strike. The Austrian's volley hit the post but as the ball rolled into space, Geoff Cameron was waiting to hit a side-footed drive past Wojciech Szczesny in impressive style, even more so given it was the American who had instigated the initial attack.
Arsenal's response was vigorous, with their play stepping up a couple of gears in the search for a second goal. Per Mertesacker thought he had got it with a glancing header from Özil's right-sided corner only to see Gnarby unintentionally block the effort inches in front of the goal. No matter as nine minutes from half-time, the German was able to glance in özil's corner from the same side . Somewhat ironic given these teams' history that Arsenal should score past Stoke with a header from a set-piece.
Given the frantic nature of the first-half it was perhaps no surprise that the second period began at a rather sedate pace, so much so that Stoke were able to build up possession and gradually move into the opposition's half. Arsenal were never likely to be pinned back for long, however, and soon their free-moving, guile-heavy midfield were taking charge once again. Özil was, quite literally, central to that and he showed his class by drifting past Cameron as if the defender was not there and playing a quick, well-judged pass to Olivier Giroud which the Frenchman ballooned wide. The German then had a chance himself, collecting Wilshere's flick-on before hitting a low drive which Begovic was able to save comfortably.
In between, and with his team looking increasingly unlikely to get back into the contest, Hughes made a change, bringing Stephen Ireland on for Adam. Somewhat indirectly, the substitution added pep to Stoke's play, seen best when Marc Wilson drove through midfield and hit a swerving shot which Szczesny had to push away for a corner.
The visitors were suddenly threatening to make the final portion of this game uncomfortable for Arsenal yet any thoughts of a comeback were extinguished on 72 minutes when Bacary Sagna got a third for the hosts, heading Ozil's free-kick from the left past Begovic's reach.
Eight minutes later, Arsène Wenger decided to replace his record signing with Mikel Arteta, with the Spaniard being roared on to the field for his first appearance of the season having recovered from a thigh injury. His condition, as well as that of Arsenal as a whole, is improving all the time. Once in the midst of a fresh crisis, this team sits happily at the top of the table.
