The Sunday News
AS WEEKS go, three straight wins, a flurry of 12 goals, and the confidence booster of enjoying life top of their Champions League group and the Premier League (even if only temporarily), brings the sort of cheer Arsène Wenger must wish he could bottle. In recent seasons Arsenal have had their encouraging moments, but sustaining them into the sharp end of the season has been the tougher trick to pull off. The challenge to continue this rich form is on.
Arsenal went a goal behind but surged up a gear to see off Stoke with goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Özil and Alex Iwobi.
While conscious that Chelsea can leapfrog them before the weekend is out, Arsenal have made a habit of playing with inhibitions when the chance to enjoy the summit has presented itself. This time, they relished it.
Stoke played their part in a well competed tussle with an ambitious start which culminated in two chances in the first five minutes. Marc Muniesa walloped a dangerous long-range volley, and a swift break required some clever defending to send Xherdan Shaqiri away from a clear sight of goal. He tucked a pass back to Erik Pieters, who steered wide. Stoke pushed up in numbers, thrusting the home defence on to the back foot.
Midway through the first half Stoke created another tantalising chance. Marko Arnautovic plucked a high ball under control and passed for the onrushing Joe Allen. The Welshman was frustrated to slice his shot wide.
Arsenal’s afternoon took a turn for the worse shortly after. An injury to Mustafi, who left the pitch holding his hamstring, would bring its own challenge, breaking up the central defensive partnership that had been promising this season. But worse was to follow as Stoke were awarded a penalty. It was debatable enough to leave Wenger seething at the fourth official. Granit Xhaka tangled with Allen in the box as the pair contested a 50-50 ball, and Xhaka caught Allen with a brush of the elbow.
Charlie Adam, on his birthday, steered the spot kick calmly and accurately past Petr Cech. Arsenal were not playing with the kind of fluency or verve they had been enjoying recently and needed to dig some inspiration from somewhere. It came from a move built on speed – the determination of Sanchez to instigate a move quick thought to pick a brilliant pass, the enterprise of Bellerin to zip in a cross, and the sharpness of Walcott to nip ahead of his marker to turn in the ball at Grant’s near post.
It was Walcott’s 100th goal in his club career, and a 10th this season which triggers a gift from Mrs Walcott of a new coffee machine. Proof that even though Premier League footballers would appear to want for nothing there is still something on their Christmas lists.Having brightened up, Arsenal threatened to score another before the break as Sanchez cracked one over the bar and Oxlade-Chamberlain swept over another.
It didn’t take long to edge in front after the restart. Oxlade-Chamberlain’s beautifully crafted pass found Ozil, who had drifted past Stoke’s rearguard. The German arced a deft header over Grant.
Arsenal finally began to enjoy a period of dominance, with Alexis Sánchez buzzing at the heart of it all, supported well by the attacking instincts of the lively Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose confidence is on the rise.
Stoke, though, summoned a second wind. They had opportunities to test Cech, but Arnautovic and Diouf were wayward in execution. As time ticked down Mark Hughes decided to bring on Peter Crouch to ask different questions of Arsenal’s defence.
He almost scored with his first touch – a downward header that required a reflex save from Cech.
As it turned out, it was an Arsenal substitute who made a key impact. With the game still in the balance, Iwobi cantered into the box after Sanchez had been cluttered on the edge and carefully picked his spot. A perfect week ticked off, Arsenal now turn their attention to away games at Goodison Park and the Etihad in positive spirits. — The Guardian
