Arsenal FC attained top spot in the Premier League with a 3-1 home win over Stoke City in a game that saw Mesut Ozil making his home debut.
Aaron Ramsey, Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna all scored for Arsene Wenger’s side giving the London based club their fourth straight win in the League this season. Mark Hughes’ Stoke City, in comparison, lost for the second time this season, the first being away to Liverpool.
The home fans rose to applaud their side just as they appeared from the tunnel to show appreciation for three straight wins which, in the first place, gave them the possibility to stand first in the standings at the end of this weekend. The signing of Mesut Ozil was also a big, big reason for that applause as he took his first steps to become the fans’ favourite by making his home debut. They started the match with the inform Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini sitting deep to protect the back four, alongside Jack Wilshere and Serge Gnabry on the wings. Frenchman Oliver Giroud started as the lone striker supported by former Real Madrid man Ozil.
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| Ozil was the star of the show as he assisted thrice, where as their defense looked a bit shaky on the day |
The change in style of play has been a major talking point for the Potters this term, with new manager Mark Hughes instilling a more patient approach to football as compared to his predecessor, Tony Pulis’ long ball approach. Subsequently, his starting line up looked like an attacking 4-3-3 with Erik Peters and Geoff Cameron as full backs expected to support attacks whilst protecting their defenders while their team didn’t have the ball.
The game started with the Gunners passing around the ball well, as they usually do and patiently waited for any opportunity to arise in Stoke’s final third. Jack Wilshere’s run towards goal looked like a tad too dangerous for Adam, who fouled him near the edge of the box. His free kick was on target and was parried away into Ramsey’s path by Asmir Begovic, who could have done better by either holding on to it or guiding it past the goal for a corner. The Welshman though, made no mistake as he calmly slotted past the Bosnian to make it 1-0 for his side. It was all Arsenal from then on, at least till the 16th minute when Sagna headed Marc Wilson’s cross out for a throw in. Wilshere, Ozil, Gnabry all got time on the ball to create something to add on to the goal, but it took some focused defending and rather strong tackling to keep the Gunners at bay.
Steven N’Zonzi, who was paired with former Liverpool man Charlie Adam and Marc Wilson in the centre of the park, then did well to win the ball, a first of many in the entire game, to find Adam down the left hand side of Stoke’s attack. He did well to cross the ball almost immediately, attempting to find Kenwyne Jones, but the end result was met by relief by Wojciech Szczesny, rather than their own fans considering the atrocious position the Gunners’ custodian had landed himself in, in an attempt to reach the cross.
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| Steven N'Zonzi played a crucial part in initiating his side's attacks from the deep |
The rest of first half was a rather subdued affair, with the Gunners passing the ball but offering little to worry Stoke as such. Adam was proving to be a vital player in midfield, time and again getting into promising positions. His central midfield partner, N’Zonzi, though did well to cross the ball early on for Arnautovic in the 26th minute, who cleverly skipped past Sagna and in behind Mertesacker expecting such a ball. The Austrian, though hit the post, and with Szczesny beaten, Cameron placed the ball into the net from 20 yards as the Gunners’ keeper stretched to get a glove to it. The scores were level and Hughes’ side were rewarded to keep trying to create half chances every now and then. The Gunners, however, were feeling hard done by, as there was no real threat of a goal scoring chance before this one.
They needed a reaction and definitely got one in the 36th minute, with Ozil again the creator, as he whipped in an out swinging ball towards Mertesacker, who leapt to send in a looping header past Begovic to restore Arsenal’s lead. This was the impetus they needed to get in the mood as the rest of the half was dominated by some sleek play by them. Ozil and Giroud combined well before Gnabry and Ramsey joined in but the score remained same as Hughes would have hoped for. His side had shown what they could offer against a side like Arsenal, but went into the half trailing behind due to the sheer quality their opponents’ roster possessed.
The second half started on a similar note as Wilshere combined well, from his not so preferred position down the left flank, with their new German star Ozil, to almost create another clear cut opportunity with only a touch or two letting them down on occasions. The final ball lacked at times, which could have put them two ahead of their rivals on the day, who were pretty content with attacking on the break. The game tended to become a bit flat, since both sides were wary of committing too many players to support their attack.
All that before Hughes side started turning on the heat with Wilson forcing Szczesny into a stop from about 25 yards. Englishman Adam was replaced by the more creative minded Wilson Palacios, a move that almost paid immediate dividends for them. Their finishing did look a bit off beat, with Jones and Walters both drifting in and out of their game.
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| Mark Hughes will still be proud of his side considering how quickly his players are adapting to his style |
A final nail in their coffin was needed from the Gunners’ point of view and it deservedly came from Sagna, as he headed an Ozil cross into the right hand corner of the net. The German had an action packed night, being involved in the set up of all the goals, along with clever movement and passing to execute the free flowing football with more accuracy. He was substituted with 10 minutes on the clock for Mikel Arteta, who was returning from injury and was deservedly given a standing ovation by the home fans. Wenger will certainly be a happy man today after watching his side score from set pieces and successfully having thwarted Stoke’s increasingly respectable attempts to play beautiful football.
Mark Hughes, however, will be slightly disappointed having seen his side defend better than today in most games, but with the opponents being in such form as the Gunners have, a defeat of this manner will be nothing to be ashamed of.
Written By,
Aman Arora
Aman writes for Goal India and 18 Yard Box. Drop in your comments below or discuss with the author at @aman_ghs
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