Summary
You will have to blame Cech and Butland for this result: the two goalkeepers were outstanding in everything they did. Stoke were excellent for the first 70 minutes but faded in the final moments and dropped increasingly deeper. Arsenal really missed the invention and composure of Ozil and Sanchez here: but both should be back in contention to face Chelsea next Sunday. It was a good game, but lacking in quality in the final third. At least nobody got their leg broken. In fact, nobody was even booked!
Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League on goal difference after 22 games, tied with Leicester City on 44 points and one point ahead of Manchester City. Stoke remain seventh, three points adrift of West Ham.
Thanks for reading and for your emails and tweets. See you next time. Bye!
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Full-time: Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal
Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League on goal difference.
90+2 min: Both teams look absolutely spent. There’s a couple of tired challenges as the game canters to a close.
90 min: Adam whips a delivery to the near post, there is a flick and Ramsey, standing on the far post, heads the ball off the line. Ramsey’s clearance falls to Joselu, who pings an effort towards the far post, but Cech sticks out a foot, and somehow Arsenal get the ball clear. Desperate stuff from Arsenal, Stoke could have nicked it!
Three minutes added on.
89 min: Adam does well to dig out a cross, and Monreal once again beats Walters to the ball at the back post. Whelan comes onto the clearance and volleys at goal … Koscielny gets his head on the ball, and Stoke have a corner. A sting in the tail for Arsenal?
88 min: Bellerin has got further and further forward this second half, but has been well shepherded by Diouf. The Senegalese has done nothing but defend since he came on.
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87 min: Stoke make a double change: Arnautovic and Afellay coming off for Charlie Adam and Marco van Ginkel. Looks like Hughes is playing for the draw.
85 min: Chance for Campbell! The Costa Rican finds himself in some space, stands Pieters up, before attempting to curl a shot inside the far corner. It flies two or three yards wide. Waste.
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83 min: Stoke have resorted to pinging long balls out whenever they retrieve the ball. Perhaps this is Crouch’s moment? One of these clearances breaks kindly to Johnson, who cuts in from the right and has a chance to shoot but instead (unsuccessfully) tries a reverse pass. Shoot Glen!
80 min: For all the booing and jeering, Ramsey is looking increasingly influential. Stoke, meanwhile have settled into ‘two banks of four.’
78 min: Some answers, here.
@michaelbutler18 the Ozil dvd collection probably includes 'my Left foot'
— Richard Morris (@richardmorrisuk) January 17, 2016
@michaelbutler18 i imagine Mesut would gave Das Boot in there
— Matthew West (@mattwest72) January 17, 2016
77 min: Stoke are sitting very deep now that Arsenal are dominating the ball. “Get up, get up” urges Mark Hughes from his dugout. Iwobi has made a real difference since coming on, he looks very tidy.
75 min: “I think Arsenal do have the two best full-backs,” agrees Gene Mackie, “but unlike Coleman-Baines, Ivanovic-Azpiliqueta or Clyne-Bertrand, there’s not really been enormous competition this season. I had high hopes for Darmian-Shaw, but that’s fallen flat (no fault of the excellent Shaw). A defence of the season so far would probably be Butland / Bellerin - Alderweireld - Vertonghen - Bellerin. Not too grim up north London.”
Not sure you can have Bellerin twice …
73 min: Arsenal’s travelling support are in fine voice, urging their team towards them. With Iwobi on the left, suddenly Arsenal find a new lease of life, pressing and probing on the edge of Stoke’s penalty area. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey have chances to shoot, but instead they go right to Bellerin who wins a corner. Cleared by Whelan.
71 min: Walcott is replaced by Iwobi. Theo trudges off the pitch, looking thoroughly unimpressed with being substituted.
70 min: To clarify:
@michaelbutler18 Ramsey is booed for refusing Shawcross' apology, complaining about Ryan playing for Wales & celebrating in front of us once
— Shôn Douglas (@shondo) January 17, 2016
@michaelbutler18 nowt to do with the leg break...more to do with playing for Arsenal and being a bit of a prannock! We boo Fabregas too.
— Shôn Douglas (@shondo) January 17, 2016
68 min: The game is really opening up. It could go either way at this point. Stoke have probably been the better over the 70 mins but I can definitely see Arsenal nicking this.
“How are we supposed to judge Ozil based on his DVD collection with just that low resolution image?” asks Thomas Hopkins. Suggestions are welcome as to what he might have in that.
66 min: Arsenal again have Cech to thank for keeping the scores at 0-0, diving smartly to his right after Joselu struck a low shot with his left foot. He is Arsenal’s MOTM at present.
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64 min: Bojan comes off for Diouf, who was Stoke’s top scorer last season, but hasn’t really got back into the team since he took a leave of absence after his mother died in last year’s Hajj crush in Saudi Arabia. Bojan has been quiet today.
62 min: A long diagonal finds Pieters, who whips a delightful cross to the back post, where Walters is loitering. Monreal does well to head behind under pressure. Do Arsenal have the best two full-backs in the league?
60 min: I would not be surprised to see Elneny or Arteta. Flamini is in danger of being overrun at the base of that Arsenal midfield.
58 min: “That photo of Ozil has dashed my dreams,” writes Ralph Ward. “I always imagined him living in a sleek space age bachelor pad not what appears to be some sort of nightmare seventies bungalow.”
“I’m not sure you get Georgian sash windows in a 70s bungalow. More of a north London vibe,” corrects Robert McAllister.
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56 min: What a double save from Cech! Arsenal are leaving plenty of gaps as they pour forward, and Stoke counter-attack once again. Arnautovic breaks clear of Ramsey and Flamini and for a moment, it’s five on four. The Austrian finds Joselu who forces Cech into a smart save to his right. Bojan is there to tap home the rebound … no! Cech dives again to his right and forces the ball behind. That’s world-class goalkeeping.
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54 min: The game is definitely opening up, and the noise levels have gone though the roof, as the action swings from one end to another. This time Stoke break forward down the right, and Bojan takes aim, but Koscielny makes a quite magnificent block on the slide.
52 min: Another Arsenal penalty shout, another appeal turned down by Pawson. Wollscheid definitely impeded Walcott, but the contact was outside the area, before the Englishman tumbled into the area. Nothing awarded, Stoke got away with one there.
50 min: Arsenal spring forward through Monreal down the left, and the Spaniard plays the ball to the feet of Giroud, who goes down in the area. No penalty, despite Arsenal’s protests. The Gunners are definitely missing Ozil’s composure in the final third. Meanwhile, somewhere in north London …
Watching the match vs. Stoke! Hopefully I'll be back well for the next match. But for now: COME ON YOU GUNNERS 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/vrS8ncBieJ
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) January 17, 2016
48 min: Arnautovic is tackled from behind but Craig Pawson plays a good advantage and Joselu forces a corner. The cavalry trot forward from the back for the set-piece but the delivery is far too close to Cech, who is fouled by Shawcross.
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46 min: Ramsey charges down a Pieters clearance, and then chases down a seemingly lost cause to win his team a corner, when really he had no right to get near the ball. The Welshman takes the corner, Giroud steals a march on Shawcross and plants a bullet header in the bottom corner, but Butland gets a strong left hand out and tips it behind! Great save!
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The teams are back out. More goals, please. Peeeeeep!
Alex Bruce.... damn. Guessing he must be an United fan on account of his father.
Credit to Lorcan Connolly. Fastest finger.
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Half-time quiz: can somebody please tell who is standing next to Michael Carrick in this photo? I know him, but I can’t place him. Driving me mad.
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Half-time: Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal
All square. Giroud squandered/Butland saved the only real chance of the half.
45 min: One minute added on here. “Put it in the box, put it in the box” the Stoke bench shout at Johnson. “We’ve got one minute here.” Johnson obliges. Koscielny clears.
42 min: Stoke are definitely looking the more likely, without carving out too many clear-cut chances. They actually have looked best on the break: but some poor decision making from Walters and some good defending from Monreal has kept the score at 0-0.
40 min: “Best goalkeeper this season Butland?” questions Maajid Bashir. “Have you seen much of De Gea this season? He’s been far and away the best!”
*Donning tin hat* I’d say De Gea is a better keeper overall, and he’s certainly made some more impressive individual saves (the one at Watford springs to mind), but I’d say Butland has been the busier and more consistent throughout the season.
“Jack Butland is the one of the best goalies in the Premier League, emails Dav Hewison. “In my opinion a lot better than Joe Hart. Should be England’s No1!”
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38 min: Johnson channels the spirit of Delap and hurls a throw in into the area. It is well dealt with by Mertesacker. Arsenal may have been working on that.
35 min: The decibel count has definitely gone up a notch or two. This time, Johnson cuts inside, looks as though he’s going to have a shot with his left, but decides against it. Should have pulled the trigger.
Remember this?
33 min: Johnson wins the ball off Monreal high up the pitch and curls a delightful ball behind Arsenal’s centre backs into the path of Arnautovic, but the Austrian is ruled just offside. Stoke building momentum nicely here.
31 min: “Could you explain exactly why Ramsey is being booed please?” asks Paulo Biriani. “I was under the impression that it was he who had his leg horrifically broken and not in fact a player who broke someone elses leg. I am genuinely puzzled.”
I’m afraid I can’t explain that one, Paulo.
“A general lack of grace in refusing Shawcross’s apology is the main reason. Not justifying it but that’s the reason,” responds Matt Davenport.
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29 min: Oxlade-Chamberlain twice goes close! First he tries to bend a 25-yard curler from the edge of the area, which Butland turns over the bar, and from the resulting corner and clearnance, The Ox crashes a low shot skidding across the turf. It deflects off Koscielny and could have gone anywhere, but ends up going safely behind for a goal kick.
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27 min: Arsenal break forward in numbers with Ramsey and Bellerin playing a nice one-two. The full-back gets to the byline, pulls the ball back to Giroud, but Shawcross is there to snuff out the danger after the Frenchman’s heavy first touch.
24 min: Joselu is holding the ball up very nicely. But he’s in danger of becoming isolated. Hughes will want Walters and Arnautovic to get closer to him.
21 min: Great save from Butland! He made 10 saves against Arsenal at the Emirates earlier this season – the most in the league this season – and he makes a huge one here. Campbell slides through an wonderfully disguised reverse ball – which he is fast becoming renowned for: think Olympiakos, Liverpool – Giroud takes the ball on in his stride and hits a left foot curler, but Butland bravely advances and sticks out an arm, deflecting the ball wide. He was off his line so quickly there. He’s been the best goalkeeper in the league this season, for my money. Joe Hart, watch out.
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19 min: Oooooo! Close from Afellay. Walters and Arnautovic combine nicely to give Afellay enough room to set himself on the edge of the area, and the Dutchman flashes a left-foot drive only a few inches wide of Cech’s post. He hasn’t scored yet in the Premier League, but that was mighty close!
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16 min: It’s 1°C on the pitch, but most have gone without gloves. Some even have the short sleeves on. Jon Walters, obvs.
One of the first games I ever went to was a spur-of-the-moment decision by my dad to take me to a Crystal Palace game on Boxing Day 1968,” emails Robert Beasley. “No snow but so cold the match was abandoned at half time, with the score at an exhilarating 0-0… I don’t think I went back to Selhurt Park again until Wimbledon played Leeds United there in an FA Cup replay….”
It was abandoned because it was too cold?!
14 min: Maybe Arsenal are just doing the “surviving” that Mertesacker spoke of before the match. Wenger’s team aren’t being too enterprising at present. Ramsey gets his foot on the ball, and completely mis-cues, passing the ball out for a throw-in. Maybe the atmosphere is getting to him?
12 min: It’s all Stoke at the moment, Whelan bossing it, as usual. Bojan is popping up in pockets of space all over the pitch. Flamini doesn’t look like he knows what to do with him.
10 min: Arnautovic tries his luck from range, the ball flying high and wide.
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8 min: Ramsey finds Campbell with a clever pass, but Johnson tucks in well from the left and doesn’t allow the Costa Rican to turn. Good defending.
“Stoke fans booing Ramsey for having had the temerity to force Shawcross break his leg,” emails Charles Antaki. “Class.”
6 min: A few nasty challenges flying in early doors. Joselu brings the ball out of the air nicely, turns sharply and is brought crashing down, very deliberately, by Ramsey. Monreal is next, bringing Walters to the turf. Think this is what they mean when they say: “let them know you’re there.”
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4 min: The booing is relentless from the home crowd as Arsenal string their first few passes together. Wenger is being singled out with some choice words.
“Arsene Wenger, he’s won more than you” respond the travelling support.
Stoke fans come straight back at them with Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.
2 min: Wollscheid, er, rugby tackles Walcott to the ground, with absolutely no regard for the ball. He gets away without a booking. Not sure how. Arsenal pump the ball into the box, Koscielny gets a flick on, but Stoke eventually clear their lines.
Peeeeep! Arsenal get things going with a long ball up the pitch. The Stoke City fans scream ‘Hooooooof’. Ha.
The teams are out! Stoke City in their red and white stripes, Arsenal in their changed gold and navy number. There is, as usual, an excellent atmosphere at the Britannia. Let’s do this!
Meanwhile, in Serie B … Ketsbaia is that you?
When you take your celebration a bit too far... pic.twitter.com/V7WeikcPd8
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) January 17, 2016
Great shout …
@michaelbutler18 Chelsea at Tromso surely a contender. Impressive just how much snow accumulates during the match. https://t.co/i2t5U3ewJC
— Parlour Games (@ParlourGamesN5) January 17, 2016
Wenger has also been talking to the cameras:
“Alexis Sanchez was at 95% but because it is a muscular problem, we decided not to take the gamble. I expect Ozil to be back for next week.”
Arsenal play Chelsea next Sunday. Big game.
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Tactics from Mertesacker: “survive the first half”
We keep losing at the start there. We were 3-0 down last year, and came back to 3-2 but you could see at times we need to survive the first half and try to focus on the first minutes. If we can do that then we have a good chance, especially in the second half when we’re used to playing better, used to control the ball much better, [making] less mistakes.
Manchester United have just beaten Liverpool at Anfield, thanks to a Wayne Rooney strike. One shot on target, three points. Easy.
One thing that will please Per Mertesacker is that there is a distinct lack of pace in Stoke’s team today.
TEAM NEWS | Here is your #SCFC Starting XI for today's @premierleague game against @Arsenal #GoArnStoke pic.twitter.com/Zh9yHDnpPZ
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 17, 2016
With the exception of maybe Afellay, who is playing in a deeper midfield role alongside Glenn Whelan, and Diouf on the bench, Stoke haven’t really got anyone that is going to hurt Arsenal in behind.
What will be key is how Ramsey and Flamini patrol the area in front of Arsenal’s back four: this is the space that Bojan and Arnautovic do their best work. Remember that Wenger has Elneny on the bench to come on if he needs to shore up that area from a defensive point of view.
Amy Lawrence is up at the Britannia today doing the necessaries, and she has unearthed this beauty.
He's got hair... In the corridor of the Britannia ladies and gentlemen, Stoke's Steve Bould. pic.twitter.com/DdNNsZwhIQ
— Amy Lawrence (@amylawrence71) January 17, 2016
Arsenal have confirmed that Ozil is out, “because of a slight foot injury.”
.@MesutOzil1088 misses #SCFCvAFC with a slight foot injury. pic.twitter.com/WW73x0hO6o
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) January 17, 2016
Stoke are missing Shaqiri after the Swiss strained his hamstring in training but Hughes said earlier this week that the winger could be fit to face Leicester next Saturday.
Whilst we’re on the subject …
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What weather we’re having, aye? This is the current scene outside the Britannia.
I’m assuming there were a few of you forced to play your Sunday League matches in the powdery white this morning. How did that go?
Interested to hear about your favourite matches played in the snow. I seem to recall a great game played last year in the FA Cup between Wolves and Fulham. And then there was that crazy game between USA and Costa Rica a few years ago. Madness. Do get in touch with any thoughts, predictions, memories: michael.butler@theguardian.com or via Twitter @michaelbutler18.
The teams. No Ozil!
Stoke 4-2-3-1: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters, Whelan, Afellay, Walters, Krkic, Arnautovic, Joselu.
Subs: Muniesa, Odemwingie, van Ginkel, Adam, Diouf, Crouch, Haugaard.
Elneny starts on Arsenal’s bench.
Arsenal 4-2-3-1: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Ramsey, Flamini, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell, Giroud.
Subs: Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Ospina, Elneny, Iwobi, Chambers.
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)
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Preamble
LLDDL
So reads Arsenal’s form in their last five visits to the Britannia Stadium. Stoke love sticking it to Arsenal, sticking it to Wenger, who has few friends in this part of Staffordshire after labelling City as little more than a “rugby team” under Tony Pulis. “I think the major incident was not that comment [about the rugby tactics],” Wenger said earlier this week. “The major incident was Ramsey. That’s where it started. Why do they boo me? I don’t know. You should ask them. I don’t bully them.”
That may be, but Stoke have certainly bullied the Gooners over the years, be it through the totem pole that is Peter Crouch, Rory Delap’s throws, or the relentless work rate embodied by Jonathan Walters, a tornado of a forward, blown forward by the high winds that often permeate the Britannia and the sizeable noise created by those decked out in red and white stripes in the stands.
That was the old Stoke, and quite rightly, they made no apologies for what they were. But this is a new animal, and whilst they made a slow start to the season, which included a defeat at the Emirates, they remain a formidable team, beating Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea at home this season.
Perhaps today, this could be their undoing, even with Marko Arnautovic, Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Ibrahim Afellay in their ranks, it will be difficult to out-play, to out-Arsenal Arsenal. But Walters, Crouch, Shawcross still remain, it will be interesting to see if Mark Hughes uses any of the tactics that worked so well in the past.
For Arsenal, the big question will be to see how they cope with Mesut Ozil. The German was not himself during Arsenal’s 3-3 draw at Liverpool on Wednesday and has not travelled with the squad today. There were rumours that Alexis Sanchez might also make the bench on his return from injury. This isn’t the case. So Joel Campbell, it’s all up to you!
Kick-off: 4.15pm GMT
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