Stoke Handed A Proper Beating By Rampant Gunners
May 13th, 2017 by 'holic
There were four changes for the trip to Stoke. Laurent Koscielny returned to the back three so Nacho Monreal replaced Kieran Gibbs at left wing-back, and Hector Bellerin replaced the rested Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as expected. Francis Coquelin got the nod over Aaron Ramsey, and Olivier Giroud came in for Danny Welbeck up front.
As ever there was a raucous early atmosphere as the Gunners set about an energetic high pressing game without the ball, and a familiar careful passing game with it. Alexis was denied the first opportunity in the fifth minute by a combination of Stoke goalkeeper Butland and the offside flag. We also won the first corner of the match two minutes later which the home side dealt with comfortably.
A second corner two minutes later saw Shkodran Mustafi’s near post header brilliantly tipped over at full stretch by Butland. Next to try his luck was Monreal when put in at the far post by Mesut Ozil, but the Spaniards first touch was heavy and the deadlock remained. He came even closer in the seventeenth minute when his far post header was stopped only by the goalpost. Stoke’s massed ranks of defenders were living a charmed life.
With the possession stats showing 70% for the Arsenal after twenty minutes it was no surprise that the travelling Gooners were making considerably more noise than the subdued home support. When finally Stoke broke to the edge of the Arsenal box Mustafi snapped into a challenge on Shaqiri and was rightly the recipient of a yellow card. Arnautovic hit the free-kick over the bar.
On the half hour Allen made progress in the Arsenal box before Koscielny took control and thumped the ball clear. Arsenal went straight back at the hosts and Alexis smashed a drive into the side-netting. The goal we so richly deserved arrived when Bellerin sprang the offside trap and transferred Coquelin’s through ball to Giroud for a tap-in three minutes before the break. “One-nil to the football team.”
Stoke City 0-1 Arsenal
The visitors were surprisingly slow coming out of the blocks in the second-half as the match became more subdued. The magic returned nearly ten minutes in when Sanchez sent Ozil galloping in behind the defence to lift the ball beyond Butland and into the far corner.
Stoke City 0-2 Arsenal
The usual suspect, Shawcross, avoided censure by Mike Dean when he aimed a straight elbow into Giroud’s cheek. When Diouf’s close range header wriggled past the far post Mark Hughes decided it was time to send Crouch into battle. The Gunners opted to protect their advantage and Stoke earned a number of corners as they went for an aerial assault. The tactic worked when Crouch shoved Mustafi out of the way, handled the ball into the net, and the loathsome Dean awarded the goal.
Stoke City 1-2 Arsenal
It was Stevie Wonder’s birthday and he saw more of this match than Mike Dean, who then missed Arnautovic smash an elbow into the back of Mustafi’s head as the Gunners went in search of a third goal. The temperature was raised as the hosts set about their annual attempt to bully their way to a result. The sight of Alexis signalling to be replaced with what appeared to be a deadleg delivered in a challenge from behind moments earlier.
What happened next was astonishing. Alexis hobbled at the Stoke defence in the inside right channel and his drive was deflected into the far corner off Shawcross. The Gunners were surely safe now?
Stoke City 1-3 Arsenal
Arsenal were on the rampage with the clear advantage restored. Ramsey came on for Alexis and drew a sprawling save from Butland but the fourth goal had only been delayed. Ramsey wriggled clear on the right flank and crossed for Giroud to slide home his second. After years of hurt the Arsenal were handing their heavy-handed opponents a savage beating.
Stoke City 1-4 Arsenal
Welbeck came on for Ozil before Giroud was denied his hat-trick when he was substituted by Theo Walcott. He received a thoroughly deserved standing ovation from the only section of the Britannia that wasn’t evacuating rapidly. Those travelling Gunners were enjoying the day to the full and offered a fairly accurate observation on the quality of the opposition. There were ducking grit, apparently!
As the game drew to a close Couch launched into a scything ‘challenge’ from behind on Xhaka and received just a yellow card for his ‘effort’. The sense of satisfaction at a job well done was evident at the end. The Arsenal faithful were having a party and proclaiming the fact loudly.
So, we’re a point adrift of Liverpool in fourth place, although our hopes rest on West Ham at least holding Klopp’s team on Sunday. Everything crossed here.
62 Responses to “Stoke Handed A Proper Beating By Rampant Gunners”
1st? Thanks GH for the super quick report, drinks for everyone!
Cheers Arthur. ☺️
Brilliant game to say the least we look like a proper team again, MD tried hard to make it something else however do your mighty gunners prevailed and made Tallon count !
Tallon ? Wtf? I mean Talent! ?
Drink three is nails.
It was Delia wot won it!
Good report, Guv’nor, and posted faster than Crouch pushing the ball in the net. You have to commend the Premier League for its diversity programme in employing so many visually impaired officials.
Very much the game I saw with the added advantage of not having the biased commentary of David Pleat: Having first stated categorically that Crouch had headed his goal, once the referees’ panel had confirmed it was a handball, he suggested the ball hit Crouch’s hand as he headed it, implying no intent. And then Holding’s rolling over of Arnautovic should have been a straight red for dangerous play, not a yellow, but Crouch flying through the back of Le Coq with studs up — well, he isn’t one of those players.
Historical footnote: The only other time we’ve scored at least four at Stoke was in 1950. Doug Lishman hit a hat-trick in a 5-2 win. It was Lishman’s feat of scoring back-to-back hat-tricks at Highbury in 1951 that TH14 matched in 2004.
Nice one, C100.
Thanks for the report Guvna. I couldn’t find a sports bar before WOB found a tapas bar here in Madrid so I had to rely on the combo of Miss B’s texts, blogs’ live blog and the boys in the Snug.
Great victory. I hope that Poo are having Poplar’s finest lasagne tonight.
But fear it’s too little too late.
Well done Delia.
Cheers Bath.
I am so chuffed for the Gooners that went today. That must have made up for the bad years, with the added bonus of really angering the inbred locals.
Holic
Fortunately it looks like they were all at home putting the kettle on and eyeing up the relatives by the time our people left the stadium.
I really despise the Orcs at Mordor – brainless, witless morons. The continued abuse of Aaron Ramsey shows them for what they are, so 4-1 feels particularly sweet.
Great game. Superb team selection (how good was Coq today?). Four great goals and some really important saves from our keeper. Where has the team been hiding that speed of play and commitment to do better than the other eleven on the field? The last time I saw that we thumped Chelski 3-0. Let’s do it again.
Watched the game in a fine establishment in Dornoch. So many distilleries up here that a man could leave with a very red nose if he wasn’t careful.
Come on you Hammers!
Jolly fine report, Holic !
That Stoke crowd ?
Michael Dean ?
Mark Hughes ?
Michael Dean ?
Peter Crouch ?
Michael Dean ?
And the amazing tosser posing as a commentator on Sky who declared at the beginning of the game that Arsenal are not liked at Stoke because of Ryan Shawcross’s tackle on Aaron Ramsey some years ago.
I kid you not.
Victory is sweet, innit ?
Very good performance all round.
Bricks are being laid at an enormous rate in Liverpool ?
P.S. – what a signing Rob Holding is.
Seemed to quite like a tackle when it got tasty for ten minutes.
Nice report Holic on a game that was as satisfying as any we’ve had this season. The real bonus was the loathsome Arnautovic being sorted out by Rob Holding. That boy has got what it takes!
A few weeks ago I thought we would struggle to win against anyone in our last games but we’ve done extremely well to revive our fortunes . It’s all very Groundhog Dayish but I’d love us to clinch top 4 and the Hammers have form in helping us out!
It looks like Kolasinac has signed , his signature is being tweeted by reliable German journalists.
Crouch is a loathsome git but at least we’ve all seen his missus in the nuddie?
West Ham have been generally so poor this season that I don’t hold out much hope of a favour from them, but as long as we keep winning we stand a chance. Two more wins next week please!
I don’t think even the most ardent Hammer fan let alone any neutrals, gave their little snowflakes a cat in hell’s chance of beating the Spuds last week.
But beat them they did,and that’s the beauty of sport,you just never know.
Whether the said snowflakes will bring the same desire to the Pool game on Sunday is anyone’s guess.
That win against the Spuds got them out of the relegation vortex,so they won’t be playing with as much desperation as last week.
Having said that, Bilic has a good record against Pool with 2 wins and 2 draws in the league since he was appointed.
But much like us at Stoke,they know that only a win will do to keep us at bay,so i will be even more surprised than i was last week if the snowflakes get anything from this one.
If only we’d played with this cohesion against the Spuds – or against at least half a dozen others this season. We looked like a team most of the time rather than a bunch of strangers having a kickabout on Hackney Marshes.
Another lovely combo goal from Mesut Sanchez, and a relief to have a real CF starting (and finishing as CF’s should). Danny would do well to study OG’s positioning. Hector also looked an upgrade on Ox providing two assists and combining well with Holding in defence.
Have to agree with Trev about Rob Holding. He was an absolute steal at £2m, was it?
Kolasinac also looks more than useful, although Nacho has been one of our most consistent players since the rocky patch he went through earlier in the season. We should be well covered down the left side and I’d be worried if I was Gibbs. Apparently Kolasinac can cover just about anywhere in defence including DMF, so he could be keeping everyone on their toes.
If Theo wants regular football he’ll need to move elsewhere, he just doesn’t fit in the present format and I can’t see that changing any time soon. He should be worth at least £25m to a club like Poo. Good luck to him if he has the guts to request a transfer.
Bugga, I apostrophied myself! CF’s should have been a simple plural, CFs, in the second para above. 🙁
How good is Holding?! Very comfortable with the ball.. and does not get bullied..apparently hands them out instead! (How’s that arm Arnautovic? 🙂 )
And Alexis.. (with 10 assists!).. he could score with one leg and did!
Maradona inspired Crouch goal should not have stood.
And we had our Coq out tonight too.
😀
Stevie Wonder indeed.. hahahah! Brilliant ‘holic!!
20s major
.
how could you , chris ?
HOW COULD YOU ?
.
.
i can’t even look at you right now !
(correction)
20’s major
.
moooooooooooooooooooooo
?
howdy ‘holic
howdy ‘holics
happy sunday all
.
here’s to a helping hammer
then
an outbreak of the plague
at the clash of the shitans later
.
UP THE ARSENAL
Cheers H.
Saw the motd highlights and have read various reports. Looked a good performance against a side that were already on the beach. Nice to see Holding getting some more praise. It will be interesting seeing more of him next season.
Hopefully the cheeky cockney boys can do us a bit of a favour later. I don’t like it all being in the hands of others but little we can do about it at this stage.
Bring it on.
Nice report thanks GH, I’m guessing it
must have been a pleasure to write.
Great to watch and we fought well. I
enjoyed the payback on Arnautovic
as well. Out on the sideline and sent
a clear message. We are still making
mistakes at the back but we’re covering
better for each other.
I much prefer Nacho wide left and hope
we stick with that. Holding is young so
it’s a risk but he’s earning his place and
we do have Gabriel and Mert in reserve.
Greetings Holics, What a fab day out for 6 Norfolk Gooners, we were certainly having a party long before the final whistle.
The passing, the movement off the ball, the will to win shown at Stoke makes you wonder what our season could have been had they applied themselves earlier in the campaign.
The goal just before the break was well deserved, I was beginning to think at that stage that we had missed our chances as I was convinced that Stoke would get about us in the second half.
Instead we saw a superb goal from Ozil running on to a perfectly placed pass from Sanchez. A near miss by Stoke and the arrival of Crouch livened up the home fans . Their side responded and after a succession of corners and some tasty tackles flying in, Crouch handled the ball into the net.
We were then in a bit of a battle. However, the good guys stayed firm under pressure and Sanchez put Hector’s pass away before he left the pitch with some sort of thigh problem. We were not finished there, Holding took a card for the team and was cheered loudly by all of us in the away end.
Rambo then put on a show and Giroud finished things off with a great finish from the Welshman’s cross.
I just hope the players were not putting on a show just for Cup Final places but trust they will put in the same effort in our 2 remaining PL games , we can make the CL places, come on West Ham.
Difficult to choose a MOTM as everyone put in a shift .
The away fans were absolutely terrific giving Arsene a big hand as he left the ground. The banners displayed at the end were uncalled for on a day when everyone should have been celebrating.
On to Tuesday and Sunderland. I will get there eventually depending what time I get away from Cambridge.
COYRs
Very nice feedback from enemy territory, Delia ?
Got smashed last night hangover from hell come on West Ham!
I have new found respect for AW’s stance against directors of football handling transfers. Wolves relatively new owner, the Chinese conglomerate-cum-investment company Fosun, has handed all responsibility for player recruitment to Jorge Mendes, the superagent who represents Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho among others (says all you need to know about Mendes). Smacks of giving a fox the run of a hen-house. Last year, Mendes sold a 20% stake in his agency, Gestifute to Fosun and advised them on the Wolves takeover. The FA turned a typically blind eye to the apparent conflict of interest when it ruled last December that Mendes involvement didn’t materially contravene the rules on clubs not having a business interest in agents and other intermediaries, and vice versa. Paul Lambert, Wolves manager, presumably unhappy at the prospect of a string of Mendes clients who can’t be placed elsewhere being off-loaded at Molineux, is, unsurprisingly, considering his position.
Looks like it’s Europa here we come…
Ayewsless cunt!
Hits the post. Twice. From a yard out.
West Ham are shit.
That is all.
I know we’ve only got ourselves to
blame for being in this position but
i feel big hearted enough to spare some
blame for Wham, what use are those
bastards in claret and blue.
We need a favour from Middlesbrough.
In other words, hello Europa League.
Only ourselves to blame.
Win the FA Cup, then new management please.
Oh well. We need someone to really Spurs it up now.
We need a favour from West Brom and Watford!
Not going to be too downhearted at the likelihood now that we won’t reach the Champions League. A squad of our calibre (although I agree it can be improved and there are plenty of moderate players) should never have left it to needing a 7-match winning run anyway. Especially as we were very well positioned late last year. It might have obscured many of the clear problems we’ve had this season, and I think finishing outside the top 4 finally after 20+ years is the wake-up call everyone across the club needs. We haven’t competed at the business end of the Champions Lge for quite some years anyway. The Europa Lge will represent a better chance at silverware, and shouldn’t upset the domestic form if we can make full use of our large squad in the group games.
I’d genuinely rather take winning the FA Cup over finishing 4th. Cup final victories and trophies are the ones you’ll look back on – especially if we could beat Chelsea in the final. Would also be the clear, perfect moment for Arsene to bow out – on a genuine high in his favourite competition, yet not obscuring the fact that we haven’t secured the CL spot this year (which is tangible evidence of going backwards), and he was far too late and reactive this year to reverse our fortunes and manage the squad effectively
@Gregoire,all what you said. I have said all along that I really don’t care where we end up this season. It’s been coming for a while. Chelsea were 10th last season and here they are winning the PL so I don’t want to hear that it’s really hard getting back in. Get the right guy in and who knows we might win the PL next year.. COYG
@Gregoire
Me neither, fact this has been going for seasons now I’m not going to repeat what others have said on and on…….. I could be here all day!
Great game yesterday and it’s nice to see is clicking into the mode again however, all little too late for my liking!
Europa League here we come!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39916270
Now THAT’s how to do a protest.
And you have to like their banner, Cynic, “You don’t deserve our support, we came to say hello, now we’re off to have lunch.”
And Inter are still eighth. Tough crowd — when they are there.
@Gregoire
Spot on mate.
Agree with Gregoire too.
Really can’t see why people are so gassed about 4th. The squad looks hopelessly out of its depth as soon as it comes up against a good side in the CL, and a season without it would make a nice change.
all of us are in one of the five stages of grief
which one is nobodies business but our own
Wenger is reportedly planning a £55m double swoop for Riyad Mahrez and Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson
Wow. The quality just keeps on coming.
Garth Crooks in “Talking bollocks” shocker
Only at Spurs will the fans accommodate players like Ozil. You see, at Spurs it is all about the football while at Arsenal it is all about the winning.
Has he been cryogenically frozen for the last ten years?
But it was the Sunday Express reporting that, Cynic, so probably not worth the paper its printed on. Better not be.
I think it would be lovely to see Özil playing for the neighbours, especially if they pay big money for him.
Can’t wait to see Ben Who? adorning the bench next season. As for Mahrez he had his chance last year.
Welcome back to civilisation, Delia, we’re all delighted you flew the flag, and survived. Seeing us win at Orcland is a story for the grandkids!
It is rumored that we have signed Sead Kolasinac from Schalke:
http://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/strong-quick-intelligent-sead-kolasinac-12895033
Does it mean the end of Monreal’s stay at Arsenal; just when he was getting to play really well.
Ksn@50: Montreal turns 32 next season and will be 33 when his contract ends in June 2019. Not surprising that we are looking for his successor. Gibbs, who is out of contract at the end of next season and has started only 10 league games over the past two seasons, is the more likely to be sold in the close season. At 27, he would still be a marketable commodity, raising perhaps as much as we would be paying for Kolasinac. Nacho would provide experienced cover in several positions. The question is whether he wants one last club before retiring. And don’t forget Cohen Bramall, the young left wingback bought in January from Hednesford for £40,000 and who seems to have made great strides playing for the U-21s this season.
We’re going to hear a lot more about our apparently really high points total over the next few days, even if/when we finish 5th. Totally ignores the fact that the status quo has been completely restored with big clubs this year with this colossal 16 point gap between Everton and the rest. Underlines also, yet again, what an opportunity we had in 2015/16 and I sincerely hope journos pick up the manager on all this when he keeps spouting on with this rubbish. Ask the hard questions instead of “when are you announcing?”. That’s pretty pointless when everybody (I note Giroud quoted today) know’s he staying. I also love the way he said CL is going to be really awkward for Chelsea. Thursday nights in Vladivostok and Timbuktu are going to be great for us yea ? Or is European football generally the ultimate reason for domestic failure. Give me strength. All gloomy from me as usual and while I can take some joy from good football and, at last, a plan to stop goals going in our end, I have to say the revival surely makes it clearer we’re hopelessly mismanaging a pretty decent bunch of footballers over a full season. A season when we’ve had very few injuries compared to a couple of other top teams. One also can’t help feeling that, rather like a few years back when Arteta-Flamini were employed together to steady the ship, we will revert to full blown Wengerball come the new season. This will be especially true if Sanchez is gone because Wenger knows that he can leave his dreaded handbrake on somewhat when this warrior-genius can get us the goals and assists out of nowhere. It’s also clear Ozil needs Sanchez, badly. Hope the latter’s injury clears up for the Cup Final. COYG.
I’m looking forward to the UEFA cup. Much more our level than the CL!
Speaking of the UEFA Cup that is another reason not to sell Nacho nor be rid of Santi Cazorla, both of whom know their ins and outs and arounds of perennial UEFA Cup winners Sevilla. A few rounds of Sevillanas anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VljOe_DxsA
Thanks NBN. Did not realize Monreal was 31 and we all know Wenger’s views on players who have crossed 30.
Kolasinac is on a free transfer and is rated highly. His arrival means Gibbs, who has never looked very convincing, would most likely be sold. Newcastle are apparently keeping an eye on him. He has two years on his contract and would be interesting to see if would run down his contract and look for a last big money move.
I didn’t know our game with Sunderland was on the box tomorrow night. Bonus!
I’m expecting a big 4-0 win for us tomorrow followed by a shock home victory for Watford on the final day against City, leaving the door ajar for us to nick 4th spot with a hard fought win against the Toffees.
Result.
Here’s hoping, BO’B.
Damned customer agent won’t even believe the information I am reading from their corporate website. Why not just bugger off mate.
Ransomware the bastard 😉
So sweet that John Terry gifts Watford a goal a few seconds after scoring and just in time to stop Martin Tyler’s orgasm.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>