Saturday February 2, 2013 Day 25 Finished Emirates Stadium

  1. Premier League - Mr Nice Guy Michael Owen's angry cameo

    Premier League - Mr Nice Guy Michael Owen's angry cameo

    Michael Owen made an explosive cameo in Stoke's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • - Remember you can get all the breaking news as it happens throughout the day by following us @EurosportCom_En on Twitter - FOLLOW
    • 90+5' FULL TIME: Arsenal get it done. Wenger smiles for the first time all afternoon. A tough game for the Gunners, but they just about come through it.
    • 90+4' Looks like Chris Foy just talked to the players to defuse the situation. Meanwhile this game is petering out to its inevitable conclusion.
    • 90+3' Arteta had gone in hard on Owen (but got the ball) - Owen swung at him, Arteta, didn't like it, and Wilshere square up to him. Extraordinary. Always thought he was such a nice boy.
    • 90+2' What's happened here - Michael Owen of all people in a scuffle!
    • 90+1' Not much left in this match, but the Gunners still not home and dry yet.
    • 90' Looks like we have a final change - Walcott off, Ramsey on.
    • 89' Sign up at the Emirates - four minutes of stoppage time to play.
    • 89' OUCH - replays show that those studs ended up perilously close to Koscielny's groin. Dear me.
    • 88' Yellow for Shawcross who slides in on Koscielny after taking a heavy touch. For a man who has a terrible reputation amongst Arsenal fans, that won't endear him to the crowd any further.
    • 87' Time running out for Stoke, and audacious triple sub notwithstanding, they still look short of ideas.
    • 86' Possession now 71% in Arsenal's favour during this match. Surprised it's that little, frankly.
    • 85' Jerome almost on to a misplaced pass from Monreal, but eventually the left back manages to undo his error.
    • 84' Triple sub for Stoke - Jerome, Owen and Jones on, Crouch, Walters and Cameron off.
    • 83' Monreal wins the ball on the edge of the penalty area and tries a shot towards the far post - this is a better effort, but it is blocked.
    • 82' Arsenal still on the front foot, Stoke don't yet look like they have an answer or a way of changing things up to go and try for an equaliser. Cazorla a menace since his introduction.
    • 81' Lukas Podolski scores his second direct free kick this Premier League season. He is the third player in the PL this season, after Juan Mata (2) and Robert Snodgrass (3). (Infostrada)
    • 80' CAZORLA! It should be two! Somehow the Arsenal man misses his chance after bundling and driving his way through on goal and his shot is just over the bar. Looks like Begovic might have tipped it over, which would make it some save.
    • 79' Looks like the confusion was over the offside flag. Walcott was offside. But the deflection was via a Stoke player (Cameron, I think) and Walcott was on the far side, not interfering. Right decision in the end.
    • 78' GOAL! Podolski's low shot is deflected into the goal, and Begovic could do nothing about it. Or is it DISALLOWED! The assistant has his flag up... but referee Chris Foy is clear - GOAL!
    • 77' Lots of planning goes into the free kick - Podolski stands over it...
    • 76' Walcott fouled on the edge of the area trying to shimmy into a little space. This time Wilkinson is punished - yellow card.
    • 75' No shortage of delicate play from Arsenal, but no clear chances for 20 minutes. Time is running out.
    • 74' Monreal goes for glory - not to be - his right-footed effort from 25 yards is pretty dreadful, starting wide and drifiting wider.
    • 73' Wilkinson has floored Sagna, but there was no foul. Wilkinson drawing plenty of stick from the crowd on the right-hand side.
    • 72' Cazorla crosses from the right, Giroud's loopy header just past the post.
    • 71' Arsenal continue to press. Wilshere at the heart of everything the Gunners do. But those clear-cut chances not materialising for the moment.
    • 70' Arsenal eventually clear and once they do they break at pace - Whelan cynically shoulder-charges Cazorla off the ball to cut off the move. Yellow card.
    • 69' Sagna clinging to Etherington's arm as he goes for a header, and ends up giving away a soft free kick in a useful place. Etherington himself will take.
    • 68' Here we go - Diaby and Oxlade-Chamberlain off... Cazorla and Podolski on.
    • 67' Arsenal have their substitutes ready but somehow play continues without them getting on...
    • 66' Replays still not entirely clear - but Walcott livid with the assistant on that side not protecting him. Arsenal readying a double-change, meanwhile.
    • 65' Walcott down again in the area after an off the ball incident with Wilkinson. Again. The replays don't show a great deal of contact, but Wilkinson did catch Walcott with his left hand.
    • 64' Oxlade-Chamberlain is first to the header, but doesn't deal with it well. Arsenal survive - and it's a little reminder of their fragile defending.
    • 63' Monreal gives away a throw close to the byline - Shotton readies himself the long throw.
    • 62' Cazorla warming up for Arsenal. Would be a natural change to make and add more creativity in the last half an hour.
    • 61' Possession currently 68%-32% in Arsenal's favour. They are dominating this match, except on the scoresheet.
    • 60' Arteta spreads the ball to the far post, but Walcott loses the battle with Wilkinson for the ball. Throw in to the visitors.
    • 59' Oxlade-Chamberlain almost slides the ball in for Wilshere - it's just a whisker beyond his reach.
    • 58' Arsenal would finish the night sixth in the table if the scores stay like this - but win the match and they would leapfrog Everton, who are losing to Villa.
    • 57' Stoke do break into the Arsenal half, however - Shotton and then Walters with crosses, but Crouch at the far post remains isolated.
    • 56' Goal attempts: Arsenal 9-5 Stoke. But that doesn't tell the story of quite how one-sided it's been.
    • 55' GIROUD CLOSE! It's Wilshere who provides him with the chance, cutting the ball across goal - Giroud cannot get there and keep it down, but again, Stoke were undone.
    • 54' Meantime Walcott is felled by Wilkinson off the ball. That looked crass, and it's something of a surprsie that the assistant didn't see it. Walcott appealed furiously to him to do something about it.
    • 53' MONREAL! Lovely give and go from the Spaniard, who cuts to the byline and delivers a superb, teasing cross. Doesn't lead to a goal, but it was a superbly-judged run from the debutant.
    • 52' The Gunners work the ball this way and that, waiting patiently 30 yards back for an opening.
    • 51' We're starting the second half very much as we ended the first. Arsenal dominating possession, sniffing around for the opener. Stoke resisting well, however.
    • 50' Arsenal have now failed to score in the first half of 13 of their 25 Premier League matches this season. (Infostrada)
    • 49' Oxlade-Chamberlain turns past Shotton, then has to turn him again and then a third time as he looks for options in the box. Not to be, but Monreal does then force a corner.
    • 48' Miscommunication from Sagna, who strokes the ball out to nobody in particular on the right and out for a throw in.
    • 47' Arsenal would be 13th in the Premier League if all matches would end after the first half. They would be second though if looking only at the second half of the Premier League matches. (Infostrada)
    • 46' Wilshere and Giroud kick off for Arsenal at the start of the second half!
    • - What did you make of the first half? Will Arsenal come through to win in the second? Have your say with me on Twitter @Mark_Eurosport - Follow!
    • 45+4' HALF TIME: Stoke hold on until the interval. They neutralised Arsenal for half an hour, then had to cling on and weather a storm as Arsenal clicked into gear. Oxlade-Chamberlain had the best two opportunities and Begovic denied him.
    • 45+3' Huth shepherds out Arteta and wins a goal kick in what is likely to be the last action of the half.
    • 45+2' Wilshere trying to take control of this game. He just looks a level above those around him at the moment.
    • 45+1' Bandaged-up Walters continues. He can scarcely see out of the right eye, as it closes and as the bandages are a little too low down....
    • 45' Walters still receiving treatment. The board says there'll be two minutes of stoppage time, but in all likelihood it will be more after this hold up.
    • 44' Ouch - Monreal and Walters clash heads as the pair go for a header - it's the Stoke man who comes off worse and there's a lot of blood.
    • 43' Stoke look to slow things down a bit. A couple of passes exchanged between Shawcross and Huth before the long ball forward.
    • 42' Wilshere's run into the box is fruitless, until he turns and plays a cross in from an angle towards Giroud. His shot is blocked - so is Walcott's from the edge of the area on the rebound.
    • 41' Still Stoke cling on. Half time drawing closer - how much more pressure can they soak up?
    • 40' OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN CLOSE! Super pass from Wilshere, which he made after determined work from Diaby. The shot was decent, aimed at the far post on the angle, but Begovic is looking very sharp and tipped it around for a corner on the stretch.
    • 39' Again the cameras pan to Wenger looking less than comfortable on the Arsenal bench. They've not taken the chances they've just created.
    • 38' Wilshere astonished not to be awarded a free kick as Whelan chops him down. Stoke emerge with the ball and try to get out of their own half for a bit of relief.
    • 37' Cameron cuts out an attempted through ball from Wilshere down the left. But the ball is straight back to a red shirt.
    • 36' Arsenal beginning to swarm over Stoke now. The challenge for the visitors will be to get to half time unscathed.
    • 35' KOSCIELNY! So close with a back header saved at close range by Begovic. But before that there was probably an even better chance for the unmarked Giroud - inexplicably he headed across goal rather than banging into the corner.
    • 34' Another Arsenal corner. The pressure is starting to ramp up.
    • 33' Giroud and Diaby play a one-two to get the midfielder into the area, but once there his touch lets Diaby down and he cannot control the ball.
    • 32' A couple of yards either side and that would have been the opener. It probably should have been. Stoke hang on.
    • 32' OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN DENIED! Point-blank chance for the winger at the far post from a Wilshere corner, and after chesting down he pokes it at goal - Begovic makes a superb reflex stop.
    • 31' Walcott bursts down the right after leaving Wilkinson for dead, but his low centre is into a sea of Stoke bodies.
    • 30' Stoke and Arsenal played out a 0-0 draw at the Britannia earlier this season. Still goalless here this afternoon. Who can change that?
    • 29' Shotton launches a long throw from the byline. Having taken a moment to dry the ball on his shirt, the Arsenal faithful decide to get on his back.
    • 28' Sagna and Wilkinson bumped heads going for the ball - and the Arsenal man came off worse. Looks like he should be fit to continue, but he's getting the once over from the physio.
    • 27' Walcott rolls the ball out after Sagna goes to ground clutching his head.
    • 26' Wilshere drives forward, picking out Walcott. The shot from the winger was speculative, blocked and destined to be forgotten.
    • 25' Koscielny runs out of his own half unchallenged. But once Arsenal are into the Stoke half, the pressure builds, and the momentum fizzles out.
    • 24' Whelan goes route one looking for Crouch, and Sagna is almost bested going for that one.
    • 23' Ah, but that was nice. Good touch from Monreal to control, burst of pace, then a quick pass down the left to Oxlade-Chamberlain. The cross is to the back post and wins a corner.
    • 22' The upshot of the first 22 minutes is we've not seen much of Monreal. He hasn't been called into action defensively a great deal, nor has been utilised going forward.
    • 21' Not to be. Nzonzi looks to get Stoke moving once again, and it's something of a stalemate at the Emirates for now.
    • 20' Wilkinson keeps Koscielny off the ball in the area at the expense of a throw, and Arsenal keep their defenders upfield for it, sensing a chance.
    • 19' Wenger watching on very nervously on the sidelines. Watching a side with a recent history of defensive frailties against an uncompromising Stoke can have that effect.
    • 18' If Arsenal win today they could end the day in the top four places. There's plenty at stake. Stoke, meanwhile, look safe enough in tenth (as things stand).
    • 17' Crouch wins a corner - long ball from Shawcross, chested down by Crouch, who is then played in for a half-volley from the edge of the area. Szczesny tips it away.
    • 16' Stoke's turn to string a few passes together. They're going nowhere in particular with it, however, with Shawcross eventually on the ball.
    • 15' Peter Crouch has scored 7 goals in 16 Premier League apps against the Gunners. (Infostrada)
    • 14' Diaby played in by Sagna, and it takes a diving lunge from Shawcross to get his cross away and out of danger.
    • 13' So far so strong from Stoke, and Arsenal's more incisive play has not quite clikced into gear yet. The hosts still dominating the possession, however.
    • 12' Oxlade-Chamberlain with the through ball for Monreal, but the Spaniard's super run is not matched by the quality of the pass. He can't get there.
    • 11' A bit of head tennis from Arsenal has the desired effect, getting Wilshere on the ball.
    • 10' Etherington takes on Sagna and cannot get around him, giving a goal kick. But both players seem to be wincing after that clash.
    • 9' Walcott seems to have an eternity to pick his moment and feed Giroud a pass - but the Frenchman travels down the flank to get on the end of it and is boxed off.
    • 8' Shawcross lumps the ball forward, before Whelan tries a more considered through ball.
    • 7' Arteta goes down in a challenge in the air with Etherington clutching his face. Play continues, but Stoke's move fizzles out.
    • 6' Oxlade-Chamberlain drives towards the penalty area but is ushered off the ball. The move is broken up at the expense of a corner, though - Mertesacker and Koscielny both come upfield.
    • 5' Slick - Arteta to Walcott down the right, but his cross is just behind the runners into the box.
    • 4' Arsenal have scored 14 in their last four home games - they are a serious danger going forward. But Stoke's defence is one of the tightest in the league at present.
    • 3' Oxlade-Chamberlain with the first shot of the game, a hit from over 20 yards under no pressure. He's missed the target, and probably had enough time to do a little better.
    • 2' Stoke have not won at Arsenal in the Premier League era. Their last away league win against the Gunners came in a 1-0 victory at Highbury in August 1981. Lee Chapman scored the only goal. Arsenal have won all 4 home PL matches against the Potters and the last 7 in home league meetings. (Infostrada)
    • 1' Referee Chris Foy blows his whistle, and Stoke get us underway.
    • 14:55 Okay, we're all set for kick off at the Emirates, and Stoke are 8/1 to win and 7/2 to earn a point. Sounds about right given their record away from home.
    • 14:50 The Potters have won just one of their last 21 Premier League away games, but they will be keen to pick up something this afternoon. 10 points lie between Pulis's side and the bottom three.
    • 14:45 The Emirates has witnessed more goals than any other Premier League stadium this season (50), so we should prepare ourselves for more this afternoon. Tony Pulis has opted for Peter Crouch, with Kenwyne Jones confined to the bench, alongside Michael Owen, of course.
    • 14:40 OPTA STAT: Arsenal have won five and lost just one of their last eight Premier League games against Stoke (drawn two), with four of those wins coming at the four meetings they have had at Emirates Stadium.
    • 14:35 You can follow all the latest from across the Premier League games this afternoon, and indeed the world of sport, by following the official Eurosport Twitter account - @EurosportCom_EN
    • 14:30 Olivier Giroud is one of the in-form strikers in the top flight, having bagged five goals in three games in all competitions - he is 7/2 to score the opener against Stoke.
    • 14:25 The teams are in - Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Diaby, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud. Subs: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski. /// Stoke: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson; Walters, Cameron, Nzonzi, Whelan, Etherington; Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Jones, Owen, Adam, Whitehead, Kightly, Jerome
    • 14:20 The early team news for Arsenal is that new-signing Nacho Monreal starts as one of five changes to the team that drew with Liverpool on Wednesday. We will have the full starting line-ups with you very shortly.
    • 14:15 Welcome to live text commentary of Arsenal's Premier League encounter with Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 80' CAZORLA! It should be two! Somehow the Arsenal man misses his chance after bundling and driving his way through on goal and his shot is just over the bar. Looks like Begovic might have tipped it over, which would make it some save.
    • 78' GOAL! Podolski's low shot is deflected into the goal, and Begovic could do nothing about it. Or is it DISALLOWED! The assistant has his flag up... but referee Chris Foy is clear - GOAL!
    • 55' GIROUD CLOSE! It's Wilshere who provides him with the chance, cutting the ball across goal - Giroud cannot get there and keep it down, but again, Stoke were undone.
    • 53' MONREAL! Lovely give and go from the Spaniard, who cuts to the byline and delivers a superb, teasing cross. Doesn't lead to a goal, but it was a superbly-judged run from the debutant.
    • 40' OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN CLOSE! Super pass from Wilshere, which he made after determined work from Diaby. The shot was decent, aimed at the far post on the angle, but Begovic is looking very sharp and tipped it around for a corner on the stretch.
    • 35' KOSCIELNY! So close with a back header saved at close range by Begovic. But before that there was probably an even better chance for the unmarked Giroud - inexplicably he headed across goal rather than banging into the corner.
    • 32' OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN DENIED! Point-blank chance for the winger at the far post from a Wilshere corner, and after chesting down he pokes it at goal - Begovic makes a superb reflex stop.
    • 14:25 The teams are in - Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Diaby, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud. Subs: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Ramsey, Rosicky, Cazorla, Podolski. /// Stoke: Begovic; Shotton, Shawcross, Huth, Wilkinson; Walters, Cameron, Nzonzi, Whelan, Etherington; Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Jones, Owen, Adam, Whitehead, Kightly, Jerome

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.2 7
      Defenders
      6.4 6
      7.2 7
      7.1 7
      7.5 7
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out68′ 5.9 7
      6.9 7
      Substitution Out90′ 7.4 7
      8 8
      Substitution Out68′ 6.8 7
      Strikers
      7.2 7
      Subs
      Substitution In68′ Goal 9 8
      Substitution In90′ 5.5 -
      Substitution In68′ 8.3 8
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.3 8
      Defenders
      4.1 6
      Yellow Card 3.8 7
      4.8 7
      Yellow Card 3.3 5
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out84′ 4 6
      Yellow Card 3.9 6
      Substitution Out84′ 4.1 6
      4.6 6
      4.1 6
      Strikers
      Substitution Out84′ 4.6 6
      Subs
      Substitution In84′ 3.7 -
      Substitution In84′ 2.9 -
      Substitution In84′ 2.9 -

Comment 48 - 68 of 68

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. Please can anybody tell Wenger to start using Walcott­ as key striker cos he can dribble and has got the­ speed, Giroud is good but lacks speed and accuracy.

    From colman, on Tue 5 Feb 21:52

  2. shame on Arteta and Wilshere!shame! Owen is a greate­ player...

    From Nima, on Sun 3 Feb 8:43

  3. Arsenal is Podolski + Mertesacker !!!

    From Ali, on Sun 3 Feb 4:58

  4. n

    From big p, on Sat 2 Feb 22:30

  5. what a #$%$ time STOKE is.

    From AB, on Sat 2 Feb 19:06

  6. stokes had a great game but gave out the opportunity of­ winning

    From samson, on Sat 2 Feb 18:49

  7. Good game and good result. When we score in the first­ half, and carry on attacking in the second half and­ don,t go into defence mode, I will say its a GREAT­ game. COME ON YOU GUNNERS.

    From ALBERT, on Sat 2 Feb 18:30

  8. For why Vermaelen have not play?

    From , on Sat 2 Feb 17:23

  9. Football 1 - Rugby 0

    From PAUL, on Sat 2 Feb 17:14

  10. Fecking hell, Stoke City supporters who doesn't­ want to inbreed?

    From Victoria-Concordia-Crescit, on Sat 2 Feb 17:06

  11. You know what I liked most about this game. The work we­ put in off the ball. A lot of harrying and pressing ,no­ time on the ball for stoke hence difficult for them to­ put accurate balls into the box. BRILLIANT. i'M­ LIKING THE BALANCE A LITTLE MORE. think we look better­ as a team, once the whole team is involved, which means­ everyone pressing, defenders weren't too exposed. I­ know its only STOKE, but good result. HAPPY.

    From rekayi j, on Sat 2 Feb 17:04

  12. Lukas Podolski is such an influential player!­ ♥♥♥ him! classy.

    From Roxana, on Sat 2 Feb 17:03

  13. Well done Gunners!!!

    From Harvest, on Sat 2 Feb 17:02

  14. 1 nil to the arsenal well done Podolsky class act on­ and off the pitch never complains if he seats in the­ bench well done wenger tough game but its always good­ to beat stoke shows powerful balls loooool AFC cl­ mus...

    From Paulo, on Sat 2 Feb 17:02

  15. 1.0 to the gunners ,yep a late run to at least 4th­ place in league

    From terry, on Sat 2 Feb 16:59

  16. another poor display by the overpaid puffs at Arsenal

    From albert, on Sat 2 Feb 16:58

  17. Shawcross is a total muppet, how can you let the man­ play, with tackling like that?

    From Martis, on Sat 2 Feb 16:51

  18. Arsenal is Podolski + Mertesacker !!!

    From Ali, on Sat 2 Feb 16:50

  19. wow why cant arsenal score

    From JOHN, on Sat 2 Feb 16:49

  20. FINALLY!!!!! We have move that bus!!!!!

    From warisraw, on Sat 2 Feb 16:41
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