Sunday August 26, 2012 Day 2 Finished Britannia Stadium

  1. Premier League - Stoke hold Arsenal in bore draw

    Premier League - Stoke hold Arsenal in bore draw

    Arsenal drew 0-0 for the second game in a row at the start of the Premier League season as they failed to break down Stoke away from home. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Stoke City
    • Arsenal
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • - What did you make of that game? Let me know on Twitter now. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter!
    • 90+3' FULL TIME. Arsenal held to a 0-0 draw for the second game in succession.
    • 90+1' We will have three minutes of added time.
    • 90' Really he should have passed to Ramsey, who was storming down the centre and wanted the ball.
    • 89' A late free kick to Stoke but Mertesacker deals with it superbly to head away for Arsenal. Now the Gunners break and Giroud almost scores a wonder goal! The Frenhcman tried to chip Begovic from 35 yards but his effort grazed the roof of the net.
    • 87' Now Ramsey takes possession of the ball 20 yards from goal and flashes a shot wide of the box. Now that would be poetic justice if he were to score the winner.
    • 86' A chance for Stoke! Walters is set away by a through-ball through the middle but tries to flick the ball to the side of Mannone and gets it all wrong.
    • 85' Stat from Infostrada: "Stoke have lost only one of their last seven PL home matches against clubs from London. That defeat was against Queens Park Rangers last season."
    • 83' Ramsey, by the way, was booed when he came on. The same Ramsey who had his leg snapped in two here by Shawcross of course.
    • 82' And for Arsenal, Cazorla is off to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey.
    • 81' Another change for Stoke as Whelan is replaced by Wilson Palacios in midfeld.
    • 81' Stoke fans appeal for a penalty when Jenkinson controls the ball in the box. They think it is handball but he used his chest.
    • 79' Stoke make a change as Crouch is replaced by Ryan Shotton. That's a somewhat surprising change from Tony Pulis.
    • 77' Walcott almost escapes Stoke's clutches in the final third but red and white shirts are back in numbers and snuff out the Arsenal threat again.
    • 75' Diaby has ages to deliberate over a shot after collecting a pass eight yards from goal but gets his legs in a tangle and scoops the ball wide. A poor effort.
    • 74' Giroud plays a return pass to Arteta, but it takes a deflection and the Spaniard appears off balance when he gets his finish all wrong and it soars over the bar.
    • 72' Arsenal make two changes as Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain come on for Gervinho and Podolski. Two new threats from out wide.
    • 70' Giroud peels off the back to meet a corner at the penalty spot with an acrobatic scissor-kick that hits the turf and bounces away.
    • 69' Wilkinson floats a cross to the back post where Crouch is lurking and he turns the ball into the side netting with a volley.
    • 68' We always end up talking about these kinds of tackles when Stoke play Arsenal but there was just no excuse whatsoever for that tackle from Wilkinson. It was completely unacceptable and accomplished absolutely nothing.
    • 66' A change from Stoke as Pennant is replaced by Cameron Jerome.
    • 65' Arteta takes the set-piece and thunders his shot into the wall. Podolski picked himself up after that awful attempt at a challenge.
    • 64' A disgraceful challenge from Andy Wilkinson. Horrid. He steams into Podolski from behind and rightly earns a booking. It was arguably worse than that.
    • 63' Arsenal get somewhat fortunate when Arteta falls to ground under contact from Walters just as Stoke threaten to break. However, the Spaniard fails to make the most of the subsequent free kick as Stoke clear.
    • 61' Podolski gets clear down the left and delivers a teasing cross for Giroud, only to see Begovic claim convincingly. Mannone is more erratic when fumbling a high ball and then making a mess of a clearance. Worrying signs for Arsenal.
    • 60' Kightly makes a metre of space in the box after getting away from Jenkinson but gets his delivery all wrong. The standard of play in the final third hasn't been exemplary from either side today.
    • 58' Pennant is absolutely furious that he is not given a penalty when going to ground under a push from Gibbs. The left-back did push his luck there rather.
    • 57' Not so good from Cazorla this time as his lofted cross into the box clears everyone in it and drifts out of play.
    • 56' Now Crouch looks to make a nuisance of himself but he is penalised for elbowing Per Mersacker in the side of the head. Nothing malicious in it, just a tussle to get the ball.
    • 54' Shawcross ambles up for a corner but Mannone has no trouble dealing with the weak header on goal. Stoke haven't really threatened in the air too much today.
    • 53' Cazorla gets a taste of Stoke's medicine when three men congregate around him and knock him to the floor. No foul. Meanwhile, Gervinho continues to look wasteful. Surely not long before Walcott or The Ox make an appearance.
    • 52' Arteta plays in Giroud with a long pass and the striker does well to sneak away from Shawcross. He picks out Gervinho with a pass to the edge of the box but the forward drags his shot well wide. A poor effort.
    • 50' Stat from Infostrada: "Arsenal did not score in their opening two PL matches last season. If they fail to score today, they will become the fifth team in PL era to not score in their first two matches in back-to-back PL seasons following Derby County, Portsmouth, Southampton and West Ham United."
    • 49' Pennant delivers a cross from the right but Vermaelen is alert to head clear, with Crouch the obvious target in the box. Arsenal may have to soak up more pressure in this second half.
    • 47' Gervinho, who has had a sloppy game, loses possession early in the second half but Stoke cannot take advantage.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • - What did you make of that first half? Let me know on Twitter now. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter!
    • 45+2' HALF TIME. Still no goal scored or conceded in Arsenal's Premier League campaign but the Gunners have been the better side. Strong at the back and clever in attack.
    • 45' We will have one minute of added time.
    • 44' Cazorla has been a delight in this first half. Player of the match so far.
    • 43' More good defending from Arsenal as Crouch is quickly closed down on the edge of the box and sees his shot blocked.
    • 41' Jenkinson makes an important clearing header as a Stoke cross floats towards the back post and then Gibbs does likewise on the other side of the box. Arsenal have defended very well so far - the influence of Steve Bould perhaps?
    • 39' Wenger gets to his feet to appeal for what he felt was a foul on Gervinho and in doing so attracts the ire of the Stoke fans, who don those 'hilarious' Wenger masks again and make fun of him.
    • 38' Mannone comes off his line confidently to deal with another long throw from Cameron. His performance has been fine so far.
    • 36' Stat from Opta: "Stoke have scored first in all five games they have played against Arsenal in all competitions at the Britannia Stadium under Tony Pulis, and on four of those occasions inside 11 minutes."
    • 34' Arsenal go close! Arteta is caught in a challenge in midfield but the ref plays on and Cazorla forces Begovic into a smart save with a rasping effort from 25 yards.
    • 33' Arteta takes the free kick and instead of flinging it into the box goes square to find Cazorla, who drags a weak shot wide of the post.
    • 32' Wilson with one of those reducers on Cazorla. He comes in late on the midfielder and catches the top of his right boot. That was a nasty one.
    • 31' Stat from Infostrada: "Before today, Arsenal have travelled four times to Stoke and managed only one Premier League win. Arsenal have gone with a maximum of one win in at least five PL visits at only two clubs: Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers."
    • 29' A superb effort for Stoke. Kightly receives the ball 25 yards from goal, pulls the ball between his legs to turn quickly and then hammers a firm effort that Mannone has to be alert to claim just in front of his line.
    • 28' Cazorla fakes to shoot 20 yards from goal, shifts the ball onto his right foot and releases Giroud, who just fails to keep possession of the ball as he races into the box.
    • 27' Arsenal try to play their way out of defence but Stoke take back possession and after Crouch slips him in with a neat touch, Wilkinson has a low shot saved by Mannone.
    • 25' Cazorla now takes a neat touch infield and lays the ball off to Podolski, who rifles a shot well over the bar. The German is having a big shout in proceedings today.
    • 23' Podolski is much livelier than in the opening game against Sunderland and tries to bundle his way through a group of shirts to get a shot away. Instead the ball falls to Cazorla and his weak toe-poke is not problem for Begovic.
    • 22' Gervinho tries to wriggle away from Kightly but trips and falls. His clumsy demeanour is quite the contrast to Cazorla, who I could watch stroking the ball around all day long. Arsenal have a real player in the Spaniard.
    • 21' Cazorla plays in Diaby with a lovely pass and after opting not to shoot the Frenchman slips in Gibbs to his left. Podolski is hollering for the ball in the centre but Gibbs gets his floated cross all wrong, before making up for it with a fine challenge to deny Pennant at the other end.
    • 20' Random stat from Infostrada: "Geoff Cameron is the 38th player from USA to play a match in the Premier League." Brian McBride was obviously the best.
    • 19' We are only 19 minutes into this game but it looks promising for Arsenal. They haven't been beaten into submission yet and have even been able to construct a few nice passing moves.
    • 17' Cazorla takes the free kick and tries to drill one under the wall. The ball bounces back out to him and his follow-up shot is deflected off target.
    • 16' Robert Huth goes into the book for bringing down Podolski 20 yards from goal. It was a superb run from the Arsenal forward as he received the ball from Gibbs, spun and charged through the heart of the Stoke midfield.
    • 15' Stat from Infostrada: "Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in their first PL away match of the season since 2003 – in a 4-0 victory at Middlesbrough."
    • 14' Giroud looks in the mood and after an attempted square pass to Diaby bounces back into his path, he attempts a frankly outrageous shot from a tight angle that flies towards the corner flag.
    • 13' Kieran Gibbs breaks free on the overlap and gets the pass from Podolski. His cross is excellent but Stoke clear with Giroud hovering and waiting for the first-time finish. Cazorla is now starting to come into the game a bit more.
    • 12' Podolski drops into space in the box and Cazorla spots him before lofting a perfect cross onto the head of the German. However, Podolski is offside when nodding the ball over the bar.
    • 11' "One Arsene Wenger" sing the Arsenal fans, in response to a rather more offensive chant from their Stoke counterparts regarding the Frenchman. No love lost here.
    • 10' Hang on a second. Replays suggest Wilkinson actually blocked the ball with his arm, which was outstretched. That's a decent shout for a penalty but Arsenal never really appealed.
    • 9' Andy Wilkinson slips in the box and appears to have gifted Lukas Podolski a free shot at goal from Giroud's pass. However, when falling to the ground he hurls his head at the ball and deflects it behind for a corner.
    • 8' It isn't particularly encouraging for Arsenal that they have been found wanting so early in the air. Jenkinson also looks ill at ease when dealing with Kightly.
    • 7' Goal ruled out! Peter Crouch rises above Vermaelen in the box to nod the ball down to Jon Walters but the striker is offside when he rifles a shot into the roof of the net. A warning shot for Arsenal.
    • 6' Stat from Opta: "Peter Crouch has scored seven Premier League goals against Arsenal; only versus Blackburn (8) has he been more prolific. He has scored in both games for Stoke against the Gunners."
    • 4' There's no Rory Delap or Ryan Shotton today so long throw duties go to Cameron and he hurls one into the box. Mannone looks a touch hesitant but clasps the ball after it bounces in the box.
    • 3' Cameron throws himself into the fray with a firm challenge. That's the kind of tone Stoke like to set early on on these occasions. It's perfectly legitimate to do so of course.
    • 2' Michael Kightly threatens to get in behind Carl Jenkinson as Stoke try to break down the left but his low cross for Peter Crouch lacks direction and Arsenal are able to clear. It's already a cauldron of noise.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 13:30 Stoke fans have already got their Arsene Wenger masks on as they get ready to mock their nemesis yet again. This could be another lively one at the Britannia Stadium.
    • 13:25 Want to discuss today's match as it progresses? Get in contact on Twitter. Last night I was blocked for the first time by someone, so it's a good time to get involved. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter!
    • 13:20 A minority of Arsenal fans booed the team off after they drew 0-0 on the opening day against Sunderland, but there were some promising signs, not least in the shape of Santi Cazorla who looks a fine acquisition from Malaga. The Spaniard has a fine through-ball and loves a shot from range, so giving him any kind of space in front of the box is tantamount to suicide. Stoke will be only too aware of that. Expect him to be on the receiving end of a few reducers.
    • 13:15 More stats from Opta: "Six of the nine goals Stoke have scored against Arsenal have come from set pieces. In 2011-12, Stoke scored the highest percentage of goals from set pieces in the Premier League (58%), while Arsenal scored the lowest percentage from dead ball situations (14%). Santi Cazorla set up seven scoring chances, more than any other player in the top flight on the opening weekend."
    • 13:10 Another reason Arsenal are like to feel somewhat uneasy about this trip is the fact that they have lost three times in five trips to the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League. Whether you have qualms about Stoke's style or not, it is unarguable that it is hugely effective against Arsenal. When it brings such reward, you can hardly blame Pulis for pursuing with such a methodology.
    • 13:05 So why the bad blood? Well, the fact the names Shawcross and Ramsey are on the team sheets should give you one big clue. Shawcross's terrible tackle on the Arsenal man shattered his leg in March 2010 and put Ramsey's very promising career on hold - and Stoke's fans have since booed him. Arsene Wenger has also previously failed to hide his contempt for Stoke's approach, while Tony Pulis was furious when his opposite number labelled the Potters a "rugby team."
    • 13:00 Confirmation then that Mannone is in goal for Arsenal, with Argentinian youngster Damian Martinez on the bench. Arsenal's only other change is Giroud in for Walcott. As for Stoke, they make two changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Reading as Jermaine Pennant replaces Matthew Etherington and new signing Geoff Cameron makes his debut in place of the suspended Dean Whitehead.
    • 12:55 TEAM NEWS: Stoke: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Pennant, Cameron, Whelan, Kightly; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Jones, Upson, Delap, Shotton, Jerome /// Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Diaby; Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski; Giroud. Subs: Martinez, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Djourou, Coquelin.
    • 12:50 Some breaking team news... Arsenal are forced to play Vito Mannone in goal due to injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukas Fabianski. Theo Walcott is also dropped as Lukas Podolski moves wide and Olivier Giroud plays ahead of Santi Cazorla in attack.
    • 12:45 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of what in recent seasons has become one of the Premier League's biggest gurdge matches: Stoke City v Arsenal. These two teams, and their sets of fans, really don't like each other.

  • Summary

    • 89' A late free kick to Stoke but Mertesacker deals with it superbly to head away for Arsenal. Now the Gunners break and Giroud almost scores a wonder goal! The Frenhcman tried to chip Begovic from 35 yards but his effort grazed the roof of the net.
    • 58' Pennant is absolutely furious that he is not given a penalty when going to ground under a push from Gibbs. The left-back did push his luck there rather.
    • 34' Arsenal go close! Arteta is caught in a challenge in midfield but the ref plays on and Cazorla forces Begovic into a smart save with a rasping effort from 25 yards.
    • 29' A superb effort for Stoke. Kightly receives the ball 25 yards from goal, pulls the ball between his legs to turn quickly and then hammers a firm effort that Mannone has to be alert to claim just in front of his line.
    • 21' Cazorla plays in Diaby with a lovely pass and after opting not to shoot the Frenchman slips in Gibbs to his left. Podolski is hollering for the ball in the centre but Gibbs gets his floated cross all wrong, before making up for it with a fine challenge to deny Pennant at the other end.
    • 17' Cazorla takes the free kick and tries to drill one under the wall. The ball bounces back out to him and his follow-up shot is deflected off target.
    • 9' Andy Wilkinson slips in the box and appears to have gifted Lukas Podolski a free shot at goal from Giroud's pass. However, when falling to the ground he hurls his head at the ball and deflects it behind for a corner.
    • 12:55 TEAM NEWS: Stoke: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Wilson; Pennant, Cameron, Whelan, Kightly; Walters, Crouch. Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Jones, Upson, Delap, Shotton, Jerome /// Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Arteta, Diaby; Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski; Giroud. Subs: Martinez, Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Djourou, Coquelin.

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
      5.4 6
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 4.3 5
      Yellow Card 4.7 6
      5 6
      5.3 6
      Midfielders
      Substitution Out81′ 5 6
      5 6
      Substitution Out66′ 5 6
      5.4 7
      Strikers
      5.4 6
      Substitution Out79′ 5.8 6
      Subs
      Substitution In66′ 5.2 6
      Substitution In81′ 5.4 -
      Substitution In79′ 5.2 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.7 6
      Defenders
      5.6 5
      6 8
      6.5 7
      6.2 6
      Midfielders
      6.1 6
      5.3 6
      Substitution Out81′ 7.3 7
      Strikers
      Substitution Out72′ 5.2 5
      Substitution Out72′ 6.3 6
      5.8 6
      Subs
      Substitution In72′ 5.2 5
      Substitution In81′ 5.1 -
      Substitution In72′ 5.7 6

Comment 212 - 232 of 232

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  1. Ooops!

    From Morag, on Mon 27 Aug 17:00

  2. I really wonder if wenger has any game plan left to­ make arsenal win this trophy......we need change from­ the top period!!!!

    From Charles, on Mon 27 Aug 13:34

  3. Prediction for the next Arsenal game? I'll go with­ 0-0

    From URZZZ, on Mon 27 Aug 13:07

  4. Wenger this is no work done atall, you seems to be­ tired in Arsenal you never played high balls what is up­ with you??? the worst season in my time as Arsenal­ fan!!! Old broom knows all the corners of the room are­ now out of stock because you(Wenger) loves bussiness of­ selling of best Players out leading to such stress as a­ fan for Arsenl. Next match is going to losing!!!

    From lega c, on Mon 27 Aug 10:07

  5. Andrew, hehehe hahaha hohoho, that will show them,­ hehehehehehehehehehe hahahahahahaha, well said hahahaha­ hehehehe.

    From pat, on Mon 27 Aug 9:51

  6. Philip maybe you should stay in Cornwall as your taste­ in beer is like your views on football - you believe­ all the "Stoke are thugs" dross and yet drink­ dross yourself! W*******r

    From Achtung Spitfuer!, on Mon 27 Aug 9:26

  7. hahahaha arsenal are going down this season no RVP­ goals to save you this time, wel last season he scored­ half your teams goals so what does that say about the­ rest of them hehehe

    From Andrew, on Mon 27 Aug 7:56

  8. Even this wenger has not known how to field his new­ recruits. He keeps slave trading and yet the new ones­ take long to fit in. Stick to one steady team for­ longer. Well we do not think you work for a trophy.

    From Lawrence-Right, on Sun 26 Aug 18:21

  9. same old Arsenal poor team #$%$ manager

    From R, on Sun 26 Aug 18:20

  10. Who need Van Persie when you got so, Ops!

    From Nathim, on Sun 26 Aug 17:51

  11. Top 4 or bottom 4 Gooners that is the Question.

    From PAMELA, on Sun 26 Aug 17:42

  12. another let down for all the arsenal fans. when are­ they going to start playing the game i have seen­ village green teams play better football. every years­ the same they always sell off our best players. This is­ my 65 th year as a Asenal fan and i think myself­ Arsenal board should put Pat Rice in charge hes the­ best man for the job.Lets hope Arsenal start pulling­ there socks up.

    From Terance, on Sun 26 Aug 17:17

  13. can only see 1 point from aresenals next 4 games

    From ANDREW, on Sun 26 Aug 16:31

  14. Arsenal need a striker

    From Cesc, on Sun 26 Aug 16:21

  15. Man Utd, really did buy Arsenal, hahaha! Arsenal are­ a pathetic club.

    From Lewis, on Sun 26 Aug 16:14

  16. So no RVB,no goals from arsenal hahaha!

    From Bsun, on Sun 26 Aug 15:47

  17. same shiiiii...... different season

    From freddie, on Sun 26 Aug 15:42

  18. We already miss RVP. Selling the best striker in the­ world to the rivals, OMG. How I wish I was a different­ team fan. Freaking Arsenal is getting on my nerves.­ When Henry is coming to "advise"?

    From Roxana, on Sun 26 Aug 15:40

  19. Seems entropy is reaing it's ugly head .

    From Patrick, on Sun 26 Aug 15:39

  20. Chill out people, last season they started off bad but­ finished top 3. I'm not Arsenal supporter but I­ know that Arsenal will be doing good this season.­ Anything can happen, its just first games. ManU is not­ performing well atm, Mancity didn't give best at­ ethiad last game, Tottenham is looking weak,­ Liverpool...

    From Sanku Sarap, on Sun 26 Aug 15:37
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