There was
snow on the ground and hostility in the air. After all that has gone
before, you can see why this fixture remains the ultimate test of mettle
for Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal team.
They
emerged from it on this occasion with a well-earned point and a place
back on top of the Barclays Premier League, albeit level on points once
more with Leicester City.
It
was frenetic stuff at a freezing Britannia Stadium. Olivier Giroud will
feel that he could – probably should – have beaten Jack Butland on more
than one occasion. Petr Cech, however, did his bit to keep out Stoke at
the other end. This was not a bad draw at all for Wenger, four days
after leaving Anfield deflated by a late Liverpool equaliser.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud looks dejected after missing a chance during his side's Premier League clash against Stoke City
Stoke City playmaker Bojan (left) shoots at goal as Arsenal captain Per Metesacker (right) attempts to block his shot
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (centre left)
attempts to break the deadlock but fails to find a way past goalkeeper
Jack Butland and his defence
Marko Arnautovic runs with the ball as
Arsenal duo Joel Campbell and Hector Bellerin give chase in an attempt
to win back possession
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE FROM THE BRITANNIA STADIUM
STOKE CITY (4-2-3-1): Butland
7.5; Johnson 6, Shawcross 8, Wollscheid 5.5, Pieters 7; Whelan 6.5,
Afellay 7 (Van Ginkel 88); Walters 6.5, Bojan 6 (Diouf 64mins, 6.5),
Arnautovic 7 (Adam 87) Joselu 7
Subs not used: Muniesa, Odemwingie, Crouch, Haugaard
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1):
Cech 8.5; Bellerin 6, Mertesacker 7, Koscielny 6.5, Monreal 6; Ramsey
6, Flamini 6; Walcott 5.5 (Iwobi 72, 6.5), Oxlade-Chamberlain 7
(Chambers 90), Campbell 5; Giroud 7
Subs not used: Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Ospina, Elneny
Attendance: 27,683
Referee: Craig Pawson
Ratings by Jack Gaughan
Glenn Whelan's heat map shows his touches in Stoke's midfield — click HERE for more of our brilliant Match Zone
The
Gunners had won just once here in seven previous attempts since Stoke
were promoted to the Premier League in 2008, and that was the rather
hollow 3-1 victory in February 2010 when Aaron Ramsey suffered an
horrific double leg break in a challenge with Ryan Shawcross.
The
bad blood has festered since with Wenger admitting he gets more abuse
at the Britannia Stadium than anywhere else in the country. It echoed to
the chant of ‘Stand up if you hate Arsenal’ soon after kick-off,
followed by a less than complimentary ditty about Wenger himself. The
noise is always a few decibels louder when the Frenchman brings his team
to the Potteries.
Strangely
over the years, Ramsey has also become a target for the Stoke fans.
They cheered when he pulled up after getting a whack in the back of the
leg from Glen Johnson, and at one stage broke into a brief chorus of
‘Aaron Ramsey, he walks with a limp’. Given that the Wales midfielder
was sidelined for nine months with the injury, you would have thought he
would be one Arsenal player who might get a bit of sympathy in these
parts.
Such
was the level of vitriol towards the visitors, though, and the sight of
snow piled by the side of the pitch in freezing temperatures only added
to the frosty reception awaiting them as they arrived minus key
playmaker Mesut Ozil, left back in London with a foot injury.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3403820/Stoke-City-0-0-Arsenal-Gunners-fire-blank-return-Premier-League-overtaking-Manchester-City-Leicester.html#ixzz3xWoSZp00
No comments:
Post a Comment
paulmkale