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Arsenal flattered by 3-0 scoreline after disappointing display

Arsenal limped to a 3-0 win over Stoke City, but there was little to be impressed by after a eye-gouging display.

The first-half was certainly one to forget with a lot of frustrating mistakes from both sides, and very little to get exciting about.

In fact the biggest talking point has come from Mohamed Elneny getting himself booked for a late challenge on Joe Allen, and you would have to hope that this will certainly be a game of two (very different) halves!

At half-time I would already be looking to make changes, possibly with the thought of throwing Mkhitaryan on, but of course we knew Wenger would hold out for another 20 minutes at least…

The second-half started much like the entirety of the first-half with very little happening at either end of the pitch, but a run from Danny Welbeck on minute 53 showed that there is room to get in behind, albeit with that attack fizzling out for a goal kick.

A counter-attack saw us look rather potent shortly after, and we then enjoyed a little run of fluidity in midfield, leading to a run of pressure in attack. Danny Welbeck has been heavily involved in much of our forward movement, but unfortunately seems to be missing out on his shooting boots, and I would certainly have kept him on the pitch, but Wenger has other ideas. On comes Alexandre Lacazette with 30 minutes to play.

Our untimely change (which I can’t say I agreed with) brought a run of pressure on our very own defence, and we ended up being saved by the goalpost with just over 20 minutes to play, and this game is getting very nervy, although I still had that feeling we would scrape through the match with all three points…

Thanks to a little help from the referee we gained the lead. Mesut Ozil goes down inside the penalty area and is immediately granted a penalty. On closer inspection the defender clearly gets the ball, cleanly long before clattering into Ozil who has planted his foot into the ground, and you have to think that VAR would ruled that one out…

Thankfully that goal changed the game, and although Stoke tried to come at us, the game was now in our favour. Aubameyang added another goal to his growing tally of home goals, before Alexandre Lacazette earned himself a penalty.

The Frenchman slotted away calmly to the goalkeepers left to put us three goals clear, and that was that.

On the whole a very disappointing performance, and that scoreline has overflattered us, but onto Thursday we go.

Did Arsenal deserve a comfortable win? Was the result a foregone conclusion? Would either or both of those penalties have been ruled out by VAR?

Pat J

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Tags Arsenal Stoke

66 Comments

    1. According to Bould, Lacazette can be a no 10 player

      If that is what they plan to do, maybe Ozil has to be in Cazorla’s position or sold

    2. Yes.

      Laca is the 5th best player in the Prem in chances converted. – 43 shots – 10 goals. do the math and look it up.

  2. Awful performance
    Only highlight was Lacca still looks positive but need better quicker thinking players around him

    If he had salah and mane he would score a hatful

    Interesting to see lots of seats empty must have been snowing again !

  3. I’ll have to admit Wenger got a sub right. When last did that happen? Anyway Laca on for Welbeck changed the game and surly Laca and PEB can start together

    1. Leave Messi out then sub him on, at the end of the day praises pour for a right substitution, really? Ain’t him part of starting eleven that no matter what he was supposed to play?

      1. Laca is just coming back from a 6+ week layoff from injury where he underwent surgery. Plus he’s our best striker available for the Europa which is all that matters now. I think him coming from the bench was the right call for once

    1. So winning against 19th place soon to be relegated stoke city makes Wenger the best manager in the world right? Smh

  7. We clicked when our front line was made up of the rightful owners of the positions.
    We won and we won. Especially we are contributing to Stoke going down.

  8. Don,t write what you want ,write what you see, 1st half stoke both well ordanised at the back and as usual a fair bit more than simply physical. Arsenal have played teams that have this approach many time since and know they will break them down sooner or later. First goal a certain pen no question and with a bit of luck this result will help push stoke into the championship If that happy result occurs then all that needs o happen for stoke to play in a division that suits them is to be relegated from the championship next season.

  10. Cant expect thing to tick right away, we are still preparing for next season, for now it reminds me of Liverpool last season, we are definetly taking in the right steps.

    Wenger will experiment, thats why Miki and Xhaka is out. Hes also testing Wilshere and Ramsey today to prove him wrong.

    Chill guys, Wenger didnt pay two expensive striekrs for one of them to be on the bench, will be seeing those 2 alot more in the future. Combined with Miki and Ozil. Damn boy

    2. Wenger can experiment as much as he wants, coz I don’t think we will see him a lot more in the future

      Tuchel has told Hasan Salihamidzic, Bayern Muenchen’s sporting director, that he has been contracted by another club

      Most probably it is Arsenal or Chelsea, but I suspect it is Arsenal, because Arsenal have been collecting German speaking players and staffs

      1. Thank God someone has mentioned that. I too read in an ESPN news that Bayern Munich were looking for tuchel as their manager for next season but he told them that he has already signed for a club. I highly suspect it’s arsenal. Cause recent activities (sign Sven mislintat bringing auba and Nikki) at the club with Wenger too commenting that he is ready to face the consequences of poor performances.

  11. Lacaz changed the game . Coming on for the abysmal Welbeck and also when the awful Elneny and slow, mistake ridden Wilshere went off, we at last looked like a professional team and not a park team. First 60 plus minutes were as bad as we have played, even under Wengers last decade. Aubam playing wide left and Lacaz up front seems the way. Also Mkhitaryan made a huge difference too. Welbeck , Elneny and Iwobi MUST BE THE FIRST OUT THE DOOR UNDER THE NEW MANAGER. HEARTWARMING TO SEE THE GROUND HALF EMPTY. BYE BYE WENGER!

    1. I just saw the game from minute 46 to 63

      Elneny looked sharp with his forward passes and shots, Wilshere did okay, Welbeck produced bad first touches and Ozil looked very lacklustre

    2. Tell you what JF you ain’t wrong.Some views from the game
      •How has Elneny been given a new and improved contract?He was awfull today.Not even a squad player in my view.
      •Welbeck should be sold.Keeping him holds back Eddie and Reiss Nelson next season.Offers nothing so just get rid.
      •Jack is off.No doubts now.Error ridden display.Get him off the wage bill and replace with someone who can make a difference
      • Ramsey is still an enigma for me.Much as I think we could do better I also feel with a better balanced midfield he is capable of producing for us.Would keep him over Jack all day long.
      •Chambers continues to impress.Nice steady game and worth his chance when Kos is rested.Prefer him over Holding every time.
      • Laca looked sharp as soon as he came on.As did Mikki as well.Moving Auba wife suited the team pattern better and all of a sudden we got Ozil on the ball.

      Got job done and that’s about it.
      Anyone else notice they didn’t announce the attendance today?I wonder why.
      Sums up our season when we are all hoping for a Chelski win today.How far we have fallen

        1. Yes but Phil meant move Aubas “wife” into the team. She is miles better than Welbeck, Iwobi and Elneny put together! And would have a far better rapport with him too.

  13. Lacazette and Auba need to start together. Welbz has no business in starting XI. Poor game until subs were made. Wilshere was uninspiring and cant justify his wage demands. Ramsey was fine, nothing to write home about, and Ozil didn’t really do much until subs were made. Good job on winning the pen though. Elneny just side passes. And Mustafi made some great tackles today which took me by surprise. Finally his urges to jump into every challenge paid off. Forgettable game, but good to see Laca get some confidence back and to see Auba banging them in.

  14. nice to see aubameyang and lacazette playing well together, auba not insisting to take the pen for the hat-trick he is a friendly player who gets along with most players. Lacazette is more intense, silent which isnt bad but its easier to like aubameyang.

  15. hope stoke city gets relegated i hate them while hoping crystal palace stays up. good team, top stadium atmosphere but injury cursed their season.

    1. Ahhh. I’m 1/2 mile from Palace and preying that they stay up.
      Team played well today, the last 20mins. The the next manager has a good forward line to start with. Like Wenger inherited that famous bk four.

      1. How many of that famous back 4 play in our invisible in 2004 or our make Shift back 4 that didn’t conceid a goal on our way to to 2006 champion league final

  16. Hello PHIL, i Saïd to you that Auba can play out wide.He’s was a winger at saint Étienne and,partly, Dortmund

      1. You are the Jesus Christ of Arsenal Supporters everywhere.
        Shouldn’t you be hanging off a cross or something like that this weekend?

    2. You are totally right @pires, but some people were incredulous with the idea of playing Aubameyang or Lacazette as a wide player

      In my opinion, Wenger has to be flexible when preparing his team, like Klopp and Guardiola. Liverpool do not even use a pure striker, instead they use wingers as their goalgetters

      Even Bould said Lacazette can play as a no 10

  17. AUBAMEYANG is better than LACAZETTE and deserves to start ahead as our main striker.

    dude has scored in almost every game he has started.

    i don’t get anyone who says aubameyang should move to the wing to accomodate lacazette.

    Next season aubameyang will be a nightmare for harry kane/salah/aguero for the golden boot.

  18. In preseason when we was playing 343 Laca played a few games off the striker with Ozil and I was curious that he was actually Alexis replacement lol also, not sure where I saw it but apparently Sven recommended Auba as a replacement for Sanchez? ? could just be talk though ?

  19. I couldnt believe it when I saw Mesut today getting really angry on the pitch. I thougt to myself: -finally!!! Thank you God!!!. Our best player is beginning to show some blood in his system. Starting to feel what it is to be an arsenal star. To fight for our past, for the fans, for our history and our future. I experienced this drop of adrenaline in my brain for a few seconds that covered my body and got me to react as well. I needed to understand what was happening. Why and who was ozil telling on the pitch to f*** off. I said to myself: _yes mesut!!! Go and show him!!! Show them!!! Everyone!!! Tell them how things are!!!. But when I played the video again I could understand everything. It was Ozil against Hector bellerin; go figure, a strong discussion between two players of the same team. I was very disappointed. Please!!!. This kind of attitude and responses should be shown to the opponents only. I just dont understand.
    Greetings to my friends who belong to this blog

    2. Sometimes it’s good to tell your mates the plain truth though I would not advice using the f word. Ozil i think was angry at Bellerin because Ozil was in a offside position yet Bellerin passed the ball in his direction even when Ozil tried to move out of the ofside position. Bellerin ought to up his game..

      1. One of the strengths of the old successful Arsenal teams was that players had high expectations for themselves and their team mates and were not backward in letting each other know when they had to lift their game.

    3. Have you never played with your plals football in your life? Thats how things are being done in the pitch. You have a go at your mates many times, and its completely normal.

  20. I thought in the second half, this is better, quick passing and looking good then realised I had left it on fast forward! Was out at game time and was watching a recording.

  22. ‘…we ended up being saved by the goalpost.’

    Ospina ended up being saved by the goalpost.
    You’re welcome.

  23. Great generosity also on the part of Aubameyang to give Laca the chance to score. Auba when asked after the match why he didn’t go for the hat trick said he allowed Laca to score cos itt’s good for Laca’s confidence. This should go on to ensure harmony and yes I believe two can play together. Despite the frustration throughout the match, the boys won. Kudos! Now let’s beat CSKA convincingly on thursday. COYG

  24. Will never forget how those clowns had the guts to have a go at Ramsey and Arsenal. I hope they get relegated in time.

    1. Yeah mate-They really are a bunch of Neanderthals Scum.Credit to Ramsey for not letting them get to him but I pray they go down where they belong

  25. I have already moved on from this joke season to the glorious next one when Wenger is rep-laced by a proper manager who will get rid of the junk Wenger has stored around the club , ASAP. Imagine our glee when Elneny, Iwobi, Welbeck and other junk is playing for someone else. I hope they know their way to Hackney Marshes. Giving Elneny a new contract ensures a fee for him. Some clubs love junk. Under Wenger , we are one of them. But the proper manager will bin it all. Of course the most appalling junk of all is Wenger himself. I am convinced the club already have the next manager lined up , to be announced when Wenger is gone. Only a very few weeks now! Rejoice! In the meantime, keep those empty seats empty, just to make sure. Well done all those season ticket holders who are staying away. I salute you all!

    1. Have to agree welbeck and Xhaka are so average it’s unbelievable that we signed them they will disappear into the championship

      1. I have to disagree with some of you regarding Elneny and Xhaka i thought they both played well yesterday, Elneny was working his socks of and contributed well and for me the game changed when Xhaka come on we made more direct forward runs instead of ruining out of ideas and keep passing back, probably most of you know i highly rate JW but thought he had a bad game yesterday

  26. “Poor dear Arsenal performing to a near half empty stadium”?. Didn`t think the match was worth getting out of bed for but let`s get our facts right, or should I say `sums`?
    629 short of 60,000 is hardly `half empty`.

  27. I get a bit fed up with the MOTD mob making out that Arsenal wouldn’t have won the game if the Ozil penalty wasn’t “incorrectly” given. Arsenal were well on top at the point of the game, and Stoke were on the ropes. I’ve seen a penalty given against us, I think it was Bellerin who tackled from behind, and got the ball first, before getting the man, and he put enough power in the clearance, that even if the man had managed to stay on his feet, he wouldn’t have got the ball, however the MOTD of the day crew said it was a penalty, because even though he got the ball, you weren’t allowed to tackle from behind ?!?!? So why the double standards ???

    1. It was bound to happen. Stoke were organised all match and at the end they lost concentration.

      I thought its common knowledge for players to dance inside penalty box hoping for defenders to commit mistakes

  28. Wenger said the low crowd is the price for not doing well. I say it because he is still in charge.
    Not for much longer I hope.

  29. A very poor performance.Despite working hard Welbeck and Wilshire were dreadful and the overpaid Ozil was shocking until the final quarter.Lacaz did well when he came on and could well form an effective link with Auba next season.A very poor quality match but another 3 points.

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