Against a side that title challengers should be confident of beating, the Gunners simply didn’t know how to get past a steady Stoke defence.
1-0 To The Rugby Side
This was what Stoke City fans were singing all over the Brittania when they opened the scoring, doesn’t that simply say something? That a rough tackling football team can manage to break down Arsenal’s defence in fairly simple moves and Arsenal have to spend hours trying to unlock defences with their endless passing.
“Arsenal simply haven’t made enough chances”
The Commentator Speaking on the 77th minute
Simply not a Premier League winning team
Well, if you simply look at how Arsenal have played today, it has been unproductive to say the least. Lots of control, but even from a neutral’s point of view, Arsenal barely had anything to offer beyond 25 yards of Begovic throughout the entire game.
If only they could produce performances such as that of against Manchester United last week, but they were simply not up to scratch.
They Are Not Even Focusing on the Prem!
You’ve got to consider the fact that even Stoke City have more chance of winning a trophy this season than Arsenal. The FA Cup is in 6 days and Stoke City players would no doubt have had one eye on that game against Manchester City next week. So tell me how this mix of second and first choice Stoke team managed to even have a chance against Arsenal? They are not a better team, it’s simply better character from Stoke, I’ve got to say.
“The Manchester United win showed what they CAN do”
The Commentator
Well, couldn’t have put it better myself, as Arsenal can be brilliant one week yet mediocre in the next.
Jack Wilshere: The Only Passionate Arsenal Player Out There
“Brilliant footballer, he’s just got to control himself”
The Commentator, speaking about Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere has the passion, he’s just got to somehow spread some of that to his teammates for next season. Simply look at his tackles throughout the match. The kid’s got determination, no doubt, just got to control his temper a bit.
Begovic vs Van Persie
Just look at several instances in the game. Van Persie’s early chance, the one where he skied it, a battle won by the Stoke keeper to keep Van Persie’s morale down. Alongside that, Begovic potentially produced a save of the season contender, with Van Persie 6 yards out, Begovic made a magnificent save.
Apart from the goal that he conceded on the 80th minute, Begovic and the Stoke defence did quite well to keep the Dutchman quiet.
The Arsenal Team:
Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Gibbs, Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Arshavin, Van Persie
You seriously can’t tell me that this Arsenal team is not better than Stoke’s first XI. This is Arsenal football club for crying out loud. Seriously, look and the 3rd and 4th scorers in this game. Van Persie being the 3rd and Walters being the 4th. Any one heard of Stoke’s number 19, folks?
The Better Manager: Tony Pulis
Is there seriously a better way to symbolize Stoke City’s defensive bite along with their rise up from the Championship? Tony Pulis deserves more credit than he gets, and I salute him here, especially comparing to Arsene Wenger.
He won the tactical battle, knowing that he had to cut out all of Arsenal’s passing in the box. Well, perhaps what Arsenal had to do instead was to dribble, like how they earned their solitary goal.
Watch the highlights from the game here
Submitted by Two Liverpool Fans
