Arsenal v. Stoke City 2-0 5/Dec/09

Andrey Arshavin scores the opener.
[Photo: Dylan Martinez/Reuters via Guardian]


The celebration for the 100th game at the Grove - with 94 wins - and Arsene's 500th Premier League match seemed perfect as the Gunners edged out the Potters without to much an effort. After two catastrophic defeats, the Londoners restored a little confidence by winning on a fair margin of two-nil. The contrast with other matches was the type of display that Wenger's men made - a sort of ambiguous decrepit offensive array mixed with laziness and a penalty miss, all included.
Probably the ratio between attempts, shot on and shots, made quite a difference since if those numbers would have been counted in, the margin could have been broader in many respects. Whether there was not a gulf in class between the two teams the threat posed by the visitors showed little but no resistance. Certainly this type of arrangements should serve as a preparation for next week's clash against Olympiakos at Greece.



Not a good finisher from the spot.
[Photo: Rob Noyes/Pinnacle via Daily Mail]


Very early in the match, the lone striker Arshavin was blocked by Sorensen. Where the Gunners made a very good start, the northern team managed to recover from a strong possession their opposition handled. It was not until the first quarter of hour that the terror from Delap's long throws diminished.
The Irishman, in a quite sudden frenzy tumbled Arshavin just after the Russian's quick feet made effect. Cesc Fábregas, from the spot, failed to deliver, as Sorensen saved. Whether it was a brilliant save or not, Cesc gave to much of the position rather than saving providentially. Arshavin again flapped one in but it went wide on reaching the 25th minute.
In the following minutes, after a varied series of opportunities, the Russian netted exactly when needed. Past three defenders he flicked the ball to the far post of Sorensen. The response was futile as the Gunners could have gone two up, instead Cesc shot into an empty goal to find Eboue between the ball and the goal. Near the break the only hope for the visitors was to regroup for an eventual comeback in the second half.



[Photo: PA via Daily Mail]


Obviously the comeback was not due to arrive, mainly by the craftsmanship that the Londoners showed in several occasions. The early substitution, probably in relation to a muscular problems, saw the Mexican teenager Vela advancing in Wenger's picking line. Sorensen suffered from the flak, as he saved in two occasions reaching the 53th minute. In that same span, the Welsh international Ramsey replaced Emmanuel Eboué in another injury worry.
With nearly half an hour to go, the Gunners assumed their resilient dominance but still they were not able to finish the match promptly. Shots from Arshavin on woodwork came hitherto in another effort to put Stoke on the edge. Where Arsenal looked frail and threadless, Stoke did not offered much of a fight: the input made by Fuller and Beattie was insignificant.
Instead, the Londoners made a leap forwards when, late in the match, Ramsey scored to double the odds and put Arsenal with all three points. As the Welshman stormed past three defenders, he just strolled outside of the box and netted his second premier league goal, with eleven minutes left.