Potters rule Britannia

A dominant first-half display helped Stoke outclass their opponents and record a shock 3-2 victory over 10-man Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium.

The Potters were quick out the blocks and were in firm control inside the opening 30 seconds thanks to Peter Crouch before further goals from Bojan Krkic and Jon Walters gave the hosts a commanding 3-0 half-time lead.

Stoke then had a goal disallowed before two goals in as many minutes from Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey turned the one-sided game back into a contest for the Gunners. Arsene Wenger's men continued to pile on the pressure in the final quarter. Although, an equaliser would've been harsh on the hosts, who deserved their win, it had looked a distinct possibility as the Gunners mounted further attacks.

But Arsenal's chances of completing a fine comeback were made even tougher when Calum Chambers was sent off for a second bookable offence with 11 minutes remaining. Arsenal failed to find a leveller and, although there were some positives in the second half, it was a largely disappointing display from the visitors.

Without sounding harsh on Stoke, as they deserve full credit for their performance, we should not have lost in that manner with such a poor first-half performance against opposition like that. The Potters are often difficult to beat in their own back yard but how we just capitulated in the opening 45 minutes was inexcusable and, alongside the trip to Dortmund, was easily the worst performance of the season. The early goal didn't help but it was the fact we barely showed any fight to try get back into the game in the first half that hurt the most.

The second half was better and after Cazorla's spot-kick, the Gunners began to up the tempo and finally showed some fight to try and get something out of the game but ultimately it was too little too late.

Before the game Arsenal enjoyed run of three consecutive wins in all competitions without conceding a goal. Damian Martinez had earned deserved praise for the previous clean sheets but the game was only 19 seconds old when the 22-year-old was beaten by Crouch's close-range effort.

Arsenal should have drawn level in the first half but Olivier Giroud headed off target with the goal gaping. The visitors were made to pay for that wasted opportunity when Walters set up Bojan to sidefoot in Potters' second after 35 minutes.

Giroud wasted another headed opportunity when Asmir Begovic tipped over his effort and it proved costly once again as Crouch's header deflected to Walters to fire home.

It was a truly awful first half from the Gunners and, although Stoke deserved credit for their lead, there can be no excuses from the visitors - it was simply not good enough! From three solid defensive displays to one of the worst defensive performances of the season just beggars belief. Although, I have seen Arsenal capitulate like this before, I genuinely believed after recent results that confidence was returning to the side. Instead we are back to square one. Wenger's position is again under question and after a result like that it is hard to argue against it. Wenger is clearly making some mistakes that need to be rectified...and soon...but the manner of some of the abuse Wenger was receiving from fans was unacceptable. But where do we go from here? Does Wenger go? I don't think so....well not yet anyway! I think we do need two or three top quality additions to the playing squad in January though.

Back to the game, and Stoke were very unlucky not to go 4-0 up when Bojan appeared to have scored only to have the goal disallowed for offside.

The Gunners' faithful then finally had something to shout about when Mame Biram Diouf clipped Mathieu Flamini in the box after 68 minutes. Cazorla made no mistake from the spot to give the Gunners a glimmer of hope. The visitors were right back in the contest two minutes later when Ramsey showed great technique to volley in from Alexis Sanchez's corner.

Chambers has put in several impressive performances since joining the Gunners from Southampton over the summer but he stopped his side's momentum after receiving his second yellow card, and subsequently his marching orders, for pulling back Bojan.

After this performance, it is a bit of a relief to know that the next game has a lot less riding on it. Although we still have a slim chance of claiming top spot in our group in the Champions League, qualification is already secure. This is likely to lead to Wenger tinkering with his squad ahead of the trip to Galatasaray. Even though a top-two spot is already guaranteed, I think the players still have a huge point to prove. After the shocking first half performance against Stoke the players, and Wenger, need to try and defy their critics with a huge display against the Turkish side. The last Champions League game - the victory over Borussia Dortmund - was very impressive and more like that is needed. However, one positive result in the Champions League won't solve our problems. There is a lot of hard work ahead and, with some tough fixtures coming up, the Gunners need to bounce back in style in an attempt to give their fans a happy Christmas.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS