Alexis Sanchez once again proved his top class ability as his two goals helped dominant Arsenal brush aside Stoke with a 3-0 win at the Emirates.
The Gunners avenged last month's 3-2 defeat at the Britannia Stadium by producing one of their best performances of the season, as a Laurent Koscielny header and a moment of individual brilliance from Sanchez gave them a commanding half-time lead. The score could've been even bigger for Arsenal, who now leapfrog bitter rivals Tottenham in the table, in their first home league game of 2015 had it not been for the heroics of Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal.
Sanchez added his second with a deflected free-kick as his side continued to control the game, while David Ospina had a comfortable Premier League debut in the Arsenal goal. Personally, I was delighted to see Ospina given more game time as he is a decent goalkeeper and it will also keep Wojciech Szczesny on his toes. The Pole can be a quality goalkeeper but at times is too erratic and hopefully this will teach him that his place in the side isn't guaranteed and he needs to up his game.
Arsenal, who had beaten Hull 2-0 in the FA Cup last time out, have now lost just one of their last 28 Premier League games at the Emirates since the opening day of the 2013-14 season and fans will be hoping this kick-starts a positive run of league form. If we can keep playing like this then we have every chance of doing just that.
The players of both teams wore black armbands and fans at the Emirates held up banners as everyone paid tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.
On the pitch, Wenger and the several other Frenchman in the Gunners' ranks would have been happy with the performance and result. Every single player's work-rate was excellent and each time we lost the ball we were running back to battle and get it back. The determination and hunger on show was one to be admired and I just hope we can use this as a springboard for upcoming games, especially with a trip to champions Manchester City on the horizon.
The Gunners started positively and almost went ahead inside two minutes, but Sanchez's effort was superbly saved by the outstretched hand of Begovic. Begovic was at it again soon after as the Bosnian got down low to deny Tomas Rosicky, but from the resulting corner the hosts grabbed a deserved opener. The initial corner was cleared before Sanchez expertly crossed the ball back in for the unmarked Koscielny to head home his second goal of the season.
The only blip in what was a great first half for the Gunners came when Mathieu Debuchy sustained a shoulder injury after 10 minutes. The French full-back tangled with Marko Arnautovic, who appeared to shove him and he then collided with the advertising board. Debuchy, who has already missed around three months of the season with an ankle problem, was stretchered off shortly after and was having an x-ray at the club during the extent of the half to assess the extent of the damage. Hector Bellerin, who looks a great prospect for the future, came on the replace him.
Arsenal continued to press for a second in the first half but Begovic continued to prove his class to keep his side in the match. Sanchez pulled the ball back to Olivier Giroud who powered a shot towards goal, but the 27-year-old dived to his right to push the shot away. Moments later Giroud had another chance to add to Arsenal's advantage, only to send his effort off target.
Stoke offered little in reply and wasted the few chances that came their way. Bojan Krkic swept a free-kick back to Glenn Whelan and the midfielder raced to the edge of the box and fired his shot over the bar.
That miss proved costly for the Potters as the hosts doubled their advantage after 33 minutes. Sanchez pounced on a loose pass from Steven N'Zonzi before playing a one-two with Rosicky. The Chilean ran onto the pass and burst into the box and, instead of trying to beat Ryan Shawcross, he cleverly clipped a shot into the net at the near post for his 17th goal in all competitions.
There was a break in play after Nacho Monreal and Peter Crouch jumped for the ball and the latter caught his man with his arm. Five minutes of injury time were added on at the end of the first half and, in that time, Crouch had the chance to pull a goal back but shot straight at David Ospina.
The Gunners started the second half as they had the first - with an early goal - to put the game beyond doubt. Sanchez hit his free-kick through the Stoke wall and a slight deflection helped take it further away from Begovic. The Stoke shot-stopper got a hand to it but only managed to help it onto the post and in within four minutes of the restart.
Arnautovic tried to get the visitor's back in the game but he sent his free-kick well wide before Crouch shot just wide from close range. But it was the hosts who continued to show their dominance by controlling proceedings as they went looking for a fourth goal. A fine attacking move saw Oxlade-Chamberlain set-up Santi Cazorla, but the Spanish international's angled shot landed on the roof of the net.
The day continued to get more positive for the Gunners as Theo Walcott came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain after 68 minutes as he continued his recovery from injury. Mesut Ozil came off the bench five minutes later to make his comeback after more than three months out with a knee injury. The World Cup winner replaced Giroud with 17 minutes remaining and Gunners' fans will be hoping he discovers more positive form this time around.
Stoke fans thought their side had grabbed a consolation when Geoff Cameron volley home, only for his effort to be disallowed for offside. It almost got worse for the Potters when Walcott burst clear, but he scuffed his effort wide as he continues to look rusty following his return from injury.
The visitors wasted another chance to get on the scoresheet in the closing stages as substitute Stephen Ireland saw his effort well saved by Ospina. The save ensured a clean sheet for the Colombian in what was a great day for the Gunners.
It was a great all-round performance and there were plenty of positives, with Debuchy's injury the only real negative of the day. Fans will be hoping Arsene Wenger's men can produce more the same at Manchester City next week.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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