The race for fourth is still possible for Arsenal after Olivier Giroud struck twice in the 4-1 win at Stoke.
Mesut Ozil added to Giroud's opener before a controversial goal from Peter Crouch hauled Stoke back into the game with 23 minutes left to play. It had the potential to be a very nervy finish, but Alexis Sanchez and Giroud ensured Arsenal left the Britannia with all three points.
The Gunners are now one point off fourth-placed Liverpool and three behind Manchester City with just two games left to play. If West Ham can do us a favour against Liverpool, the race for fourth will be in our own hands if we can beat Sunderland and Everton. But should Liverpool win, we'll have to win both games and hope the others slip up in other games.
Stoke is a ground we haven't had too much luck over the years, so it was always going to be a tricky match, but we looked confident for large spells of the game and only good saves from Jack Butland kept the scores goalless until just before the break. The Potters goalkeeper did well to deny Sanchez and Shkodran Mustafi, while Nacho Monreal saw his effort hit a post. At the other end Marko Arnautovic's free-kick sailed off target.
Sanchez sent a shot into the side netting as the Gunners continued to create chances and three minutes before half-time we finally broke the deadlock to take a deserved lead. Birthday boy Francis Coquelin set up Hector Bellerin, who raced into the box and crossed for Giroud to score from close range.
A one-goal lead was always going to be dangerous so I felt more confident of getting a good result when Ozil doubled the advantage within 10 minutes of the restart. Ozil and Sanchez combined well with the German international latching onto a perfectly-timed pass from Sanchez before beating the defender and coolly dinking the ball in over Butland.
Mame Biram Diouf headed just wide when it looked easier to have scored as Stoke tried to find a way back into the game. Petr Cech, who has made some key saves in recent games, then preserved our lead when he tipped Bruno Martins Indi's header over the bar on what was his 400th Premier League appearance.
But Stoke reduced the deficit and suddenly the game looked like it could be set for a very nervy final 24 minutes. At first, when seeing the goal in real time, I thought Crouch had scored a fine header. But as soon as I had seen the replay I was in agreement with others that Crouch had clearly used his hand to direct the ball into the net.
Arsenal restored their two-goal advantage just 10 minutes later. Shortly before his goal Sanchez had signalled to the bench that he needed to come off, but he was left on for an extra few minutes and it paid off. Rob Holding passed to Bellerin, who in turn set up Sanchez and the Chilean broke into the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Sanchez was then withdrawn and replaced by Ramsey, who nearly made an immediate impact, but the Welsh midfielder was denied by a save from Butland. Hopefully the injury to Sanchez isn't too bad as we really need our star man for the remaining two league games and the FA Cup Final.
Four minutes later though and it was 4-1! Ramsey was forced away from goal, but still managed to send the ball back across goal for Giroud to fire home his second of the match.
All eyes will be on Liverpool's trip to West Ham and hoping for a favour from our London rivals! Relying on other results is nerve-wracking, but at least we did our job in style...now we must wait!
OPPOSITION VIEW
Stoke fan Loz Crouch believes the frustrating performance summed up his side's season.
"Well that was our season in a nutshell," said Crouch. "Awful start, a brief rally in the middle to give us a bit of hope before petering out feebly at the end.
"I missed the first half due to a teenager's volleyball game which overran - I ended up wishing it had lasted even longer. Having only beaten bottom-half fodder all season, this game was our last chance to beat a "top" team this season and go out on a high. Needless to say we didn't even come close to grasping the opportunity.
"For a lot of people that will have been the final straw regarding Hughes. We simply don't capitulate to Arsenal at home, it's become a matter of principle. Nothing encapsulates our recent decline better than the fact that two years ago we saw out the season with a 6-1 thrashing of Liverpool, whereas this year we're limping to a heavy home defeat in front of a rapidly-emptying stadium.
"As for the game itself, what is there to say? Our defending was all over the place, Glen "contract extension" Johnson looked about twice as old as he actually is, midfield nowhere to be seen and completely toothless up front (until the ever-reliable Crouchy added to his "headed" goals tally).
"Good goals from the Arse but it was all too easy really... The writing was on the wall from the first whistle, and unless Leslie Mark Hughes has an exceptionally effective summer and an explosive start to next season, it might be for him too."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Regardless of what happens to other teams we need to focus on our own job and getting three points from our midweek home game against already-relegated Sunderland.
Although the Black Cats can't beat the drop and have little to play for, they are still going to want to end the season on a high and they can mathematically still avoid finishing bottom of the table.
This should be another win for us, but I am taking nothing for granted. No game is easy in the Premier League and we will have to make sure we put in another good performance to get a result!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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