Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice and unselfishly gave up the chance of the hat-trick to get team-mate Alexandre Lacazette back among the goals in Arsenal's 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Stoke.
The Gunners didn't really get going in what was a rather tedious first half, but showed more energy and purpose after the restart. Although there was an element of fortune about the controversial penalty which broke the deadlock after 75 minutes, it spurred Arsenal into life to see the game out.
After over two weeks without a match it was great to see us back in action in what was a shuffled line-up, with Premier League ever-presents Petr Cech and Granit Xhaka not in the starting XI. Xhaka was on the bench along with Laurent Koscielny, who was rested due to an Achilles problem.
Stoke started brightly with their main threat Xherdan Shaqiri curling a shot just wide inside the opening five minutes.
Arsenal looked very rusty in the first half and kept cheaply giving the ball away with sloppy passing. Shkodran Mustafi carelessly gave the ball away twice in the opening 15 minutes, although he did slightly redeem himself with two good sliding challenges.
Mame Biram Diouf saw his strike deflected off target for a corner before his Stoke team-mate Shaqiri sent a powerful long-range shot well wide.
Arsenal's first meaningful chance of the match didn't arrive until the 23rd minute when good interplay between Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey set up Hector Bellerin. The full-back's cross was cleared before Ramsey returned it on the volley and the Welsh midfielder's effort clipped the crossbar.
Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny saw shots deflect wide for a corner before Mesut Ozil saw two of his inviting crosses headed off target by Calum Chambers.
Arsenal improved after the break with Danny Welbeck sending a volley just wide before Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland reacted quickly to save Nacho Monreal's low strike soon after.
After being out injured for nearly two months it was great to see Lacazette make his return when he replaced Welbeck after 61 minutes and he put in a decent energetic shift.
Jack Wilshere saw his effort comfortably saved by Butland before Shaqiri tested David Ospina in the Arsenal goal at the other end.
Arsenal survived a heart in mouth moment when Shaqiri's inswinging corner cannoned back off a post with Ospina beaten.
The Gunners were soon back on the attack with Ozil's through ball picking out Aubameyang, but the Gabon striker's chipped effort was saved by Butland.
With 15 minutes remaining Arsenal broke the deadlock in somewhat controversial circumstances when Bruno Martins-Indi brought down Ozil in the box. A penalty was given, although Martins-Indi did appear to get a foot to the ball first before catching Ozil from behind. Referee Craig Pawson didn't have the benefit of a television replay and a penalty was given, with Aubameyang sending Butland the wrong way for his fourth goal in six appearances for the hosts.
Butland produced a great save to keep out Ramsey before Stoke wasted the chance to level the scores seven minutes from time. Substitute Peter Crouch headed the ball down to Badou Ndiaye, but the midfielder curled his effort way off target.
Arsenal put the result beyond doubt three minutes later as Aubameyang clinically fired a first-time shot beyond Butland from Ozil's corner.
Aubameyang could have had a hat-trick when Arsenal were awarded a more clear-cut penalty in the final minute of normal time, but instead he unselfishly let Lacazette take it and the French striker made no mistake to complete the scoring.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Stoke fan Laurie Crouch was downbeat about the performances of both sides after a defeat which left the Potters second bottom in the league and three points away from safety with only six games left.
"It was a crap game between two crap sides," said Crouch. "I thought we might hang on for a point until the terrible penalty decision, but we are not getting any luck - see Shaq's almost-goal from the corner.
"We’re dead and gone and if it wasn’t for Shaqiri we’d be bottom on about 10 points. Nobody at Arsenal looks interested as evidenced by the half-empty stands.
"They could barely even be bothered to boo Shawcross. I didn’t even realise Ozil was playing until the 35th minute. What’s he on, 350k a week?
"Conclusions: there’s still a bit of fight in us but we’re terrible, and down. Arsenal are embarrassingly crap for a team of that stature, and the apathy that’s set in there is reminiscent of what’s happening at Stoke, albeit at a different level.
"Basically football, and particularly the Premier League, is shite. We’ll see whether the Championship offers us anything more to cheer about next year, but I doubt you’ll be requesting any post-match comments from a Stoke fan any time soon! Over and out."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
The 3-0 victory and Tottenham's win at Chelsea means the latter are now only five points ahead of us. I'm not convinced we'll catch them, but you just never know.
Although Chelsea dropping points is good, I'd much rather that one had ended all square as we never like to see a Tottenham win and they are 13 points ahead of us which isn't good enough.
Attention must now quickly turn to the Europa League and the first leg of our Europa League quarter-final at home against CSKA Moscow.
We must make sure we don't underestimate the Russian outfit as by no means is this an easy tie, but it is certainly winnable and one of the preferred teams to have drawn given who else is still left in the competition.
We need to make sure we put in an excellent performance, try to build a decent lead and avoid conceding any away goals as the second leg in Russia will be a completely different kettle of fish.
Between the two legs we face a home Premier League game against Southampton and, although we don't have a lot left to play for, we must finish the season strongly and pick up as many points as we can!
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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