Arsenal fans' excitement builds as a lovely, flowing move sees Alexis Sanchez play a pass to Mesut Ozil, who in turn frees Aaron Ramsey wide right but the midfielder leans back too much as he shapes to shoot and fires high and wide.

Arsenal are deservedly ahead, but they are still not quite clinical enough in the final third.

Arsenal have picked up where they had left off as they search for a second. Nacho Monreal is allowed to run unchallenged down the left, giving him the time and space to try and pick out Theo Walcott at the near post, but a Stoke defender sticks a leg out to put the ball behind.

Image source, AP

Can Arsenal put this game to bed with further goals in the coming 45 minutes?

We are back under way.

Original Narrator:  Is it fair to young Oxlade-Chamberlain to be left on bench just to accommodate a place for Ramsey in the team? Huge talent frustrated. 

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Image source, Opta

As it stands, Arsenal are up to third while Stoke are 18th. Look at Chelsea down there, too.

Image source, Opta

Arsenal only lead 1-0 despite enjoying 72% of possession in the first half, and their heatmap (left) shows how they have seen lots of the ball all over the pitch. Stoke, in contrast, still have not really got out of their half as can be seen by their heatmap on the right, although Marko Arnautovic is at least giving them something of an outlet down their left wing.

Image source, BBC/Opta

Jonathan Pearce
BBC football commentator

"Arsenal lead through Theo Walcott's goal, but Jack Butland has largely kept Arsenal at bay and the Gunners are always vulnerable at 1-0."

One minute of added time at the end of the 45, with Stoke on the attack at the moment...

Give Theo Walcott a ball to chase and not too much time to think about it, brilliant. Give him more time on the ball to fashion a move, though, and he's not so good. 

The Gunners build another attack as Alexis Sanchez charges forward, he plays the ball wide to Santi Cazorla, who then feeds a low pass to Walcott inside the area. The forward tries to flick the ball round his marker and chase, but fails to do either.

James:  Wenger made the wrong team selection putting Walcott up front, says Chris Sutton... 

Faddi S:  What a pass by Ozil for Walcott's goal. Vision.

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In graphical form, Arsenal's goal does not look like much - anyone can play a long ball forward, right? In reality, it was a thing of beauty. Mesut Ozil played the precision pass, Theo Walcott supplied the simple finish and the Gunners take the lead.

Image source, BBC/Opta

Mesut Ozil is the first man in the book this afternoon as his attempts to regain possession are deemed a little too aggressive.

Rich, Stoke:  More route one football from Arsenal. It really is awful watching this long ball style isn't it Arsenal fans...  

That goal, by the way, is the first Arsenal fans have been able to celebrate at home this season.

On this show so far, you wouldn't bet against them celebrating a few more this afternoon...

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on Final Score

"That is the type of goal Theo Walcott scores from the right wing, when he's running on to the ball cutting inside from deep. That isn't a problem for him. It's when he's playing around the box that the problems come."

Arsenal, though, cannot afford to take it easy as Stoke almost respond with their first real attack of the game, Joselu fizzing a low shot through a crowd but straight at Petr Cech.

Chris Sutton
Former Blackburn striker on Final Score

"A wonderful ball from Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott's dangerous when he can run into the space behind a defence. And it was an excellent, composed finish."