The Gunners continue to dominate possession and continue to press. Still no way through for them yet though.

Image source, BBC/Opta

Next to sting the hands of Jack Butland is Santi Cazorla with a fierce drive from inside the area.

Jack Butland is definitely earning his coin today as Laurent Koscielny is allowed to roam forward unchecked. With no opposition shirt around him, the defender decides to have a pop from 35 yards and only a brilliant save by Butland denies him.

Chris Sutton
Former Blackburn striker on Final Score

"Mark Hughes won't be happy with the performance of Stoke and the way the match is panning out, though he'd take 0-0 as the result as his team are just holding on. 

"Arsenal should be two, three, even four ahead at this point."

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder on Final Score

"Arsenal are off to flyer. Alexis Sanchez is phenomenal. He's really got the bit between his teeth today."  

Image source, PA

After that brief foray into nosebleed territory for Stoke, Arsenal are back on the offensive as Francis Coquelin arrows a ball into the area, trying to pick out Theo Walcott, but the pass has too much power and goes beyond the forward.

They have spent the opening quarter-of-an-hour defending but Stoke have a chance now as they win a free-kick some 30 yards from goal. 

Xherdan Shaqiri takes it, floating the ball into the middle of the box but Petr Cech strides out confidently to punch the ball away.

Image source, Reuters

The game has mostly been played in Stoke's half so far - Arsenal's heat-map on the left shows how they have dominated play thanks to their 73% possession, while Stoke (on the right) have barely seen the ball and have hardly made it to the other side of the half-way line.

Image source, BBC/Opta

Now Theo Walcott puts on the afterburners to lead a break. He cuts inside Geoff Cameron but his shot is straight down Jack Butland's throat.

How is this still goalless?

Image source, PA

Alexis Sanchez is everywhere at the moment and he sees a goal-bound shot blocked after some good work by Mesut Ozil opens up the chance inside the area.

Image source, Getty Images

My word! Arsenal denied again by the woodwork as this time Alexis Sanchez's crisp, low strike skims across the surface of the pitch and hits the bottom of the right upright.

Arsene Wenger scratches his brow in frustration, but Stoke are riding their luck at the moment.

Another chance for Arsenal as Alexis Sanchez curls a free-kick over the wall and towards the far post, but Jack Butland gets across to push the ball behind for a corner.

The Gunners are certainly keeping Butland on his toes with this fine start.

Good from Arsenal! Santi Cazorla floats the ball into the middle of the box and Alexis Sanchez rises to head goalwards but Jack Butland does superbly to push the ball on to the post. Theo Walcott then skews a shot wide from the rebound.

Typically patient passing from Arsenal in the very early stages as they test out the Stoke defence. Aaron Ramsey clips a pass out wide to Nacho Monreal, but his ball into the box is a bad one and Stoke clear.

Off we go then! Stoke get things under way.

The players stroll out on to the pitch at Emirates Stadium with lovely blue skies above. Arsene Wenger seeks out Mark Hughes to shake his hand and we are a couple of minutes away from kick off.