Summary

  • First-half goals ease Arsenal to victory

  • Sanchez punishes Cahill error for Gunners' first

  • Walcott finishes sublime move for the second

  • Ozil volleys in the third from Sanchez cross

  1. Arsenal 3-1 Stoke Citypublished at 18:04 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal move top of the Premier League on goals scored as they come from behind to beat Stoke at Emirates Stadium.

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  2. 'Arsenal are in a good place'published at 17:01 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City

    Arsenal

    Arsenal forward Theo WalcottImage source, Reuters

    Arsenal forward Theo Walcott: "It’s a good three points, really important. I think when you put on an Arsenal shirt on you should be breeding confidence.

    “It is the best team I have ever been involved in, the fans are part of that, we want to do well for them and well for each other. That comes down to hard work and you get rewarded for it in the end.

    “Everything about this club is in a good place at the moment.”

  3. 'Arsenal only comfortable when it was three'published at 16:59 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    Arsenal were never comfortable until the third goal, but even then they still had a few scares. Defensive coaches in Premier League must be having nightmares. Goals have been flying in everywhere. Defensively the Premier League is a shambles, but it is great entertainment. There has been too much slackness but you have to say the attacking has been very good.

  4. 'Stoke heads going down'published at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    Marko Arnautovic has had a frustrating afternoon. He has had one or two opportunites but had to watch Arsenal score three really good goals.

    Heads are going down among the Stoke players, but if they get a goal back now it might be an interesting last couple of minutes.

  5. 'Sanchez and Ozil irreplaceable'published at 16:37 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City

    Kevin Kilbane
    Former Everton and Sunderland winger on Final Score

    Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring their second goal with Alexis SanchezImage source, Reuters

    Arsene Wenger has got to keep Sanchez and Ozil. What would it take to replace them? That's what you have to think about, regardless of wages. 

    They are irreplaceable. You are not going to be able to get that kind of talent into Arsenal.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    #bbcfootball

    Ian Funnell: Dele Alli last week Robert Snodgrass this week. When will the FA bring in retrospective action for diving?  

    James Pratt: So Snodgrass (on a yellow) dives for a penalty and commits a penalty and is still on the pitch. Come again?! 

    David Jordan: As a referee myself, it can be hard to tell a dive from a foul. That, however, wasn't hard at all. Blatant dive. 

    Ed K Junior: Looking at that Snodgrass dive, I think it might be time to introduce retrospective punishment for diving.

  7. 'Turbo-charged Gunners'published at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 2-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    It is like someone flicks a switch and Arsenal go into turbo gear. Ozil showed pace, picked out Oxlade-Chamberlain. He looked sharp coming in from left side. That was a chance.

  8. 'Arsenal have options'published at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 2-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    Theo Walcott looks a different player from what I saw earlier in the season. There is bags of confidence from Arsenal and one more should put the game to bed. Stoke are struggling to get out of their half. Arsenal have lots of options.

  9. Get Involvedpublished at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    #bbcfootball

    Mesut Ozil celebratesImage source, PA

    Mat VP: Lee Grant will probably speed up his kicks now then you will imagine?  

    Shanu Afolami: Oh My Word! Wenger should please bring out the checkbook tonight! Wonderful Golazo by Ozil  

    Ian Funnell: Ozil scores again. Adding goals this season. Pay the man what he wants as we wont find a replacement  

  10. 'A great piece of improvisation'published at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 2-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    Mesut Ozil had to stretch a lot to score that and he was a long way out. It was a great bit of improvisation. He couldn't control it. Lee Grant came out and couldn't go back. Brilliant goal.

  11. Better off with Bellerinpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Hector BellerinImage source, Getty Images

    Ahmed Ashour:  Hector Bellerin is the most important player for Arsenal. 

    Chris Lord:, external Bellerin best right back in the league. 

    Emmanuel Yunusa: Hector Bellerin back with a bang  

  12. 'Arsenal on top but Stoke are stubborn'published at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 1-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    Another cross from Bellerin. He's my man of the match so far and he only came on a substitute. Stoke will need to cut out those crosses.

    Arsenal have dominated, but conceded a needless penalty. Cech has had one save to make. Stoke have been stubborn but I think there will be more goals in the second half.

  13. Postpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 1-1 Stoke

    Stoke had a problem down their left flank with just Theo Walcott to contend with. Now with Hector Bellerin having replacing Shkodran Mustafi through injury there are two sets of rapid heels to deal with. 

    With over 50% of Arsenal's attacking moves coming down their right, was it any surprise that Bellerin and Walcott combined for the goal that cancels out Charlie Adam's penalty?

    Arsneal possesImage source, Opta
    Arsneal possesImage source, Opta
  14. 'Good run from Walcott'published at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 1-1 Stoke

    John Hartson
    Ex-Wales striker on Final Score

    Good goal. Theo Walcott is doing what good strikers should do and getting across the front man, across the near post. It's a deft touch as well, a nice finish.

    Theo Walcott celebratesImage source, Reuters
  15. 'More goals to come'published at 15:46 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 1-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    I said it would not be 0-0 and I'm proved right. I think there will be more goals. Well done to Arsenal for being patient. Game on!

    Arsenal celebrateImage source, Reuters
  16. 'Wasteful Arsenal'published at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 0-1 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates BBC Radio 5 live

    Arsenal have been in some key positions but the final ball has let them down.

  17. 'Xhaka does something stupid every game'published at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 0-1 Stoke

    Kevin Kilbane
    Former Everton and Sunderland winger on Final Score

    It looked like a penalty to me initially, because Granit Xhaka goes over the top on Joe Allen.

    Xhaka does something stupid every game he plays in, he's on the edge for no reason.

    Granit XhakaImage source, Getty Images
  18. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:34 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    #bbcfootball

    Gooner72:  All I have seen from Xhaka is that he is a liability for Arsenal.

  19. 'Against the run of play'published at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 0-1 Stoke

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates BBC Radio 5 live

    Joe Allen's touch was a little heavy, but he nicked the ball before the challenge. It was a very soft penalty to give away. Anywhere else in the pitch it is a foul, so it is a penalty. A little against the run of play. 

    No doubt about the penalty. Charlie Adam went to the right and Petr Cech went to his left.

    Charlie Adam celebratesImage source, Reuters
  20. 'Arsenal looking more likely'published at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 10 December 2016

    Arsenal 0-0 Stoke City

    Terry Butcher
    Ex-England captain at the Emirates for BBC Radio 5 live

    Stoke are getting into good positions on the right side but their final ball is very poor. Arsenal's movement and passing is also good and you feel it is only a matter of time before they get behind that Stoke defence.

    Alex Oxlade-ChamberlainImage source, Reuters