Arsenal moved to the top position in the Barclays Premier League after a great comeback to beat Stoke 3-1 on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium. The visitors took the lead after Charlie Adam converted penalty shot in the 29th minute after new player Granit Xhaka elbowed Joe Allen in the box, but the Gunners were too strong for them. The victory puts Arsenal on top of the Premier League table with the better goal difference than Chelsea, who will face West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
The Blues are hoping to stretch their amazing run to fourteen matches without any lost.
A slow start
Arsene Wenger decided to pick the same starting eleven that defeated West Ham United last weekend, with the youngster Hector Bellerin returning to the squad after an injury. The Gunners started the game slow, but they had their chances as Theo Walcott saw his low shot saved by Stoke’s goalkeeper Grant. The visitors tried to respond when Joe Allen missed the target, as he received a great pass from Marko Arnautovic. The French coach was forced into a change at the beginning of the game as Shkodran Mustafi was changed by Hector Bellerin, who returned on right-back position with Gabriel Paulista on the centre-back.
Great comeback by Arsenal
The hosts struggled to play their own Football, but they finally managed to equalise thanks to some great passing as Mesut Ozil delivered a brilliant ball to Bellerin. His cross was put into the net by Theo Walcott. The Gunners took the lead at the start of the second half when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chipped a ball over the defence for Mesut Ozil, who took advantage of Erik Pieters’ mistake and lobbed a goalie with a superb header.
Stoke City come close to equalising on a couple of occasions. Mame Diouf headed wide from 10 yards out and then Peter Crouch saw his effort saved by Petr Cech, with an incredible low save. The Gunners made sure that all three points will stay at the Emirates Stadium, as Sanchez was fouled on the corner of the box, but the referee played advantage and Alex Iwobi rebounded the loose ball and smashed the ball into the net.