Stoke City – Arsenal

1. Welcome along one and all. It's Stoke v Arsenal in the 13:30pm kick off today. Any trip to the Britannia for the Gunners seems to chuck up the odd bit of spice so we're all set for a lively affair.

2. Wojciech Szczesny is out injured with a rib injury so Vito Mannone starts in goal. The only other change sees Giroud replace Walcott, who is on the bench.

3. Matt Etherington misses out for Stoke. Geoff Cameron comes in for him. Whitehead is suspended and Jermaine Pennant returns. Rory Delap is on the bench.

4. 1'

   <b>KICK OFF</b> - here we go...

5. 2'

   Stoke's fans chant "boring, boring," as Arsenal stroke the ball around. Predictable.

6. 3'

   Two brisk challenges from Stoke, one punished, one not.

7. 4'

   Cameron throws long into the box in the absence of Delap. Mannone claims as it bounces free in the box.

8. 5'

   Giroud looks up for it, barging Whelan off the ball. Huth intercepts a stray pass though.

9. 6'

   Two decent balls into the box - the second is flicked goalwards by Crouch and Walters smashes home but the flag is up.

10. 7'

    Arsenal yet to get into their stride here. Arteta wastes possession.

11. 8'

    Bit of a calamity for Stoke as Wilkinson trips allowing Podolski to get onto a Giroud pass but even on the floor the full back makes a vital block to prevent Arsenal scoring.

12. 9'

    He blocked it with his hand, the replay shows. Point blank range though. Looked like it was going in as well.

13. 10'

    Walters went down in the middle of that last move. He's not happy but no angle to see what went on.

14. 12'

    Podloski gets on the end of a Cazorla cross and nods narrowly over but he, too, was offside.

15. 13'

    Nice move down the left as Gibbs gets a cross into the box, Shawcross hoofs clear.

16. 14'

    Two chances for Giroud but he got them the wrong way round. He crossed first when he should have shot, then shot when he should have crossed. Neither worked.

17. 16'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Huth is carded for barging Podolski off the ball just outside the box. Great opportunity now....

18. 17'

    Two miserable efforts from Cazorla. His first effort hits the wall, his follow doesn't, but goes miles wide.

19. 18'

    Wenger patrolling the technical area in his new glasses. Looks like a school girl in a suit.

20. 19'

    A long ball from Cameron looking for Pennant but Gibbs shepherds it out of play.

21. 20'

    Lovely move as Cazorla finds Diaby, he feeds Gibbs but his cross is overhit. Real chance.

22. 22'

    Arsenal in total control at the moment. Stoke penned in.

23. 23'

    More overplaying from Arsenal when Podolski had good possession. He slides it to Cazorla who scuffs a shot on goal.

24. 25'

    Finally Podolski does have a punt on goal but this one was always rising.

25. 26'

    Poor pass from Giroud as Gervinho bursts into the box. Final ball lacking for Arsenal.

26. 27'

    Shot on target from Wilkinson after Crouch's flick but it lacked power.

27. 28'

    Cazorla is the fulcrum again for Arsenal. A very classy player.

28. 29'

    Stinging shot from Kightly after a rare Stoke break but it is right at Mannone.

29. 30'

    Vermaelen gets away with a rare error as he nearly presents possession to Crouch.

30. 31'

    Wilson is late on Cazorla, who makes the most of it. In fairness, the defender trod on his foot.

31. 32'

    The free kick goes short to Cazorla who drags another poor effort wide from range.

32. 33'

    Referee Lee Mason blocks Diaby off and Arsenal surrender possession.

33. 34'

    Cazorla finds his range and brings a fine save out of Begovic after Arteta was challenged hard by Whelan.

34. 35'

    Cazorla delivers a good corner but Stoke are handed a free kick.

35. 36'

    Podolski clips Pennant and Stoke can load the box. Free kick wide right.

36. 37'

    Good defending at the near post from Giroud as Pennant delivered.

37. 38'

    Mannone claims the long bomb from Cameron. The away fans enjoyed that one.

38. 39'

    Terrible from Gervinho who has space on the right. He waits and waits, then falls over as the ball rolls out of play for a goal kick. A waste.

39. 40'

    Good ball in from Cameron but an equally good clearing header from Jenkinson.

40. 41'

    Podolski brings the ball away after a nice turn. He feeds Gibbs but Whelan makes a good interception.

41. 42'

    Cazorla again with a neat pass, this time Giroud wastes a chance to cross from inside the box. Shawcross did well.

42. 43'

    Crouch's shot is blocked after a long ball drops at his feet. Gibbs hacks clear. Throw in time. Wasted.

43. 44'

    Good tackle from Wilkinson on Gervinho. Arsenal corner.

44. 45'

    <b>HALF TIME</b> - that is the break. An average half, that Arsenal dominated but Stoke came into it as the half wore on. Hopefully we'll get better after the interval.

45. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0826/jonathanwaltersoffsidegoal20120826_275x155.jpg"><br> Walters' joy was short lived after the offside flag went up

46. Don't forget, hot on the heels of this match we have a treat from Anfield as Liverpool take on Manchester City. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=345820&cc=5739" target="_blank">Have a read of our preview here</a>.

47. A quick bit of half time reading. <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1142968/alex-song:-i-never-wanted-to-leave-arsenal?cc=5739" target="_blank">Alex Song says he didn't want to leave Arsenal and only did so because they wouldn't offer him a new long term deal</a>.

48. 46'

    We begin again...

49. 47'

    Guess what? Arsenal move neatly towards the penalty area then lose the ball.

50. 48'

    Pennant's cross is hoofed down field by Vermaelen.

51. 49'

    Lovely turn from Diaby and a pass to Gervinho who miscontrols then crosses against Giroud and hands Stoke a goal kick. He's been poor.

52. 50'

    There's practically zero atmosphere in the ground.

53. 51'

    Nice control from Gervinho this time, the a dragged shot ten yards wide. Time for Walcott? The Ox?

54. 53'

    Stoke have to offer more of a threat you feel. Too easy for Arsenal at the back so far.

55. 54'

    A long throw is nodded on by Crouch but Vermaelen clears.

56. 55'

    Crouch's arm catches Mertesacker. Treatment needed.

57. 56'

    One good pass from Arsenal in the final third is all it will take for them to score.

58. 57'

    Cazorla's cross shot rolls out of play. Come on lads, up it.

59. 58'

    Big penalty shout from Stoke. Nothing given but there was a nudge fro the side on Pennant. Risky from Gibbs. Probably the right call.

60. 59'

    A very disappointing cross from Kightly when well placed. The quality of the game started off low and has dropped since half time.

61. 60'

    Decent from Podolski as he crosses from the right but Begovic dives out to claim well.

62. 61'

    Podolski's latest cross forces Shawcross to nod behind for a corner.

63. 62'

    Walters barges into Arteta after Stoke had cleared the corner and Arsenal have a free kick.

64. 64'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> A deserved yellow for Wilkinson who puts in an awful tackle on Vermaelen. Free kick in a dangerous spot.

65. 65'

    Arteta smashes a shot against the wall. Poor. This game is not good.

66. 66'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Cameron Jerome comes on for Jermaine Pennant.

67. 68'

    A deep cross from Wilkinson and Crouch sticks out a leg but he was never going to get that on target.

68. 69'

    Cazorla's latest effort takes a little nick and goes behind for a corner.

69. 70'

    The corner comes to Giroud on the penalty spot but his flying scissor kick bounces into the ground and wide.

70. 71'

    Excellent cross from Kightly - good defending from Vermaelen.

71. 72'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Walcott and The Ox come on, Gervinho and Podolski depart.

72. 73'

    Good opening for Arteta as Giroud holds the ball up but from 20 yards he skews his shot wide.

73. 74'

    Best chance of the game for Diaby as the ball falls at his feet nine yards out. He takes an age to sort his feet out then squirms a shot wide. Never looked comfortable.

74. 76'

    Cazorla works it wide for Gibbs but Begovic claims.

75. 77'

    Good cross nodded back across goal by Walters, Arteta clears up. At the other end, Walcott crosses well but Whelan clears.

76. 79'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Crouch's race is run. He makes way for Ryan Shotton.

77. 80'

    Shout for handball against Jenkinson but nothing doing.

78. 81'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Palacios replaces Whelan.

79. 82'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Cazorla goes off and Aaron Ramsey comes on, to some boos from the home fans. Why exactly?

80. 82'

    Cazorla's corner is met by The Ox but his header is off target. Please, someone, score a goal.

81. 83'

    Another Arsenal corner - their 11th.

82. 84'

    Well worked down the left by Ramsey and a nice cross. Corner number 12 results.

83. 86'

    Ramsey gives the ball away and Kightly plays a lovely ball to Walters who has a clear sight of goal but his flick was weak and off target.

84. 87'

    Now Ramsey turns on the edge of the box and fires wide.

85. 88'

    Arteta nudges Kightly and Stoke win a free kick.

86. 89'

    So nearly a superb goal from Giroud after he is fed down the left. He went for an ambitious chip and flicked the top of the net but Ramsey was rushing through the middle and was screaming for it.

87. 90'

    Giroud crosses this time and finds Ramsey but his shot is blocked. Arsenal pressing now.

88. 91'

    Three minutes added....

89. 92'

    The Ox breaks down the left. Wilkinson tackles.

90. 93'

    <b>FULL TIME</b> - well, that was a poor game. Another 0-0 draw for Arsenal and another point for Stoke. Arsenal the better side but lacking a cutting edge.

91. 93'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2012/0826/arsenewengerwoe20120826_275x155.jpg"><br> Arsene Wenger sums up the afternoon in Stoke.

92. 93'

    <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast/_/id/345820?cc=5739" target="_blank">I can guarantee there will be more excitement at Anfield, so hop over to follow it live with me right here</a>.

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