The Britannia Stadium has been the equivalent of Room 101 for Arsene Wenger and this was another chastening experience to add to the list.
Wenger simply cannot find the formula to win in the Potteries and despite threatening a dramatic comeback, Arsenal’s pitiful first-half performance enabled Stoke City to extend the remarkable record.
With only one win in their last nine visits, the #WengerOut hashtag was trending ominously at half-time, after three goals punished one of the most weak defensive displays in recent memory from an Arsenal team.
Peter Crouch shattered Arsenal’s recent solidity after just 20 seconds while the inspired Bojan and Jonathan Walters added further goals to spark off half-time polls over whether Arsenal’s manager should be allowed to continue.
Yet it was only their spirited performance in the second period that saved Wenger from a more severe inquest, with Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey responding, before Calum Chambers’s late dismissal provided the footnote of an absorbing encounter.
Even though trips to Stoke have always proven nightmarish, Wenger’s bewildering team selection will have lifted Stoke before a ball was kicked. By opting for the inexperienced Hector Bellerin and Chambers, two players not renowned for their aerial prowess, it rolled out the welcome mat to the home team.
And suspicions over the fragility of Arsenal’s back four were confirmed after just 20 seconds. Steven Nzonzi’s cross into the box created panic and after Bellerin failed to clear under pressure from Mame Biram Diouf, Crouch was presented with the simple task of sweeping home from four yards.
It was alarmingly easy for Stoke, the quickest goal in the Premier League this season and the first conceded by Arsenal in four games.
Wenger must have been fearing another excruciating afternoon and his frustration increased in the 11th minute when Olivier Giroud missed a routine header from Bellerin’s cross.
Stoke were inspired by the trickery and invention of Bojan, arguably a player more befitting of Arsenal’s traditions. The former Barcelona prodigy was at the heart of every threatening moment and added the second goal on 34 minutes.
This time it was Walters who provided the cross from the right and Bojan produced a deft finish with a sidefooted volley past Emiliano Martinez.
“Two-nil to the rugby team” chanted the Stoke fans, in response to Wenger’s famous snipe from four years ago.
Arsenal attempted to respond again, with Asmir Begovic tipping over a Giroud header, but they were devoid of direction and leadership. Even more damning was the lack of tenacity, surely a pre-requisite when teams face Stoke.
A third goal seemed inevitable and Walters provided it on the stroke of half-time, lashing home from close range after further defensive hesitancy.
The hapless Bellerin was hooked at half-time, as Wenger scrapped his approach and finally they started to produce some nervy moments.
Alexis Sanchez was given far too much space to amble into the penalty area and although he rounded Begovic his shot came back off the post.
Stoke could have had a fourth but Bojan’s goal was disallowed and Arsenal were given hope in the 67th minute when Diouf brought down Mathieu Flamini in the area.
Cazorla put away the penalty and suddenly Stoke looked nervy. Begovic saved from substitute Danny Welbeck but from the corner, a clearance fell to Aaron Ramsey whose volley from outside the area was exquisite.
Their chances seemed to flicker away in the Staffordshire cold when Chambers was sent off for a second bookable offence, a petty pull on Bojan.
Cazorla tested Begovic again from distance and despite a late bombardment of pressure, Stoke did enough to carry on the curse.
Stoke (4-2-3-1): Begovic 6; Bardsley 6, Shawcross 7, Muniesa 6 (Whelan 63 6), Pieters 7; Nzonzi 8, Cameron 7; Diouf 7 (Adam 69 6), Bojan 8 (Huth 87), Walters 7; Crouch 7. Subs Butland (g), Ireland, Assaidi, Shenton. Booked: Muniesa, Crouch, Adam.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Martinez 5; Bellerin 4 (Welbeck half-time 5), Chambers 5, Mertesacker 5, Gibbs 6 (Campbell 90); Ramsey 5, Flamini 5; Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Sanchez 6, Cazorla 6; Giroud 5 (Podolski 63 5). Subs Szczesny (g), Koscielny, Ajayi, Maitland-Miles. Booked: Chambers, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain. Sent off: Chambers
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester)
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