Stoke City 0 - 0 Arsenal: Good performance, but lacking in attack

One does not simply walk into Mordor and come back with a good result.

Arsenal have struggled at the Britannia Stadium since Stoke came up into Premier League a few years ago. We've only won their once and always struggle against their physical, long ball tactics. Their fans are also loud and stupid, which creates a bit of an intimidating atmosphere. All in all, it's not a comfortable place for us to go to.


There were a couple of changes for this game. Vito Mannone deputised for the injury Szczesny, much to our horror, and Giroud came in for Walcott. Podolski moved to the left and Gervinho to the right as a result.

Dealing with Stoke

When you go to Stoke, you will play a tough, competitive team who like to get the ball into wide areas so their wingers can get crosses into their tall strikers. They will exploit every set-piece they can and have no qualms playing it long.

There are a few ways to deal with this. Firstly, you can try and show their wingers inside and try and prevent the crosses coming in. Secondly, you can push high up and try and mop up any balls in behind. Thirdly, you can force their team back by keeping the ball for extended periods; they can't ping it forward without the ball, and they'll have no targets.

Arsenal did a mixture of all three - not so much of the first, but more of the latter two. Arteta, Diaby and Cazorla kept the ball very well in the face of Stoke's pressure and Arsenal played a high line in order to push Stoke back. When Stoke won the ball back, they had two targets, Walters and Crouch, that were surrounded, usually, by four Arsenal defenders.

Mertesacker and Vermaelen competed very well against them. They didn't win the aerial duals all the time, but we had midfielders and full backs there to win the second ball. Then, we kept the ball. Rinse and repeat.

We defended very well at set-pieces, too. We were mostly touch-tight to their players and tried to prevent the ball going past the first man. This is where Giroud was important. With his tall frame, he intercepted the ball first on two ocassions.

What also helped us here was that we didn't give away many stupid free-kicks in our third. Moreover, Stoke didn't have a single corner and only a couple of throw-ins. By not giving up these set-piece opportunities, we effectively nulifield Stoke's threat.

Poor decision making in the final third

Now for the other half of the performance. Going forward, it was very similar to the Sunderland game. There weren't any clear cut opportunities on goal, and most of our chances were half-chances or long shots.

Podolski was much improved, though. Playing on the left, he was able to come inside and get on the ball without impairing on another player's space. He linked up well with Cazorla and between them they created some of our best play. Giroud stayed central as a focal point which allowed the three behind him to float about, unlike last week where Podolski's tendency to roam prevented that.

That's pretty much the extent of the improvement, though. Whenever we worked the ball into good positions, the final ball was often very poor. Our crosses were either under or over hit. Passes were usually innacurate. Wrong decisions were often made. It was frustrating to watch.

Also, our build-up, like last week, came mostly down the middle or the left. The right hand side was seldom involved in the build-up, possibly because Walcott and Gervinho both like to play on the shoulder and come inside, and this is tough to do against deep defences. Furthermore, Jenkinson isn't too effective going forward and doesn't have that understanding with the winger. Gibbs, by comparison, is more natural going forward, so he doesn't suffer form the same problems.

Point of interest

Just a minor point of interest. With Giroud up front, we were a lot more willing to play a direct pass. Thanks to his ability to hold the ball up and link-up with other players, this was often used as a launching pad for our attacks. As an added bonus, our goalkicks actually went to an Arsenal player, something that didn't always happen previously.

Also, at one point, Diaby was pushing right up on Stoke's backline, acting as a second target.

Another thing to watch out for in this new Arsenal - the use of target men.

Player Ratings

Vito Mannone - 6. Performed steadily. Made no errors like we expected. Fair play.

Per Mertesacker - 8. Stood up to Stoke's physicallity and defended excellently.

Thomas Vermaelen - 7. Did the clean up work really well.

Carl Jenkinson - 6. Performed well.

Kieran Gibbs - 6. Made one error that could've resulted in a Stoke penalty, but generally did okay.

Mikel Arteta - 8. Did some excellent defenisve work; tracking back, covering for players, getting his tackles in and making some interceptions. Doing well in the holding role so far.

Abou Diaby - 6. Indecisive on the ball, but his physical presence was very useful. Completed 90 minutes for the first time in ages, which is a big plus.

Santi Cazorla - 7. Picked up where he left up last week with another great performance. Can only think there's more to come once the attack improves.

Gervinho - 5. Disappointing. Seldom involved, offered very little end product.

Lukas Podolski - 7. A lot better than last week. Worked hard, linked up well and got into good positions.

Olivier Giroud - 6. Did well up top. Won his fair share of headers and held it up well. Not much luck in front of goal, but almost scored with an audacious effort from distance. More to come.

Mertesacker is our best defender

and Carzola

For those asking Wenger to throw money for another Striker, it won't help our problem. We need our attack to gel, it's a new frontline give them time. Getting another striker will make the time to gel take even longer

I was happy with the point, it's better then losing to Stoke. Yes we should/could have won but we cleansheet at Stoke is amazing for us.

Stoke missed Rory Delap today. Shows how much they depended on his long throws. Overall good performance. I was a bit surprised that there was no other striker on the bench not that they are very useful. I think arshavin or santos would have been a better player to come on in place of Walcott. There was not enough space behind for him to exploit.
And honorable mention for Jenkinson and Gibbs. I think these two youngsters did really well in such a tough game.

We outplayed them, their scum fans know it..

I loved how the only thing stoke could do sometimes was tell their *bleep* band behind the nets to boo when an Arsenal player is hurt..

Team needs to Gel

and Diaby needs to go, he is finished, liability at best,

We are still far from our fluid best, what worries me is the final third only Podolski had a decent game. Gervinho was awful and Giroud huffed and puffed. I know the attack needs time to gel but going forward if too many individuals don't perform over the season we will struggle to score goals

40 Attempts only 5 on target no goal
need some efficiency
Everton with same amount has got 4 Goals




we need time understanding ain't there these attackers haven't played much alongside each other

Defensively there weren't moments that i would be scared like in past

We need a striker.

Raptorgunner wrote:We need a striker.

No we Need Jesus

aleumdance wrote:Diaby needs to go, he is finished, liability at best,

What were you watching? Diaby was bossing their Mid with his strenght

abirking wrote:Stoke missed Rory Delap today. Shows how much they depended on his long throws.

They don't need Delap anymore, they didn't score a single goal from his throw in last season

aleumdance wrote:

Diaby needs to go, he is finished, liability at best,

I agree. But i dont think any one is stupid enough to buy him off us.
Atleast he lasted two whole games. That must be a record or something.

My problem with Diaby is his uncoordinated movements

Fellaini would have roasted him big time today.

oh and all talks of Striker woudl go when we play a team that does not park the bus.

just wait, soon

Raptorgunner wrote:We need a striker.

getting a striker won't help if our attack can't gel together we will be in the same position we are atm if we get another.

Its not about a striker

we are playing poarked buses our first 2 games

i assure you all, you won't be saying this next week

What we need now is for Gervais to fvcking pass the ball

Podolski looked really good. Cazorla was decent, Arteta was lazy, and Giroud looks like a flop.

juventus101 wrote:Podolski looked really good. Cazorla was decent, Arteta was lazy, and Giroud looks like a flop.

arteta always looks lazy mate, but that is his illusion, he does lots of work

we bossed their midfield topday so he did not have to work so hard

Disappointing but I'm still optimistic. Against a defensive Sunderland & versus Stoke at Brittania, with an attack style in the early stages of settling together, two clean sheet draws isn't so bad. Goals will come.

I thought Diaby had an OK game - some mistakes and rustiness, but good "presence." I really hope that he is able to show this season why Wenger has kept faith in him so long.

That Giroud long shot would have been glorious had it gone in. So close. My fingers are crossed that Giroud turns up big this season.

Bizarrely I thought we looked defensively solid. Usually stoke are relentless with their aerial assaults but we stood very firm. Defensively we were much improved- props to Sergeant Bould. Arteta., Cazorla & Disby I thought were impressive.

Up top we lacked confidence and imagination. 2 clean sheets already is impressive. Could new signing are imminent and once we get the ball rolling we'll beast our way through

Problem is the next two games are against liverpool and manchester city.
And lets face it, other then the big teams, most teams which face us park the bus, whether its home or away. We need to find a way to bulldoze or way through the parked bus if we want to make something of the season.

Liverpool and manchester city away will not be easy as you all know it.
Worst case scenario, we could be looking at 2 points from the first 4 games.

Van Persie - 1 Goal

All of Arsenal - 0 Goals

Never nervous whenever they crossed or hoof'd. Merte and Verma bossed their ST's in the air. I'll be honest, wasn't that sure about them but they're compatible.

I think if this was mid-season, we would be satisfied with this performance.
Let's keep up the hard work and do something about that offense.

Our defence looked great, but again we lacked up front. Draws against Sunderland and Stoke aren't the worst results, but with Man City and Liverpool coming up, we haven't done ourselves any favours and could end up losing some early ground

B-Mac MUFC wrote:Van Persie - 1 Goal

All of Arsenal - 0 Goals

Van Persie - 3 goals conceded
All of Arsenal - 0 goals conceded

This match reminded me of 10/11 Arsenal in the second half season, great at the back and passing around the box but no end product, lack of communication etc etc.

I'm sure we'll become better, but I still think we need some additions.

A benching striker (Eduardo ), DM (M'Vila/Capoue), and another versatile defender (Mbiwa/Höwedes). Also replacements if other departures (Arshavin, Walcott etc).

Wouldn't say "good" performance, more a spirited one.

Excellent defensively, especially considering Szczesny, Sagna and Koscielny all absent, but going forward we are depressing at times. Gervinho failed to take pre-season form into real competition like last summer, Giroud and Podolski are promising at times, but struggle for the most part. In the middle, Diaby and Arteta have actually been quite decent, plus we have Wilshere and Rosicky to return, but a specialist DM and another forward are vital next week.