Arsenal registered their third win in a row in an emphatic manner as they finally overcame the Stoke City hoodoo. The game could be divided into two drastically different halves, where hardly anyone except Arsenal cared to play the first-half, and the second one suddenly turned into a four-goal thriller with some nervy moments.
Here are three talking points from the game
Arsenal edge closer to the top four
The 4-1 win has now brought Arsenal up to 69 points, just one point lesser than Liverpool (70). Though there is an air of optimism around Emirates, it would have been more exciting had Riyad Mahrez not made fun of himself by missing the penalty at Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal fans seemed really annoyed on the Algerian as was evident on Twitter, even more, annoyed than the time when he refused to join Arsenal and extended his contract with Leicester City last summer. With two more games to go, Arsenal trail City by three points and given that they host relegated Sunderland next game on Tuesday, the pressure is definitely on City and Liverpool.
Majestic Alexis, Sublime Ozil
Stoke City had given up on the game even before it started and their movements were evident from it. They did everything an opponent shouldn’t do against Arsenal. They allowed the Gunners acres of space to ply their trade, they didn’t press them high up on the field or even in their own half for that case and Arsenal kept knocking at the door, harder each time. And it was a matter of time before they would found the first goal, a simple tap-in by Giroud.
It didn’t involve either Ozil or Sanchez, and the commentator was quick to note that. And he didn’t have to wait long before the magical moment came. Ozil passed to Sanchez and took a quick run to the box and Sanchez waited patiently to release a peach of a pass ripping four Stoke players. It was easy to receive and shoot for Ozil from there.
Sanchez added a goal to keep his impressive away form intact after he signalled the bench of his injury, which brings us to the third point.
Alexis subbed off with injury, yet another added to the list?
After Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain, it is now Arsenal’s best player Alexis Sanchez who joins the list of injuries. Though with Sanchez an injury is never very long and with his superhuman Wolverine-like healing ability, he might as well return on Tuesday itself, Wenger is keeping track of his depleting ammo before the FA Cup final.
After Chamberlain was declared to be available for the final to everyone’s relief, following a scary hamstring pull, Arsenal cannot afford to lose Sanchez.
