Stoke holds Arsenal to 0-0 draw in Premier League

Stoke and Arsenal had chances to find the back of the net on several occasions, especially in the second half.

Arsenal responded immediately as Joel Campbell produced a sumptuous through ball to meet Giroud’s run in behind Stoke’s defence.

There has been a fiery edge to the fixture ever since, while winning in the Potteries would appear to be a psychological hurdle for Arsenal, who have lost three and drawn three of their last six top-flight fixtures at the Britannia Stadium.

At a ground where Arsene Wenger’s sides have traditionally struggled, the Londoners were unable to ease into their usual rhythm, perhaps partly because of the absence of playmaker Mesut Ozil due to what the club described as a “slight foot injury”. During Sunday’s Premier League game, some Stoke fans booed Ramsey every time he touched the ball and chanted “Aaron Ramsey, he walks with a limp”.

“Overall it was a battle, an old-fashioned Stoke battle”, Wenger said.

LONDON (Reuters) – Arsenal ended Leicester City’s brief stay at the top of the Premier League on Sunday despite being held to a 0-0 draw at Stoke City after Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney struck late for a 1-0 win at Liverpool.

Last season saw the Britannia side storm into a 3-0 first-half lead before holding on to secure a 3-2 victory.

It was a game where both goalkeepers shone as Jack Butland denied Olivier Giroud with two smart saves either side of the break before Petr Cech stood strong in the second period, including thwarting Bojan with a double save.

“I’m of course a bit unhappy because we like to score goals and we didn’t score today”. “Once again we’ve gone up against one of the elite teams and made it hard for them. But Petr Cech was outstanding, we needed a player like him in the air when Stoke played that kind of game”.

“When we try to stop all the shots but they manage to get some on target then they have another man to beat”.

Wenger believes ignoring such behaviour is the only suitable way to deal with it but he also claimed some people may be ashamed of themselves if they hear a repeat of their actions on television. “We have to play so many games in January and it is very important to have the whole squad involved in what we are doing if we are to remain a competitive team in all of the competitions”.