Olivier Giroud came off the bench to ensure Arsenal didn’t pay for their profligacy in a 2-0 win over Stoke at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Theo Walcott had put Arsenal ahead in the first half, but the Gunners’ fans once again spent most of the afternoon frustrated at wasted opportunities before Giroud struck late on to secure their third victory of the season.
For all their possession and pretty football, Arsene Wenger’s side have had a problem scoring this season and that was highlighted after just four minutes.
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Within 10 minutes the Gunners had scorned five very inviting chances. The ammunition was being provided, but the Gunners were misfiring.
With Coquelin the fulcrum in midfield, operating just in front of the back four, Arsenal at least attacked with purpose down both flanks.
They even came through French centre-half Laurent Koscielny, who let fly from 35 yards only to be denied by Butland.
The Stoke keeper was in a class of his own with dramatic saves, brave blocks and unflappable demeanour.
Under Mark Hughes, Stoke are slowly developing a more sophisticated approach to their game while still retaining something of an edge without the overt physicality deployed under Tony Pulis.
Ironically, the opening goal, in the 31st minute, came during a period when Stoke were enjoying their best period of possession and pressing forward.
Giroud header seals victory for #Arsenal https://t.co/uiPZVCQQbJ
— SAZS (@saskiey) September 12, 2015
Joselu was caught in possession in the Arsenal half by a superbly executed Coquelin tackle and within a split second Mesut Ozil hit a long ball forward.
Walcott controlled, held off a strong challenge from Mark Muniesa and rolled the ball past the advancing Butland for his first club goal of the campaign.
Walcott had second half chances to add to his tally but his efforts were feeble and Butland was defiant. Even when the ball fell invitingly to Giroud, seconds after his introduction, he shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
But the Frenchman made up for it in the dying moments as he headed home from a Cazorla free-kick from six yards.
Instant Iheanacho keeps Man City soaring
Kelechi Iheanacho opened his Manchester City account with a last-minute winner as his side maintained their perfect start to the Premier League campaign by winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Palace, who had started the day in second place, looked set to claim a point before Iheanacho finished from close range shortly after appearing as an 89th-minute substitute to secure City’s fifth successive win.
Uncle Kelechi
— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) September 12, 2015
It was only the 18-year-old Nigerian’s second senior appearance and drew the attention away from an impressive debut for Kevin De Bruyne, who arrived from Wolfsburg in a 73.5 million euros move shortly before the end of the transfer window.
De Bruyne was introduced as a first-half replacement for the injured Sergio Aguero and the loss of the Argentina striker added to City’s mounting injury concerns ahead of next week’s Champions League clash with Juventus.
A bad-tempered game threatened to flare up when Scott Dann brought down Aguero with a kick to the knee in the 17th minute and the City striker was forced to withdraw seven minutes later
Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, and his players were incensed Dann escaped with only a yellow card and when Yaya Toure reacted by bringing down Palace’s James McArthur in a similar manner, Pellegrini and Palace manager Alan Pardew clashed physically on the touchline.
Iheanacho’s late intervention brought relief for Pellegrini, but Aguero’s injury added to the manager’s concerns after David Silva and Raheem Sterling were both forced to miss this game.
