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Arsenal are top of the Premier League after beating Stoke City 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, despite falling behind to a Charlie Adam penalty in the first half. Goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Iwobi secured an important three points for the north London side.
The Gunners are level on points and share the same goal difference with Chelsea, but the north Londoners are top by virtue of goals scored.
Winning by two goals looked a forlorn hope after Adam had given Stoke the lead just shy of the half-hour mark. The Gunners also lost centre-back Shkodran Mustafi to apparent injury during trying early exchanges.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger kept faith with the in-form Alexis Sanchez up front, but returning right-back Hector Bellerin only made the bench.
There was no place for centre-back Ryan Shawcross. The player infamous among Arsenal supporters for his collision with Aaron Ramsey in 2010, which left the Welsh midfielder with a broken leg, missed out due to an ongoing calf problem, per Metro's George Bellshaw.
Surprisingly, it was the visitors who created the best opportunities early on. Defender Marc Muniesa had the most notable chance when he forced Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech into a fine save after lashing a long-range volley toward goal.
The Potters were passing the ball with confidence and style, and they soon carved through the Gunners again. This time it was Shaqiri who should have taken the shot on, but he hesitated after Arnautovic's smart pass.
Things soon unravelled for the Gunners, though, and in a matter of minutes. First, Mustafi was withdrawn with what looked like a possible hamstring problem to be replaced by Bellerin, per Metro's Max Miller.
Then midfielder Granit Xhaka inexplicably elbowed City playmaker Joe Allen in the box to give Stoke a penalty. Skipper Adam tucked the ball in from the spot.
Clearly rattled by both falling behind and the injury to Mustafi, the Gunners struggled to establish their own rhythm on the ball. Their distribution became slow, aimless and predictable, with few passes threaded between the lines.
Arsenal needed to up the pace of their game, and pace is something Bellerin never lacks. The full-back swiftly galloped past his marker on the flank and whipped a near-post cross that Walcott met brilliantly on the volley.
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