Arsenal welcomed Stoke City to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon knowing that a win could see them move above Chelsea to the top of the Premier League table.
Charlie Adam sent Stoke ahead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute, but Arsenal were level in the latter stages of the first period courtesy of a near-post finish from Theo Walcott.
Arsenal then took the lead early in the second period through Mesut Ozil, before Alex Iwobi made sure of the points late on as the Gunners continued their unbeaten run and joined Chelsea on 34 points.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from the Emirates Stadium as high-flying Arsenal welcome in-form Stoke City in what promises to be an entertaining match. Stoke have an absolutely rotten record in this stadium, but will enter this game off the back of back-to-back league victories. Be sure to stick around for minute-by-minute updates from London!
Arsenal have won each of their last 14 home games against Stoke City in all competitions, keeping eight clean sheets in the process. What's more, the Potters have lost all eight of their visits to the Emirates in the Premier League and they have not won a league fixture away to Arsenal since the 1981-82 season, which is an indication of the size of the task facing the visitors this afternoon.
Right, before we go any further, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Stoke have had a free week to prepare for this match, but Arsenal were in Champions League action away to Basel on Tuesday night. Let's run through the two XIs and discuss any changes...
TEAMS!
ARS: Cech; Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Ox; Sanchez
STOKE: Grant; Johnson, M.Indi, Muniesa, Pieters; Imbula, Allen, Adam; Shaqiri, Diouf, Arnautovic
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has named the same team that started last weekend's 5-1 win at West Ham United, which means that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain keeps his spot in a wide position. Hector Bellerin's continued absence sees Gabriel Paulista start at right-back once again, while Francis Coquelin is joined in the middle of the park by Granit Xhaka. Alexis Sanchez again leads the line.
As for Stoke, head coach Mark Hughes has made one change to the side that beat Burnley 2-0 at home last weekend as Joe Allen replaces Jonathan Walters. Wilfried Bony is kept on the bench by Mame Biram Diouf, while Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shariqi are also named in the Stoke XI. Ryan Shawcross's continued absence means that Marc Muniesa continues in the centre of defence.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon in the English capital. I shall speak about Stoke and their start to the season a little bit later, but let's first focus on Arsenal, who are on a 13-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, which is their longest such run in the competition since 16 matches unbeaten in 2010-11.
Nine wins, four draws and just the one defeat have brought Arsenal 31 Premier League points from 14 matches. They have scored 33 goals – the second best return in the division – and conceded just 14 times. As it stands, they are three points behind the league leaders Chelsea, but just one point above third-place Liverpool and fourth-place Manchester City in what is a very close table.
Arsenal lost 4-3 at home to Liverpool on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, before dropping points away to the defending champions Leicester City as they wobbled in their opening two matches. The Gunners have been very impressive since, however, recording nine victories – including a standout 3-0 success over leaders Chelsea towards the end of September.
Wenger's side did drop points in back-to-back 1-1 draws with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United last month, but they returned to winning ways with a 3-1 success over Bournemouth at the Emirates on November 27, before thumping West Ham United 5-1 at the London Stadium last month. Overall, the Gunners have been impressive in the early months of the campaign.
The capital side also secured top spot in their Champions League group after recording a 4-1 victory away to Basel on Tuesday night, which in theory should give them a more favourable draw in the next round. European football has now been put to bed until February and there will be no excuses this time if Arsenal fail to launch a strong title challenge in the second half of the campaign.
Arsenal's next two league matches, however, are very difficult indeed. On Tuesday, they will travel to Everton - who have just lost 3-2 at Watford and really need a result - before visiting Manchester City next weekend. If they can get through those two games with two positive results, they then have back-to-back home games against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace over the Christmas period.
As for Stoke, Mark Hughes's side will enter this match off the back of successive league victories. The Potters actually made a very poor start to the season, but they have only lost one of their last nine in the league and five of those fixtures have brought wins. Indeed, they have risen from the relegation zone to ninth position and they are actually now just two points off the top six.
Stoke had a setback at home to Bournemouth on November 19 – suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Cherries – but they responded with a 1-0 victory away to Watford before beating Burnley 2-0 at the Britannia last weekend. That said, as discussed, the Potters have a really poor record in this stadium and it will be a tough task for Hughes's side this afternoon. Just 20 minutes until kickoff now!
Like Arsenal, Stoke are just entering a difficult run of matches. They will welcome Southampton to the Britannia on Wednesday night, before welcoming the struggling champions Leicester City next weekend. Then comes back-to-back away games against Liverpool and Chelsea and a poor run could see Stoke slide down the table once again. That said, they could easily move into the top six.
A reminder of the two lineups this afternoon...
ARS: Cech; Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Ox; Sanchez
STOKE: Grant; Johnson, M.Indi, Muniesa, Pieters; Imbula, Allen, Adam; Shaqiri, Diouf, Arnautovic
Elsewhere in the Premier League this afternoon, Bournemouth host Burnley, Crystal Palace travel to Hull City and Sunderland visit Swansea City in what is a relegation six-pointer. Today's late kickoff in the Premier League will see the champions Leicester welcome Manchester City. Right then, the two sets of players are just about to join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff at the Emirates.
KICKOFF! Arsenal kick things off on home soil...
... you just get the feeling that Stoke will need to start well this afternoon if they have serious ambitions of causing an upset. Arsenal, as expected, have taken control of the possession in the opening couple of minutes as they look to settle on home soil. It should be an open game of football.
Joe Allen is playing very advanced for Stoke in these early moments, almost at centre-forward and it does appear that the likes of Shaqiri and Arnautovic have freedom to roam. The first corner of the match comes to Stoke after Arnautovic finds space and delivers towards the far post.
SAVE! Almost a stunning start for Stoke as Muniesa hits a wonderful volley from some 40 yards and Cech has to tip the ball over the crossbar. Some technique from the centre-back!
Based on the opening six minutes of this match, Stoke really fancy this. Another half-chance arrives as Arnautovic finds Shaqiri inside the home side's box, but the Swiss international is just forced wide and the danger is cleared. All of the football is being played by the visitors here.
Better from Arsenal as Ozil finds space inside the Stoke box before attempting to slide a pass into Sanchez, but Martins Indi is on hand to make a vital challenge. End-to-end football here.
The opening 10 minutes of this football match have absolutely flown past as both teams continue to enjoy possession of the ball. Arsenal have just started to build up some momentum in the last few minutes, but Stoke are so fluid on the counter-attack when they have the chance to break.
Sanchez closes Grant down inside the Stoke box and indeed blocks the goalkeeper's clearance, but the ball bounces behind for a goal kick. That is a let-off for the Potters here.
SAVE! Walcott drives into the Stoke box and looks to pick out the bottom corner, but Grant is on hand to make a really smart save. Arsenal are causing some problems now!
Stoke are not being allowed any time on the ball at the moment as Arsenal continue to press high up the field. Sanchez, Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain have all been full of running in the opening 15 minutes and Stoke have had to drop deep and just defend their box for a few minutes here.
Penalty shout for Arsenal as Xhaka heads towards goal at the far post, but the referee says no.
Monreal is down receiving some treatment after taking a knee into his thigh. Painful one.
Monreal is back on his feet and can continue, much to the relief of the home supporters. Well, 18 minutes on the clock and it is still goalless, but it has been a very open game of football.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital in terms of the final result this afternoon. Arsenal would really fancy their chances of collecting all the points if they take the lead, but Stoke are full of confidence at the moment. Very delicately poised here.
Stoke of old would have looked to make this a bitty game, but this Potters team can really play and they are moving the ball nicely in the final third. Diouf finds space in a wide position before looking to pick out a blue shirt inside the box, but Mustafi is on hand to make a smart clearance.
Stoke are playing with three centre-backs, but it almost becomes a back five when they are defending, which is making it difficult for Arsenal to pick passes in the final third of the field.
CHANCE! Massive chance for Stoke as Arnautovic brilliantly controls a long pass before finding Allen inside the home side's box, but the Welshman curls wide of the post!
ARSENAL SUB! Mustafi seems to have pulled his hamstring and therefore Arsenal are being forced into a first-half change - Bellerin making his return in place of the German international.
Still goalless with 28 minutes on the clock and Stoke have more then held their own this afternoon. A three-goal win for Arsenal would move them to the top of the Premier League table, but the Gunners are finding things tough at the moment as Sanchez is flagged offside in the Stoke box.
PENALTY STOKE!
Stoke have a penalty at the Emirates as Xhaka elbows Allen in the head inside the Arsenal box!
What on earth was Xhaka doing! He has smashed Allen in the face there!
And Wenger has just pushed the fourth official away there!
GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 Stoke (Adam, pen)
Adam sends his penalty into the bottom corner and Stoke lead at the Emirates!
Arsene Wenger put both of his hands on the fourth official during a discussion before that penalty and the Frenchman could be in trouble when the FA have a look at that one! The home side have been rattled here and this is now a serious test of their title credentials, that is for sure.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining here and Stoke are pretty comfortable at the Emirates, where they have never won. Still a lot of football to be played this afternoon, however, and Sanchez is buzzing everywhere for the Gunners. Adam's goal is the difference here.
Not too much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment and that is credit to Stoke, who have come here with a firm gameplan and are making life very uncomfortable for Arsenal.
CHANCE! Super chance for the home side as Bellerin delivers a low cross into Sanchez, but Diouf is on the cover to make a quite wonderful challenge. Brilliant defending there!
Better from Arsenal in the last few moments as they put some pressure on the Stoke back four, but Martins Indi is the latest player to make a smart clearance as the Potters continue to lead. Little over five minutes of the first period remaining. As hoped, it has been a super game of football.
Arnautovic dances into the Arsenal box and looks to pull the trigger on a couple of occasions, but Monreal is on hand to make a really smart challenge. The Gunners are having some issues here!
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Stoke (Walcott)
Arsenal level the scores just before the interval as Bellerin delivers a dangerous cross into the Stoke box and Walcott is on hand to turn the ball past Grant. All square at the Emirates now!
Stoke have not been able to hold on in this first period. Should have scored a second.
Sanchez flashes one over the crossbar as Arsenal come close to a second goal here.
We are into the second of three additional minutes at the end of the first period.
Arsenal continue to press and Bellerin finds Oxlade-Chamberlain just inside the Stoke box, but the winger scoops the ball over the crossbar and that could be that for the first period here.
HALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-1 Stoke
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. Stoke took the lead from the penalty spot in the 29th minute - Adam converting past Cech - before Arsenal levelled late in the first period through Walcott. It has been a super game of football here.
STATISTICS! Arsenal have dominated the possession with 69%, while they managed 10 attempts - two of which were on target. Stoke, meanwhile, hit the target with two of their five attempts. No yellow cards to report, but Xhaka should have seen at least a booking for his elbow on Allen.
BENCH WATCH! Arsenal have already been forced into a change at the Emirates - Bellerin taking the place of the injured Mustafi. However, Wenger still has the likes of Giroud, Iwobi and Perez on his bench. Stoke, meanwhile, have forward options in the shape of Bony, Crouch, Bojan and Sobhi.
RESTART! Stoke resume the action at the Emirates...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will already have alterations in mind for the second period here.
Half-chance for the home side as Ozil finds Bellerin with a super pass and the right-back looks to make contact inside the Stoke box, but Pieters is on hand to make a super challenge.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Stoke (Ozil)
Arsenal have turned this game around at the Emirates as Ozil loops a header over Grant after Oxlade-Chamberlain had delivered a terrific pass towards the German. Stoke now behind here.
The mood inside the Emirates has changed and now Arsenal are seeking a third goal to put away this Stoke challenge. The Potters have not been able to stem the flow of the pressure which arrived at the start of the second period. Still a lot of football to be played in this match though.
Stoke are surely going to have to be forced into a change here as Pieters continues to struggle following that challenge with Bellerin early in the second period. It is all Arsenal at the moment.
You just get the feeling that another Arsenal goal would put Stoke away in this match and the away side are finding it difficult to stem the flow of pressure with little over 30 minutes of normal time remaining. The likes of Bony, Crouch and Bojan are options for Stoke boss Hughes late on.
Xhaka tries his luck from outside the box, but the midfielder's effort is wide and Stoke can resume from the dead-ball line. Still get the feeling that there are more goals in this match.
Grant has to drop down and keep out a long-range Oxlade-Chamberlain strike.
Handbags between Oxlade-Chamberlain and Shaqiri as both sets of players clash after Arsenal did not give the ball back to Stoke following a head injury. Shaqiri was not best pleased. Back to the football and we still have the best part of 30 minutes to play at the Emirates this afternoon.
Still no movement on the Stoke bench, but we are entering the stage of the match where Hughes will be considering changes. Crouch, Bojan and Bony could all make a difference here.
We are entering a key period of the match as both teams just settle on the ball and assess their options. It almost goes without saying, but the next goal is absolutely vital. If Arsenal can score a third then it would be very difficult for Stoke to leave the Emirates with anything to show for their troubles.
Diouf is Stoke's most advanced player at the moment and the sheer presence of the striker is causing Arsenal some problems for the first time in this second period. Still 2-1 Gunners here.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for the away side as Diouf has a free header inside the Arsenal box, but he tries to find a teammate rather than go for goal. What on earth was that!
ARSENAL SUB! Iwobi replaces Oxlade-Chamberlain for the home side.
There is finally some movement on the Stoke bench, which is not much of a surprise.
STOKE SUB! Crouch replaces Diouf for the away side.
CHANCE! Cech has to keep out a Crouch header. Almost an instant impact!
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Stoke (Iwobi)
Arsenal have a third and surely secure all the points as Iwobi finds the bottom corner after dancing into the Stoke box. Not sure about the defending from Stoke there!
Little over 10 minutes of this football match remaining and Arsenal are moving joint-top of the Premier League table as things stand. Stoke have actually played pretty well, but the Potters have struggled in a defensive area and it does appear that they are going to lose this afternoon.
ARSENAL SUB! Giroud replaces Sanchez for the home side.
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, with Arsenal more than happy to keep hold of the ball as the clock runs down. Still 10 minutes to play at the Emirates though.
STOKE SUB! Sobhi replaces Adam for the away side.
SAVE! Grant has to get down to keep out a powerful Walcott strike.
This Arsenal result puts a lot of pressure on Chelsea ahead of their home game against West From tomorrow, while Man City also now need a result away to Leicester in the late start! Everything is going pretty well for the Gunners at the moment, but it is still pretty early in the campaign.
STOKE SUB! Ngoy replaces Shaqiri for the away side.
Not too much to report in the last few minutes as the clock ticks on with both teams seemingly accepting the 3-1 result. Stoke might well see this game as an opportunity missed.
We are into the second of three additional minutes here.
FULL-TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period at the Emirates to a close and Arsenal have risen to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win over Stoke. They keep on rolling! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the live again once again. Until next time!
