Arsenal suffer biggest defeat of the season

Arsenal suffered their biggest defeat of the season; 3-1 to Stoke on Sunday afternoon. Defencive errors were again apart of the goals conceded in the defeat as Robin Van Persie continued his great run of scoring form. Fabregas was once again missing from the lineup with injury and Nasri and Clichy were also missing through injury. Gibbs and Arshavin replaced them and Vermaelen started on the bench after missing 8 months out with injury.

The first chance of the match fell to Van Persie after Ramsey found him just outside the six yard box but he could only fire his shot high and wide.

Just under half an hour had gone when Stoke took the lead from a free kick after Arshavin had shoved Pennant to the ground. Pennant swung the ball in from the free kick but Djourou could not get to his man and the ball just bounced off Jones and into the back of the net.

5 minutes before the break Stoke extended their lead to 2 goals. Pennant driving forward and then hitting a shot which came off Djourou and then looped over Szczesny who had no chance of stopping it from going in despite him getting a hand to the ball.

Stoke then almost made it 3-0 as Walters got to the byline and struck a shot which beat Szczesny but not the goal as the ball smashed against the cross bar.

The score at half time was 2-0 to Stoke.

Arsenal then again almost conceded from a set piece as Pennant delivered the corner onto the head of Huth who could head over.

There was then a scrap between the two sides as Wilshere went in with a bad tackle on Pennant and then Wilkinson on Wilshere. The two teams did not like it and they had a coming together but only Pennant and Wilshere were booked.

Arsenal's first chance of the second half fell to Van Persie as Bendter fed him but Begovic made the save.

Stoke then had a great chance to finish the game off as Whelan raced clear but Szczesny made a smart save to keep Arsenal in the game.

10 minutes from the end of the game Arsenal found a way back into the game as Van Persie drove into the penalty area and hit a shot which just crept under Begovic in the Stoke City goal.

A minute later Stoke regained their two goal lead. Wilkinson driving a shot towards goal which was stopped by Djourou but given straight to Walters who fired past Szczesny to kill the game off.

The final score ended Stoke 3-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Stoke: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth(50), Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Pennant(71), Wilson, Jones(84), Walters.
Subs: Sorenson, Collins, Faye(50), Shotton, Pugh(71), Diao(84), Carew.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arshavin(46), Wilshere, Song(79), Ramsey(46), Walcott, Van Persie.
Subs: Lehmann, Vermaelen, Eboue, Squillaci, Rosicky(79), Chamakh(46), Bendtner(46).

My man of the match: Robin Van Persie

Referee: Mark Halsey
Attendance: 27,478