MX23RW : Friday, November 8 01:00:18| >> :120:7936:7936:
[monks data]
Arsenal logo
Premier League
Jan 11, 2015 at 1.30pm UK
 
Stoke logo

3-0

Koscielny (6'), Sanchez (33', 49')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Arsenal make light work of Stoke City

An Alexis Sanchez brace helps Arsenal dispatch Stoke City 3-0 their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

An Alexis Sanchez brace helped Arsenal to a 3-0 win against Stoke City in this afternoon's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez celebrates with Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1© Getty Images

The hosts made a lively start at the Emirates Stadium, with Sanchez bending an effort towards the bottom corner after just two minutes, but Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was able to get down low and pull off a smart save.

Just three minutes later, however, the Gunners were in front. After Stoke failed to clear an initial corner, Sanchez curled a cross into the box for Koscielny to plant a header beyond the keeper.

Arsenal then suffered a setback when Mathieu Debuchy has to be substituted after just 12 minutes played, with the Frenchman injuring his shoulder following a challenge by Marko Arnautovic.

Nevertheless, the home side continued to push forward and threatened twice in quick succession as Olivier Giroud forced a save from Begovic before slicing wide moments later.

Arsenal's French defender Laurent Koscielny heads the opening goal past Stoke City's Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 11, 2015© Getty Images

Stoke had a chance just before the half-hour mark when Bojan Krkic rolled the ball to Glenn Whelan from a free kick, but the 30-year-old blasted over.

Stoke had a chance just before the half-hour mark when Bojan rolled the ball to Glenn Whelan from a free kick, but the 30-year-old blasted over.

They would come to rue that miss because Arsenal doubled their lead in the 33rd minute. Livewire Sanchez exchanged passes with Tomas Rosicky before marauding into the Stoke box and slotting home.

Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina, preferred to Wojciech Szczesny, was not tested until a tame Peter Crouch shot in first-half injury time.

The red-hot Sanchez doubled his personal tally for the afternoon four minutes after the restart, striking a free kick through the middle of the wall which squirmed over the line past Begovic.

Arsenal took their foot off the gas in the ensuing stages as Stoke registered several chances at the other end. Arnautovic curled a long-range shot wide and Crouch also fired off target from Marc Muniesa's cross.

Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez shoots to score their third goal from a freekick during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 11, 2015© Getty Images

The Gunners attacked with fresh intent following those scares, but found themselves picking the ball out of the net in the 77th minute when Geoff Cameron bundled Crouch's pass home before the offside was raised.

Three minutes later, Sanchez worked his magic again when he broke free in a two-on-one situation and set up Theo Walcott, but the England winger dragged his effort well wide.

Ultimately, the game petered out as Arsenal comfortably secured all three points to remain within close proximity of the Champions League places. The Potters, meanwhile, sit 11th in the Premier League table.

ID:198318: cacheID:198318:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7286:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal's French defender Laurent Koscielny heads the opening goal past Stoke City's Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 11, 2015
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Arsenal cruising against Stoke
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Bengals
@
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!