Late kick off: Stoke - Arsenal 5:30 KO

Stoke succeeded despite themselves there: for most of the game they played an unwisely high defensive line and Arsenal repeatedly chipped the ball over them and into the path of willing runners – though this only allowed Butland and Zouma to showcase their repertoire of chance-denying tackles, blocks and stops. Once Stoke themselves had scored, however, Arsenal took off a defender, brought on another striker and forced the home side back, after which they actually looked considerably more secure.
It was wildly frustrating stuff from Arsenal, and for all their dominance – 77% possession, apparently – they actually created few clear chances. Had a very marginal offside decision gone the other way, and Lacazette’s apparent equaliser stood, it might have ended very differently.
Meanwhile Jesé didn’t look fully fit, but he might be a classic Stoke signing. There were a few nice touches, a couple of impressive runs, and a very smart first-time finish. And, in the end, a very fine win.