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Premier League
Aug 19, 2017 at 5.30pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Stoke City's 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League.
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A debut goal from Jese has earned Stoke City a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League.

The Paris Saint-Germain loanee had already impressed on his first appearance before two minutes into the second half, the Spaniard found the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Arsenal created enough chances to have found an equaliser, but Arsene Wenger's side lacked a clinical touch in the final third on a frustrating evening in the Potteries.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Bet365 Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Stoke City and Arsenal.

After Manchester United scored four goals for the second successive match earlier today against Swansea City, it is now the turn of Arsenal to see if they can follow suit after netting four against Leicester City last Friday. Of course, the Gunners did not keep a clean sheet like United, but Arsenal fans want to see their team causing a threat in the final third and we should expect another offensive performance this evening.

As for Stoke, Mark Hughes's team need to bounce back from their narrow defeat to Everton last weekend but while they will always fancy their chances at the Bet365 Stadium, they will need to make improvements from their previous setback. Expect to see plenty of their summer signings on show.

It is time for some team news so let's find out how many of those new signings take their place in the Potters side, as well as looking whether Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette retain their spots in the Arsenal starting lineup.

STOKE CITY XI: Butland; Zouma, Shawcross, Cameron; Diouf, Allen, Fletcher, Pieters; Shaqiri, Jese; Choupo-Moting

STOKE CITY SUBSTITUTES: Grant; Johnson, Berahino, Martins-Indi, Crouch, Bojan, Ramadan

ARSENAL XI: Cech, Mustafi, Monreal, Kolasinac, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Welbeck, Lacazette

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Ospina, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Walcott, Giroud

First of all, let's take a look at Stoke, who make two changes from the game against Everton. As expected, Jese is thrown straight into the starting lineup after signing on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, while Eric Choupo-Moting is also provided with a first start. Saido Berahino and Bojan are the two players to drop out. It's look a very attacking lineup.

As for Arsenal, they also make two alterations with Rob Holding and Mohamed Elneny both dropping out of the team. Shkodran Mustafi - who has been linked with Inter Milan - and Aaron Ramsey are the players who have been introduced to the first XI. Kolasinac and Lacazette do indeed start for a second time, but Olivier Giroud remains among the replacements despite netting the winner against the Foxes.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's fixture represents the 106th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive match, with Arsenal claiming 56 victories in comparison to just the 25 wins for Stoke. The last five fixtures have been as one-sided as the historical record, with Arsenal prevailing four times and scoring 12 goals.

When last season's corresponding fixture took place in May, Arsenal were chasing a top-four spot in the Premier League table and although they ultimately failed, they thrashed Stoke in Staffordshire by a 4-1 scoreline with Giroud, Ozil and Sanchez all getting goals. Click here to read back on that game.

The full-time results are all but through now so I guess you will be hoping for somewhere to catch up on all of the scores? Don't worry, we have it all covered. Click here to access many of the games which have been taking place all over Europe, while you can read match reports from games in the Premier League by clicking on your chosen match.

Just Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion have a 100% record from their opening two games of the season, but Arsenal can match them with a win in the Potteries. We made that same point earlier but while it is still early days in the campaign, the big clubs want to record as many points as possible before having to contend with European contests and the same applies for the Gunners. It doesn't necessarily matter whether they register a scrappy 1-0 or convert several efforts on goal, another three points would be a huge plus for Wenger.

As far as Stoke supporters are concerned, all eyes will be on Jese, the former Real Madrid attacker who has joined from PSG. It's an intriguing switch because while the Spaniard comes with a reputation, he spent the second half of the last campaign on loan at Las Palmas. It would be naive to look at his achievements and assume he will be a success at Stoke. If you look closer at his statistics, you will see that he managed a combined total of just 15 league starts for both Real and PSG, a figure he almost achieved in a few months with Las Palmas.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is another offensive-minded player who will be looking to make an impression on his first appearance at the Bet365 Stadium. The Cameroon international has contributed plenty of goals in German football but the likes of Schalke 04 and Mainz but as it stands, he is unproven in England and he cannot afford to live off the praise which has already been given to him by his manager Mark Hughes.

During his pre-match press conference, Hughes made light of how often Stoke are handed a tough start to the season and in all fairness, the Welshman has a point. Click here to read about the point Hughes is trying to make.

PREDICTION! For all of Stoke's good signings, we cannot back against Arsenal this afternoon. Expect an entertaining game given that both teams have selected three players at the back, but Arsenal's superior quality should see them come through convincingly. The Gunners to prevail 3-1.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out onto the pitch at the Bet365 Stadium, which has welcomed its highest ever crowd due to the recent developments on the ground.

Arsenal get us underway.

It's been a relatively quiet start in the Potteries, although Arsenal are shading possession and spending time in the final third. No chances to speak of so far.

CHANCE! It hasn't taken long for Jese to get into this match. The new signing collected a pass on the edge of the area, flicks the ball over the leg of Mustafi before being denied by Cech at an acute angle.

This has been a very assured start from Stoke. Jese and Fletcher are in the thick of the action, while there is every intent to get Choupo-Moting into the game. Arsenal haven't really settled.

Better from Arsenal, and inparticularly, Oxlade-Chamberlain who uses his pace to earn a corner for his side. From the resulting corner, there appears to be a handball in the box from Pieters but the referee decides to wave play on. It would have been harsh but I have seen them given.

The Gunners are starting to come into this game more and more, with Ramsey and Lacazette looking particularly sharp. A couple of neat one-touch passes lead to Bellerin pulling the ball back, but it doesn't find a teammate.

CHANCE! A brilliant floated pass from Lacazette finds the run of Ramsey but despite having Welbeck in support, the Welshman instead tries to find the bottom corner, with Butland making a comfortable save.

CHANCE! I can't see this staying goalless for much longer before Arsenal are now all over Stoke. Butland has to be alerted to keep out Welbeck, who had advanced into a shooting position from around eight yards.

CHANCE! Stoke break with some pace through Jese, who runs half of the length of the pitch to reach the byline before pulling the ball back for Choupo-Moting. However, the Cameroonian doesn't make great contact with the ball and his effort from 12 yards is straight at Cech.

SUBSTITUTION! Stoke have been forced into a change after Shaqiri sustains a hamstring injury. Saido Berahino has been introduced in his place.

CHANCE! This is excellent goalkeeping from Butland. Oxlade-Chamberlain's free kick finds the run of Ramsey at the back post but the goalkeeper remains big to prevent Ramsey's volley from finding the back of the net.

CHANCE! Stoke should be ahead. The ball falls for Choupu-Moting who provides a good cross for Shawcross, who has the chance to score with a free header from 12 yards. However, he directs his effort a yard high and wide of the post.

SHOT! When Xhaka receives the ball in space on his left foot around 30 yards on goal, there is only one thing in his mind, but he doesn't catch all of his shot and Butland is able to make an easy save.

It is absolutely lashing it down in Staffordshire. I don't know about doing it on a cold, wet Tuesday night. Doing it on a wet Saturday evening could be just as tricky.

It feels as though Stoke are in a similar position to what Swansea City were earlier today. They have done an effective job so far, but they need to see this out until the break.

There will be two minutes of added-on time. The tempo of this game has slowed a notch.

HALF TIME: Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal

The half-time whistle goes at the Bet365 Stadium and we remain goalless. Both teams have huffed and puffed in the final third, with Shawcross having the best opportunity of the opening 45 minutes when heading wide from 12 yards.

Stoke get us back underway in the second half.

GOAL! Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal (Jese)

Stoke open the scoring and Jese is the man who has got it! The new signing starts the move and after giving the ball to Berahino, he runs onto his teammate's pass to fire a shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Terrific goal.

How will Arsenal respond to that? They have probably been the better side, but now they must come from behind, like they had to against Leicester City. I don't expect changes to be too far away.

There is a lot to like about this Stoke side but they cannot afford to sit too deep now that they have gone ahead. That's what they have started to do and Arsenal are growing in confidence. Welbeck looks threatening for the Gunners.

SHOT! Butland gets so lucky here. He fails to keep hold of a tame shot from Bellerin and Welbeck is lurking. Fortunately for Butland, he recovers in time to claw the ball away for a corner.

CHANCE! Another chance for Arsenal and Welbeck should at least be hitting the target. Ozil finds the run of his teammate but he doesn't connect with his header, instead the ball hitting his shoulder and going over the crossbar.

CHANCE! Arsenal are all over Stoke and Ramsey is the next man to get a shot on target. The Welshman does well to meet Mustafi's pass, but his poked effort is straight at Butland.

SAVE! This is developing into an excellent game. Pieters gets down the left for Stoke before finding Berahino who gets across his defender. His header is going to find the corner until Cech tips his attempt over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Olivier Giroud, who replaces Kolasinac.

CHANCE! Yet another save from Butland. Giroud's clever flick releases Welbeck but a couple of Stoke defenders put him under pressure and he can only poke the ball against the goalkeeper.

CHANCE! It's only a matter of time before Arsenal score. After Lacazette and Ramsey squander openings, Ozil curls wide of the far post from 25 yards.

SUBSTITUTION! Jese is absolutely shattered and he is replaced by Ramadan Sobhi.

Lacazette has the ball in the net with a fine finish from 12 yards. However, the Frenchman appears to be level. It's so close, though. Wenger won't be happy.

Less than 15 minutes to go now and Stoke are edging towards what would be a fine win. However, tiredness is starting to creep in and Arsenal are readying Alex Iwobi and Theo Walcott.

SUBSTITUTIONS! The Gunners duo replace Lacazette and Xhaka. Stoke had one more alteration to make.

Oxlade-Chamberlain should be awarded a foul after being pushed off the ball by Sobhi, but after play is waved on, Pieters is completely taken out by Mustafi on the edge of the penalty area and the referee decides against an infringement for that too. Both really poor calls.

This a game of attack versus defence now. However, Arsenal are not doing enough with the ball and time is running out.

SUBSTITUTION! Bruno Martins Indi replaces Pieters, who picked up an injury when seemingly being fouled by Mustafi.

There will be five minutes of added-on time. Stoke are closing in on a massive win.

CHANCE! That was the moment. Monreal's cross finds Giroud but he powers a header wide of the post from 14 yards.

FULL TIME: Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal

The full-time whistle goes at the Bet365 Stadium and Stoke have done brilliantly to hold on for a 1-0 win over Arsenal. Jese was the hero for the Potters as they hit back from their opening-day defeat to Everton. As for Arsenal, they created plenty of chances in Staffordshire without forcing Butland into any outstanding saves.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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