Arsenal 3 Stoke 0: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's generosity hints at promising partnership with Alexandre Lacazette

Empty seats, half-time boos, but, ultimately, still small signs that Arsenal are slowly establishing a new unity following the departure of Alexis Sanchez. For not only did his replacement, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, score twice to set up a fourth consecutive win, but he demonstrated a genuinely selfless side in allowing Alexandre Lacazette to complete an ultimately flattering 3-0 scoreline from the penalty spot.

Aubameyang had taken an earlier penalty when Arsenal’s two record signings were on the pitch but, rather than chase a first Premier League hat-trick, he happily handed Lacazette the opportunity to score what was only his second goal since the start of December. 

“I knew it would be good for his confidence,” explained Aubameyang, who, on top of his own clinical finishing and a new haircut that included the name of his recently deceased grandmother, had demonstrated a welcome wider awareness of the significance of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final against CSKA Moscow. 

Aubameyang is ineligible for that competition but was clearly conscious of how the club’s hopes will depend largely on Lacazette following his comeback from knee surgery.

Arsene Wenger was naturally delighted by Aubameyang’s approach and, with Arsenal improving immeasurably after Lacazette’s 61st-minute introduction, the seeds of a profitable future partnership may just have been sown.

“It shows the state of society when we are surprised that people are generous,” said Wenger. “It can only make our team stronger – they have a good understanding and can play together.”

A late flurry, though, could also hardly disguise wider flaws and the ongoing general apathy amid tens of thousands of empty seats at the Emirates Stadium. Stoke had earlier caused plenty of problems and, while Paul Lambert was adamant that his players deserved at least a point, results are now the bottom line and this was a big missed opportunity.

Wenger partially attributed another low crowd to Easter and the international break but he did also acknowledge the obvious cause of a Premier League season that has become an irrelevance.

The Europa League now offers both the only hope of silverware and last realistic opportunity of a Champions League place and he was certain that there will be a full stadium on Thursday. “They will be back – don’t worry,” said Wenger.

An air of indifference was reflected both in Wenger’s team selection and the start to the game. Arsenal were largely passing sideways and their pressing out of possession was half-hearted, with Xherdan Shaqiri soon afforded space to cut in from the right and shoot just inches outside the top corner.

Aaron Ramsey was at least stretching Stoke with his runs from the base of Arsenal’s midfield and, after creating space with an initial surge, he sprinted into the penalty area to collect a return pass and graze the top of the crossbar.

Jack Wilshere and Ramsey then again combined, only for the Wales midfielder’s goal-bound shot to be deflected wide by Ryan Shawcross.

It is now more than eight years since Ramsey’s leg was horrifically broken by a Shawcross tackle and, although both players have put the incident behind them, a minority of Stoke fans still felt a need to vocally recall the career-threatening nature of the injury.

Arsenal became increasingly dominant in possession but, with Danny Welbeck wastefully volleying their next chance wide, a lack of speed and urgency remained evident. Stoke sensed their chance and did almost take the lead when Shaqiri’s curling corner swirled beyond everyone, including goalkeeper David Ospina, and into the inside of the post.

It seemed to awaken Arsenal and they did finish the match convincingly. A precise Mesut Ozil pass released Aubameyang but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland stood tall one-on-one to smother the attempted finish.

Calum Chambers also had an excellent chance from inside the six-yard box before Arsenal did then take the lead after Ozil went down following Bruno Martins Indi’s tackle. Replays clearly showed that he had first played the ball before upending Ozil but referee Craig Pawson had no doubt and Aubameyang sent Butland the wrong way with his penalty.

Arsenal had looked far more fluent once Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Lacazette replaced Wilshere and Welbeck, with both Mkhitaryan and Ozil also forcing good saves of Butland.

An Ozil corner was then volleyed emphatically past Butland by Aubameyang before Badou Ndiaye needlessly shoved Lacazette as he chased Hector Bellerin’s pass and gave Pawson little alternative but to award a second penalty. 

It offered Aubameyang the chance of a hat-trick but he seemed genuinely delighted for Lacazette to get a goal ahead of Thursday’s big Europa League quarter-final.

3:25PM

Full time: Arsenal 3 Stoke City 0

The scoreline flatters. Arsenal were dross in the first half in front of a muted crowd. Stoke had the better of it. The key moment was the penalty awarded against Martins Indi on 75 minutes. It looked a pen at the time, but with the benefit of, ahem, video technology you might argue against it. Arsenal then raised their level to score another, and a second, stonewall penalty sealed the deal.

A largely forgettable affair. We will have our report up as soon as possible, and then it's over to Rob Bagchi for  Chelsea vs Tottenham

From me, thanks and goodbye.

3:19PM

89 mins

Lacazette stopped in full flow, some bad feeling bubbles over and there's a bit of group handbags. Allen fouled him, Lacazette tried to ride the challenge and Bruno Martins Indi made sure with a hard foul.

3:18PM

GOAL! Arsenal 3 Stoke 0 (Lacazette 89 pen)

Hard and low, no question. In fact, the only question is why Aubameyang hasn't been allowed the chance of a hat-trick.

3:17PM

And Arsenal have another penalty!

Oh dear, it is all falling apart. Lacazette charges onto the ball and is brainlessly fouled by Ndiaye. Shoulder barged him to the floor. The linesman flags, and rightly, and it is as clear as day that this is going to be the second penalty.

...Lacazette will have the honour...

3:15PM

GOAL! Arsenal 2 Stoke 0 Aubameyang again! (86 mins)

Well, that does settle it. An Arsenal corner sees the ball drop kindly for Aubameyang, who drills his shot at the goal hard and low.

3:14PM

The penalty again

Who'd be a referee? It's taken Sky maybe 10 replays and 15 minutes but they have concluded, as do I, that Bruno Martins Indi actually got a toe on the ball before he trod on Ozil's ankle. That he trod on Ozil is not in doubt, but maybe he DID play the ball first. 

3:11PM

82 mins

Ball hit deep and high to Crouch, who gets bravely between two Arsenal defenders to win it. The knock down finds Badou, who shoots. Wide.

3:10PM

Good grief

3:08PM

79 mins

Crouch! All hail Peter. He comes on and issues some instructions. I think I might be able to guess what the instructions are. GIE. IT. TO. THA. BIG. MAN.

Sobhi, who has been more or less making up the numbers anyway, comes off.

3:05PM

76 mins

Good chance for Monreal. Aubameyang lays the ball off, Ozil tries to work some magic and cut it back. A fortunate deflection takes it right into the path of Monreal, but his shot is wild.

3:04PM

75 mins

Elneny and Wilshere coming off. Mkhitaryan and Xhaka coming on.

3:03PM

GOAL! Arsenal! Aubameyang (75 pen)

Excellent penalty, low and accurate. No chance for the keeper. 

Bruno MI made a brief protest that he'd got the ball, but it seemed that he was doing it for appearance's sake rather than any real sense that he had been hard done-by. Stoke seemed to accept it well enough, and I think rightly. Pretty clear pen, as they go.

3:01PM

73 mins

Arsenal win a penalty. Ozil the man down. Bruno Martins Indi clips him on the back of the ankle.

3:00PM

71 mins

From the resulting corner, a flick on, and here is Chambers! Only a yard out, but it comes to him quickly and he cannot get his feet/body in the right position. Ends up cushioning it with his thigh straight into the hands of the keeper!

2:59PM

70 mins

Good move from Arsenal! Perfect pass from Ozil, Aubameyang can race onto it, and this is the sort of situation in which he is supposed to thrive. He tries to tuck it over the keeper but Butland does well. Arsenal try desperately to follow in but it's hacked clear.

2:57PM

67 mins

Xherdan hits the post! Not too clear if he meant it to be honest, he floated the ball in and it deceived everyone.

2:56PM

65 mins

Johnson is booked. Wilshere has a weak shot.

2:56PM

Hair

2:52PM

63 mins

Wilshere is physically overpowered by Joe Allen, which one would scarcely think possible, but there you have it. Sobhi and Lacazette wrestle for the ball, the Arsenal man reckons that Sobhi was waving his arms about.

2:49PM

60 mins

Diouf is limping off, replaced by Berahino,

Wenger uses this opportunity to make a striker swap of his own. Welbeck, very average today, comes off in favour of Lacazette.

2:46PM

57 mins

Arsenal crackle into life and produce an excellent move. Players streaming forward, overloading and overwhelming Stoke with movement and quick passing. It's Elneny who has the shot, hit hard and true but the keeper parries. Arsenal follow up with Monreal but Butland is equal to it.

2:45PM

56 mins

Nice ball in from Ozil, lay off from Ramsey, Welbz strikes the shot at goal but it is wide.

If only this match was as enjoyable as this interview.

2:43PM

54 mins

Ball into the Arsenal box, Ospina comes for it and is hurt in a challenge with Sobhi! With Cech in the stands, that's a concern for Arsene. Seems to be okay.

2:38PM

49 mins

More of the same I am afraid to say. This is an absolute stinker. Chambers has fouled Xerdan, who lets the referee know about it,as commentator Bill Leslie remarks drolly. The same player delivers in the freekick, it's easily cleared.

2:34PM

47 mins

Erik Pieters gets some space down the left but his cross is a shambles. Lofted way out, when under little pressure. 18 caps for Holland. Mmm. The position once occupied by Frank De Boer. 

2:33PM

46 mins

Right then. Come on Stoke. Points to be had here.

2:33PM

Pleased

2:30PM

Possession

2:29PM

Shots

2:29PM

I'm with Al

Let's hope things pick up. Can't see how they can't!

2:18PM

Half time: Arsenal 0 Stoke City 0

"Well we've had the warm up, let's hope the rest of it is better," says Alan Smith. And how. The referee brings the first half to a close, and everyone is rather relieved.

2:17PM

44 mins

Mustafi and Sobhi bundle into each other in an attempt to get the ball. No malice. Mustafi made the odd decision to play a ball about two feet off the ground by diving head first at it, shades of John Terry, and gets a whack upside the head for his trouble.

2:13PM

42 mins

Awful atmosphere at the ground. Either silent or muttering disapproval. 

2:12PM

40 mins

Elneny has an effort from distance, a corner, a clearance.

2:09PM

38 mins

Chambers gives the ball away but makes up for it with a nice tidying up cover tackle on Bauer. Some very sloppy play from the Gunners so far.

2:08PM

37 mins

Elneny sees yellow for a foul on Chicken Loving Joe Allen.

2:06PM

35 mins

Shaqiri gallops down the right and tries to stand the ball up. Chambers with the interception via header. Bauer wins a corner. Said set piece finds the popular Ryan Shawcross, who heads it back across... no, it drifts behind. The crowd express their sympathies.

2:04PM

32 mins

Bellerin's free again down that right, but his shot is woeful. 

2:01PM

30 mins

Ozil loses it, Sobhi can break and Mesut owes Mustafi here for a well-timed tackle to stop the rapier counter.

Mustafi header from a corner, straight at the keeper.

2:00PM

28 mins

Arsenal bringing it now. Good move, Ramsey has an effort and it needs the intervention of, I think, Martins Indi to turn that behind. Stoke deal with the corner well enough.

1:56PM

Very rugby league the Stoke shirts, right?

1:55PM

24 mins

Better from Arsenal now. Ozil has woken up, clever little passing move on the edge of the area is a whisker away from opening Stoke up.

1:53PM

22 mins

Butland blunder! Arsenal 's first decent move. Darting run from Ramsey, he slips to Bellering advanced on the right. A chipped cross. Butland flaps at the ball and it drops back to Ramsey who improvises a hooked shot, lands on the roof of the net after flicking the top of the bar.

1:51PM

17 mins

Poor pass from Ozil. Poor pass from Wilshere. It's a deeply uninspiring start so far. The fans reflect the mood. Or are the mood.

1:48PM

16 mins

Seemingly anodyne collision between Doiuf and Ramsey, but the Arsenal man is feeling it. Think he was winded. He's okay now.

1:44PM

13 mins

Tons of empty seats. Arsenal have not really turned up yet. Stoke having much the better of it.

1:41PM

11 mins

Joe Allen tries again but that is dealt with easily by Arsenal.

1:41PM

10 mins

Stoke City have a corner. Sliced behind by Welbeck. Corner again.

1:40PM

8 mins

The Bizarro World feel continues as Wilshere humps it forward looking for Aubameyang. Johnson clears.

1:38PM

Ryan Shawcross, Arsenal favourite

1:36PM

4 mins

Something of the Arsenal about that little move, and something of the Stoke here from Hector Bellerin as he slices down Sobhi from behind. Lucky not to be booked for that. Swap shirts, and that's a yellow card.

1:34PM

3 mins

Excellent football from Stoke! Shaqiri, Diouf, and Bauer linking up well on the edge of the box, clever quick passing. Shaqiri has an effort! Sweetly struck curling shot, just wide.

1:32PM

2 mins

Stoke having the better of the early exchanges, some darting runs down the left but not a lot of space for them. 

1:31PM

1 mins

Stoke, in their white and blue, attempt to make some progress down the middle.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Monreal, Elneny,  Wilshere, Ramsey, Ozil, Welbeck, Aubameyang. Subs: Koscielny,  Mkhitaryan, Lacazette, Iwobi, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Macey. 

Stoke: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters,  Allen, Ndiaye, Bauer, Shaqiri, Sobhi, Diouf. Subs: Ireland,  Berahino, Cameron, Crouch, Haugaard, Campbell, Sorenson.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire) 

1:29PM

Their Stoke opponents

Suggestion of the Rugby League about the Stoke shirts today.

1:28PM

Here's the Arsenal team

1:27PM

Players are out on the pitch

Mild, grey day in London.

1:21PM

Classic Des

1:14PM

Jeramin Defoe

is on pundit detail for Sky Sports and people on the internet seem to think that he said A Bad Word just now. A Very Bad Word, in fact. Not The Worst Bad Word, the one that rhymes with the name of the Todd Rundgren album, but the Second Worst Bad Word.

Anyway, if you want to hear that, then here's the clip. It certainly would appear to contain some bad language.

12:55PM

Stoke formation

12:39PM

Jacqui on Charlie on Frimpi on Nasri

12:38PM

Captain Jack

12:34PM

Frimpong!

Charlie Eccleshare has done a very enjoyable interview with Emmanuel Frimpong. Perhaps Arsenal could do with a bit of Frimpers in the centre of the park, get stuck in a bit? Or something like him, anyway?

12:33PM

Stoke City

12:32PM

As for Arsenal

well, what more is there to say really? The usual band of talented but frustrating nice boys.

12:26PM

Good afternoon!

Happy Easter! Lamb, chocolate, sense of rebirth, possibly some sort of religious programming on the television. Marvellous, isn't it? Mmm? And now a chance to see the good old Arsenal play a team who have been something of a bete noir in recent years, it's.... SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS.... Stoke City!

The men from the land of pots travel to North London for this 1.30pm kick off with just 27 points from 31 fixtures, which means they are three points below Palace in 17th, albeit with a much worse GD. Stoke have not won since January 20th and look to be in all sorts.

Their problems were thrown into sharp relief this week when Xherdan Shaqiri opened his heart / ran his mouth to a magazine in his native Switzerland saying that, basically, the rest of the team are a load of old tut. A reasonable argument in many ways, although frowned upon. Sensationally, Xherdan has NOT done the traditional "I never said them things, I was mistranslated" follow-up, once an absolute staple of foreign players here speaking to hacks back home.

Excellent stuff. Well, it remains to be seen what his team-mates make of it all. We will know which of them take their places very soon.