Arsenal have managed to close the gap between fifth and fourth to just one point ahead of Liverpool’s trip to West Ham on Sunday.
The Gunners traveled to Stoke once again needing a win if they were to keep their top four hopes alive.
With Manchester City beating Leicester 2-1 during Saturday’s early kick-off, the final standings are still out of Arsenal’s hands. However, dropping points at the bet365 Stadium would most certainly knock Arsene Wenger’s side out of the running.
Arsenal began brighter with Stoke, as usual, happy to sit back and let the likes of Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil pass the ball around.
Early chances fell to Oliver Giroud and Alexis Sanchez. However, they were both caught offside.
https://twitter.com/iankharitonov/status/863432393813893121
Whole stadium singing about Wenger now. #afc fans: "Arsene Wenger, he's won more than you." Stoke: "Arsene Wenger, we want you to stay."
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) May 13, 2017
Shkodran Mustafi also had an early headed chance tipped over the bar.
PASS MAP: With 10 minutes played Arsenal have misplaced just five passes (94% accuracy).
Keeping control. pic.twitter.com/8uhhpunL7z
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 13, 2017
After 13 minutes, one of the most noteworthy talking points of the match so far was a plane trailing a banner which said “Wenger – Out Means Out” flying over the bet365 Stadium.
Image: An anti-Wenger banner is flown yet again over an away ground. #afc pic.twitter.com/3HIyuMuCEB
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 13, 2017
"Lads the last plane didn't work. Any other ideas?"
"How about another plane?"
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) May 13, 2017
Arsenal remained comfortably on top with Nacho Monreal hitting the woodwork and Mesut Ozil threading through some beautiful passes.
Monreal is so much more dangerous than Gibbs.
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) May 13, 2017
Monreal should have scored that imo. Arsenal need to make this dominance count. Soon.
— Paul (@rockthecasbah77) May 13, 2017
Nacho Monreal today pic.twitter.com/VL73Dx1vrE
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
Xhaka and Özil playing some amazing passes today.
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) May 13, 2017
Better start from #afc than at Southampton. Beginning to boss possession now and create chances. Stoke offering very little so far.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) May 13, 2017
Arsenal have had 3 shots vs. Stoke so far, all through defenders.
N. Monreal (1)
R. Holding (1)
S. Mustafi (1)Stoke are yet to have one. pic.twitter.com/MkLj1Hs9Le
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 13, 2017
The first yellow of the game went to Mustafi. Although it was deserved, Ryan Shawcross had his hands all over Giroud for most of the game and hadn’t even had a talking to from referee Mike Dean.
After being on top for the entire first half, Giroud finally put Arsenal 1-0 ahead before half-time.
XG MERCHANT FRENCH JESUS DOES IT AGAIN
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) May 13, 2017
Arsenal basically playing with nine men, with Bellerin and Giroud awful. And then they combine to score 🙂
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) May 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/SianyMacalarny/status/863441789860098049
If you let Coquelin wander around your home ground thinking he's Pirlo then you should be ashamed. And you boo the sick.
— Tayo3000 (@DJTayo) May 13, 2017
Olivier Giroud has now scored 8 goals in 15 Premier League appearances away from home this season.
There when it counts. pic.twitter.com/SEsEk1HVzG
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 13, 2017
With the wind in their sails, Arsenal started the second half in the same way as the first, dominating Stoke and looking totally comfortable.
In the 55th minute, Ozil and Alexis linked up in typically stunning fashion to double Arsenal’s lead.
https://twitter.com/TerjeAFCx/status/863450010108780544
Mesut-Alexis-Mesut I don't care, give them everything
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
Mesut, my brother. My friend.
— Billy Dunmore (@Dunmoreorless) May 13, 2017
That ball man pic.twitter.com/FkqRIDNcHX
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/HarryShotta/status/863449520516079619
Alexis Sanchez has now contributed to 41 goals in 47 games this season (25 goals, 16 assists). #afc pic.twitter.com/mU5fNQMSiv
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 13, 2017
Shortly before Ryan ‘Not That Type of Player’ Shawcross elbowed Giroud in the head.
Shawcross elbow to Giroud's head. Mike Dean all like.. pic.twitter.com/cTMG5cNEkR
— Paul (@rockthecasbah77) May 13, 2017
Somehow, despite playing terribly, Stoke managed to pull one back through Peter Crouch’s hand.
So has Crouch just 'been clever' there then?
— Josh Benson (@joshbenson1310) May 13, 2017
THE HAND OF CROUCH! pic.twitter.com/2yeWdKF79c
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 13, 2017
If only there was some sort of way of rewatching it…. https://t.co/lRNwIiuvOF
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
Crouch's handball is not 'controversial'. It's cheating.
— Philippe Auclair (@PhilippeAuclair) May 13, 2017
Is it even possible to use video ref technology in Mordor On Trent?
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
Soon after Crouch’s own goal, the match descended into chaos with Dean allowing fouls to go unpunished and completely losing control of the game.
It didn’t take long before Alexis was brought down and asked to come off.
If Alexis is asking to come off, it has to be bad
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) May 13, 2017
Walcott probably on for Alexis.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
However, despite being barely able to walk, Alexis managed to score and put Arsenal 3-1 up.
https://twitter.com/TheGoonerette/status/863454488803364864
Now take him out and wrap him in bubble wrap and let his dogs lick his wounds
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) May 13, 2017
Alexis Sanchez has now scored more goals away from home in a season (18) than any Arsenal player in the modern era. #afc pic.twitter.com/BZRyyV0me4
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 13, 2017
Arsenal sub:
Ramsey on, Alexis off.#afc— afcstuff (@afcstuff) May 13, 2017
Minutes later, Giroud rubbed salt in Stoke’s wound by putting the Gunners 4-1 ahead.
KILL EM
— ben (@SpansonCrackle) May 13, 2017
GIROUD!!!! What a ball by Ozil and Ramsey
— GoonersRelated (@GoonersRelated) May 13, 2017
Bloody marvellous. Take that you absolute shower of shit Stoke #SCFCvAFC
— Ian Stone (@iandstone) May 13, 2017