Stoke City vs. Arsenal: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw at Stoke City—but the point picked up on their travels is still enough to take Arsene Wenger's side to the summit of the Premier League table.
The Gunners take over top spot from Leicester City on goal difference, though they have now won just once in their last six away league games.
Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland kept them at bay with some excellent saves, while opposite number Petr Cech was also in impressive form for the visitors.
Arsenal's attack wasn't helped by the absence of Mesut Ozil through injury, while Wenger decided not to risk playing Alexis Sanchez.
Here, Bleacher Report picks out the winners and losers from the goalless draw at the Britannia Stadium.
Winner: Jack Butland
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Jack Butland has his sights set on breaking Petr Cech's Premier League record for clean sheets, per Paul Brown of the Daily Star: "I would love to beat it! I’m a long way off that and I’d have to put up a pretty good average of clean sheets for that."
The England international added to his tally by keeping Arsenal at bay—but so, too, did Cech, whose number of shutout games now stands at 172.
Butland made two saves of note at the Britannia Stadium.
In the first half, the 22-year-old rushed from his line to spread himself and block an attempt from Olivier Giroud. Then, straight after the interval, he denied the same player again, this time keeping out a low header.
According to OptaJoe on Twitter, no goalkeeper has made more saves than Butland (81) in the Premier League this season.
Loser: Arsenal (without Mesut Ozil)
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Arsenal huffed and puffed at the Britannia Stadium but very rarely threatened to blow Stoke City's house down.
The absence of Mesut Ozil is always more keenly felt when you draw a blank. According to statistics on Squawka.com, the German has managed 16 assists for the Gunners this season.
Without him, the visitors struggled to create opportunities against a stubborn Stoke City defence that also had the impressive Jack Butland behind them.
Manager Arsene Wenger admitted Ozil was missed, per the Premier League's official Twitter feed: "There's no team in the world that doesn't miss Ozil. Even with him it would've been very difficult as well."
The Gunners will hope their star playmaker is fit to face Chelsea at home on Jan. 24.
Winner: Petr Cech
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After conceding three goals away in the draw at Liverpool in midweek, Petr Cech got back to doing what he does best—keeping clean sheets.
The experienced goalkeeper produced a fine double save to deny Joselu and then Bojan Krkic in quick succession in the second half.
Even when he was in danger of being beaten, the former Chelsea player received some help from his friends, with Aaron Ramsey clearing Jonathan Walters' late header off the line.
Arsenal may have had their problems against Stoke City in the past, but Cech seems to enjoy playing against the Potters. Per OptaJoe on Twitter, he has managed 10 clean sheets against them in his career. Only against Newcastle, with 12 clean sheets, has he kept more.
Loser: Theo Walcott
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Theo Walcott didn't look particularly impressed to be replaced by Alex Iwobi after 72 minutes.
However, the Arsenal forward could have few complaints about seeing the fourth official raise his number.
Per Squawka Football's match statistics, the England international failed to muster a shot on goal during his time on the field, while his pass-completion rate was a distinctly average 68 per cent.
With both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez missing, Arsene Wenger has every right to expect more from Walcott. Instead, he was a peripheral figure in the 0-0 draw.
Alistair Tweedale feels Walcott needs to learn—and quickly—as he wrote in the Telegraph: "A 26-year-old footballer could barely be more experienced than Theo Walcott, yet for someone who has played as much [as] him there is a remarkable immaturity to part of his game."
Winner: Aaron Ramsey
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The Britannia Stadium is a difficult place for any away team to visit, but for Aaron Ramsey, it is a place where he suffered his darkest day in football.
It was at the venue in 2010 where Ramsey fractured both the tibia and fibula in his right leg following a challenge from Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross.
The Welshman—who was out for nearly nine months—was booed by the Stoke City fans on Sunday. Presenter Mark Pougatch offered the reason why on Twitter, stating Ramsey had rejected an apology from Shawcross.
Arsene Wenger was not impressed with the behaviour of some of the home support, according to Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail: "When people get together they sometimes forget their individual responsibility. Maybe when you go home and watch it on television you are less proud."
Ramsey, though, had the last laugh. The midfielder was in the right place to clear Jonathan Walters' header off the line in the closing minutes, preserving Arsenal's clean sheet.
Loser: Bojan Krkic
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Bojan Krkic was a key part of the Stoke City team that defeated Manchester United 2-0 at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day.
The Spaniard scored the home side's opening goal in the victory over the Red Devils but has not found the net since.
He struggled to make an impact against Arsenal, though he did go close to scoring when reacting quickly to a rebound after a Petr Cech save.
But, from a tight angle, Bojan saw his effort blocked by the scrambling Cech. He was then replaced after 64 minutes, meaning he has now been substituted in his five first-team appearances since Dec. 26.
