Arsenal Rediscover Their Old Self in Win Against Stoke City at the Emirates

Arsenal turned in an assured performance to claim all three points in their week nine match against Stoke City at the Emirates. The result leaves them seventh on the table. The 3-1 victory was a comfortable win in the end, though this didn't always appear so in the match. 

Relatively comfortable in possession, Arsenal lacked an arrowhead to make their dominant possession count until the introduction of Robin Van Persie in the 66th minute. Indeed, in the first 20 minutes of the second half, Arsenal looked short on ideas in the final third, playing one too many misplaced passes.

Marouane Chamakh, who started in place of Van Persie as the most advance striker, displayed the troubling loss of form that has plagued him since the midpoint of last season. As a result, Arsenal lacked genuine threat on goal despite their dominance in possession.

Theo Walcott, the other Arsenal striker, playing wide right, turned in another disappointing performance, and in the end had to give way to Andrei Arshavin.

Of the three Arsenal strikers in the first half and for the better part of the second, only Gervinho set himself apart, scoring the half's lone goal for Arsenal, after a lofted pass over Stoke's defensive line from Aaron Ramsey. Gervinho coolly took the pass off his chest and struck it past the Stoke keeper into the right corner of the goal.

Stoke City's equalizer minutes later resulted from Arsenal's known weakness, their inability to defend set pieces. After Laurent Koscielny was adjudged to have fouled Peter Crouch, Stoke City made this advantage count when the resultant free kick was launched towards an unmarked Ryan Shawcross on the right edge of Arsenal's penalty area. Shawcross' redirected header into the heart of Arsenal's goal resulted in the scramble that produced the equalizer via a tap-in from Peter Crouch.

Thereafter and until the end of the first half and the first twenty minutes of the second, it looked like Arsenal were headed to a frustrating draw at the Emirates, a result they would have ill-afforded. It looked like Arsene Wenger's decision to rest Van Persie would backfire, and it likely would have but for the manager's change of heart when he withdrew the disappointing Chamakh and brought on Arsenal's inspirational captain.

It was the tonic Arsenal needed as they immediately came to life to score two goals in the space of 10 minutes, highlighting in the process the indispensability of Van Persie, who is currently displaying an uncanny poacher's instincts in front of goal.

The match highlighted another aspect of the team's development, which can only be assuring to their hopeful fans.

Unlike in a number of previous matches in the past in which Arsenal had looked shaky even when seemingly headed to a victory, here, after the comfortable two-goal lead, they let their strength—ball possession—work for them. As a result, they avoided the nervous finish which has become their hallmark in recent matches.

Furthermore, there was an improvement from the team on what we saw in midweek. The team is beginning to defend as a unit rather than leaving the bulk of defensive work to the back four as used to be their wont. What they still lack is a strategy for defending set pieces.

One disturbing thing remains about Arsenal though, even as they appear to have turned their season around (although judgment should be suspended until Chelsea next week), which is their single goal scoring option at the moment. What happens if, goodness forbids, Van Persie were to get injured or lose goal scoring form?

For me, it is a worrying sign for a team to rely only on one scoring outlet. True, Gervinho scored today and Ramsey in midweek. Here though, Arsenal did not look likely to add to their only goal before the introduction of Van Persie to the match.

What's more, it was Van Persie's movement off the ball that did more to rejuvenate Arsenal than even the two goals he scored, although the goals are what really count.

I would have loved to see Ju-Young Park introduced for Walcott rather than Arshavin. It would be interesting to see what effect this produces on Arsenal's finishing in the final third.

In terms of individual performances in this match, apart from Walcott and Chamakh, who flopped, each player played admirably. Koscielny built on his strong display in midweek. Johan Djourou acquitted himself well in the right back position.

The summer signings are settling down well. Andre Santos gave an improved performance and is beginning to look comfortable in the left back position. Per Metersacker, besides a couple of misplaced passes, is adapting well to the team and the premiership.

Gervinho, who set up the two Van Persie goals, was brilliant. He was the Man of the Match for me.