Arsenal's season was summed up by a dreadful performance as Stoke tuned up for the FA Cup Final next week with a comfortable 3-1 victory. While many of Arsenal's players seemed to be in holiday mode, Stoke played with an appetite and ruthlessness that left the Gunners on the canvas.
1st Half
The tone for the game was set in the opening minutes. Arsenal having the lion's share of the ball, while Stoke were content to sit back, soak up the pressure and then hit Arsenal on the break using Jermaine Pennant on the right-wing.
Arsenal could have put paid to Tony Pulis's game plan if Robin Van Persie had taken a good chance when played through. However, the Dutchman sent the ball over the bar. Laurent Koscielny repeated the trick a few minutes later, and that was good as the first half got for Arsenal.
While they knocked the ball around nicely enough, there was an alarming lack of tempo & cutting edge in the final third. You felt that Stoke were almost letting Arsenal keep possession before taking it off them at will and breaking down the other end.
Stoke know that no matter how little of the ball they have, once they get a set-piece, they are probably the Premier League's most dangerous team. And Andrey Arshavin inexplicably gave Stoke a chance to load the box after senselessly fouling Jon Walters. Van Persie & Kieran Gibbs both missed Pennant's delivery and Kenwyne Jones helped the ball into the net to give the home side the lead.
As half-time approached, yet again Arsenal carelessly gave possession away, Pennant won the ball and drove at the away side's defence. His shot took a deflection of Johan Djourou but Wojech Szczesny should still have tipped the shot over the bar. The Pole failed to do so, and the ex-Gunner gave Stoke breathing space.
2nd Half
After such an abysmal first-half display it was no surprise that Arsene Wenger brought both Nicklas Bendter & Marouane Chamakh on for the listless Arshavin & Aaron Ramsay - who had an unhappy return to the ground where he broke his leg last season.
But this made minimal difference to Arsenal's level of performance. The team were wearing their yellow away strip, which seemed apropos as the display could easily have been described as "yellow". As time ticked away, Arsenal's passing remained sub-standard. Whether it was by poor execution or bad pass selection, Stoke comfortably kept Arsenal at arm's length. And while Stoke are the team with a reputation for being overzealous in tackles, Jack Wilshere was lucky not to be sent off for a reckless, studs-up lunge at Pennant.
Van Persie kept up his impressive recent goalscoring run as he scored with ten minutes to go. After a sharp drop of the shoulder, his drive went underneath the body of Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic. Any chance the Bosnian had of keeping goal for Stoke at Wembley next week may have disappeared as he should have kept the shot out.
It was no matter as it was soon 3-1. A tame shot from Andy Wilkinson should have been dealt with. But Djourou made a feeble attempt at a clearance and Walters had plenty of time to pick his spot and end the contest.
Conclusion
This was arguably Arsenal's worst display of the season. Lifeless in attack, vulnerable yet again in the air, and an absence of focus for the occasion. Arsenal seemed to think that they could play in first gear and get a result. Well, of all sides to have that attitude against, you can't pick many worse opponents than Stoke. Anyone who has tickets for the club's final two games of the season should seriously consider trying to sell them on. Too many players looked like they were going through the motions, and a performance such as this next week won't be deserving of a lap of honour in the final home game against Aston Villa.
ARSENAL (4-3-3)
Szczesny - 5, Sagna - 5, Djourou - 4, Koscielny - 5, Gibbs - 5, Song - 4 (Rosicky - 5), Ramsay - 5 (Chamakh - 4), Wilshere - 5, Walcott - 4, Van Persie - 5, Arshavin - 3 (Bendtner - 5)
