Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s double and Lacazette’s penalty was enough to send off Stoke City in one of the outstanding performances the Gunners have prescribed for this season.
How both the teams lined up for the fixture?
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, Bauer, Ndiaye, Allen, Sobhi, Diouf, Shaqiri.
Subs: Ireland, Berahino, Cameron, Crouch, Haugaard, Campbell, Sorenson.
Referee: Craig Pawson
What Happened?
Arsenal weren’t at their best mood from the start. The visitors left Arsene Wenger men frustrated much of the contest. They made a breakthrough in the final 15 minutes, when Bruno Martins Indi brought down Mesut Ozil and Aubameyang easily converted the resultant penalty kick.
Ten minutes later Aubameyang scored a beauty with Mesut Ozil’s corner brushing past others straight to The Gabonese.
The French superstar marked his return from injury wrapping things up a minute from time with the Gunners’ second spot-kick.
Hard fought victory for the Gunners, but they left it late and sealed the three points comfortably. The first penalty might be pretty controversial but since then Arsenal have upped their gears and got the job done.
Who Said What:
Here’s Arsene Wenger on Lacazette taking our second penalty with Aubameyang on a hat-trick: “That shows well the state of our society – when people are generous, we are surprised! They have a good understanding, I like that because they can make the team stronger”
Auba was on a hat-trick when Arsenal received their second penalty but he gave the ball to Lacazette and Gooners were pretty frustrated.
Auba on why he didn’t take the second penalty: “I know that Laca is back and I’d scored twice, so I wanted to let him score. It’s normal. I think it’s good for his confidence, and that’s why.”
