EPL: Gunners sink Stoke City

Arsenal have recorded back-to-back victories in the Premier League for the first time since November with a 3-0 win over Stoke City in Sunday’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium.
Stoke went into the game having not won since January 20, but the visitors almost took an early lead in North London as Xherdan Shaqiri sent a curling effort from 20 yards marginally wide of the far post.
Arsenal were giving away possession too cheaply and a number of misplaced passes led to groans from the home support, but the Gunners almost went ahead in the 23rd minute when Aaron Ramsey’s close-range volley clipped the top of the crossbar before going over.
However, aside from a speculative volley from Hector Bellerin and two headers being sent off target by Calum Chambers, Arsenal struggled to create anything in the final third as Jack Butland remained without much to do in goal.
Badou N’Diaye made an excellent block to deny Mohamed Elneny while Nacho Monreal forced a good save out of Butland from long range, but Stoke almost stunned Arsenal as Shaqiri’s inswinging corner struck the far post and rebound clear.
That near miss sharpened Arsenal’s focus with Ozil setting up Aubameyang – who fired straight at Butland – and Chambers did the same when meeting Monreal’s flick on from a corner.
However, Arsenal finally got their goal through Aubameyang, who sent Butland the wrong way from the spot after Bruno Martins Indi was adjudged to have tripped Mesut Ozil inside of the penalty area.
Arsenal got their second when a cross into the box found Aubameyang around 12 yards from goal, and the Gabon international made no mistake with a clinical finish into the far corner.
Three minutes later, the Gunners were awarded a second penalty of the match as Lacazette was pushed over by N’Diaye and the Frenchman got back to his feet to slot into the corner.