Iwobi Watches From The Bench As Arsenal Win At Stoke City After Seven Years

Arsenal are still within a fighting chance of qualifying for their 21st consecutive Champions League after thrashing Stoke City 4-1 at the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday evening.

With Nigeria international Alex Iwobi watching proceedings from the bench, Arsene Wenger's side recorded their first win against the Potters on the road in the past seven years.

Stoke City started in passive fashion and allowed Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game, and were lucky not to concede in the ninth minute when Shkodran Mustafi's header was turned behind for a corner by the goalkeeper.

Nacho Monreal missed a huge chance to give the Gunners the lead as his header hit the post in the 17th minute, before Olivier Giroud broke the lock on the Stoke City back door in the 43rd minute after a lovely pass from Bellerin.

A beautifully constructed move was finished off by Ozil in the 55th minute to put Arsenal two goals to the good.

On the hour mark, Diouf had a chance to reduce the deficit but fired wide from point blank range, before goalkeeper Cech saved another half chance from Martins Indi few minutes later.

Stoke pulled one goal back in the 68th minute though replays suggested that Peter Crouch steered the ball in with his hand.

Alexis picked his spot and drilled the ball past Jack Butland in the 76th minute to restore the Gunners two-goal advantage, before Giroud scored his second and Arsenal's fourth goal with ten minutes left.

Two rounds left, in-form Arsenal, who have 69 points in the kitty, must rely on the shortcomings of Manchester City and Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : arsenal.com