"I felt we had a good defensive performance and overall we are unlucky to lose this game. Offensively we didn't create enough and our offensive game was poor considering our standards. At the end of the day we didn't score because of that. We conceded a goal that was a nice gift from the referee but it can happen".
This is how Arsene Wenger described our performance and it's an accurate description.
Rarely had I felt this downhearted after a loss. The closest was when we went down to Napoli, failing to produce an attacking display of any kind. I get the circumstances: we needed only a draw. We didn't get it, though, which went on to demonstrate that it's dangerous for us to play for anything else than a win.
Maybe our recent loss to Liverpool was of the same kind (from what we've accomplished up front, I have to stress). As I've said, I turned that game off after they've scored a third, so I can't comment on our offensive display.
But Stoke? Really? They've remained a bunch of Orcs they were under Pulis. True, other top teams had their difficulties against Stoke this season, but for a team with title aspirations to not record a single shot on target in the entire second half is nothing short of failure.
Yes we've dominated possession, but were nonetheless as toothless as it gets. Wilshere was poor, Rosicky was poor, Podolski was poor, Cazorla was only marginally better. When your best player on the day happens to be a sub who got just twenty minutes under his belt, well that's telling.
Our only clear-cut chance came deep into stoppage time, but Sanogo could not even keep his effort on target. The Ox did most of the work, pulled the ball back for the Frenchman, but the latter sent his shot over. And, mind you, however raw and inexperienced Sanogo is, he's got to hit the target from this close.
Not that I blame solely him. He has only put a finishing touch on a miserable day, one that raises serious questions about our title aspirations and which most definitely leaves us in a hard spot. Everyone else had won (bar City, they played in the cup), so we're now four points behind Chelsea, level with Liverpool and two points clear off City, who have two games in hand.
Our performance was great, when it came to fending off Stoke attacks, but Szczesny still had to work harder than Begovic for his clean sheet, and was still robbed of it courtesy off a controversial penalty in the end.
Was it a penalty? No. I have watched the game with the sound off and my first reaction was that Koscielny was brought down and the ref called the foul on Stoke. When he pointed to the spot I was like "What the hell?!" Replays showed the ball struck Koscielny's hand. And I mean "struck". It was as far from a deliberate handball as I've seen.
As it was, Walters converted the penalty and we found ourselves chasing the game. Ozil and the Ox came on and conjured up more than everyone else on the team before that. However, we didn't get anything out of the game.
What worries me most, is our limp attacking performance. We visited Britannia Stadium on the back of a resounding win, only one change was made (Gibbs for Monreal), the players were rested properly. If we can't deliver after that, can we deliver at all?
In the light of the fact, that this campaign draws to a close, we have little time for recuperation. One look at our fixture list says mistakes will prove costly. Our internationals going away on duty makes our task of winning all and sundry nigh on impossible.
Yes, Wenger is right in saying we tend to finish campaigns strongly. But this time around, we're fighting on three fronts. And I hope we still will do so come April.
Until later
This is how Arsene Wenger described our performance and it's an accurate description.
Rarely had I felt this downhearted after a loss. The closest was when we went down to Napoli, failing to produce an attacking display of any kind. I get the circumstances: we needed only a draw. We didn't get it, though, which went on to demonstrate that it's dangerous for us to play for anything else than a win.
Maybe our recent loss to Liverpool was of the same kind (from what we've accomplished up front, I have to stress). As I've said, I turned that game off after they've scored a third, so I can't comment on our offensive display.
But Stoke? Really? They've remained a bunch of Orcs they were under Pulis. True, other top teams had their difficulties against Stoke this season, but for a team with title aspirations to not record a single shot on target in the entire second half is nothing short of failure.
Yes we've dominated possession, but were nonetheless as toothless as it gets. Wilshere was poor, Rosicky was poor, Podolski was poor, Cazorla was only marginally better. When your best player on the day happens to be a sub who got just twenty minutes under his belt, well that's telling.
Our only clear-cut chance came deep into stoppage time, but Sanogo could not even keep his effort on target. The Ox did most of the work, pulled the ball back for the Frenchman, but the latter sent his shot over. And, mind you, however raw and inexperienced Sanogo is, he's got to hit the target from this close.
Not that I blame solely him. He has only put a finishing touch on a miserable day, one that raises serious questions about our title aspirations and which most definitely leaves us in a hard spot. Everyone else had won (bar City, they played in the cup), so we're now four points behind Chelsea, level with Liverpool and two points clear off City, who have two games in hand.
Our performance was great, when it came to fending off Stoke attacks, but Szczesny still had to work harder than Begovic for his clean sheet, and was still robbed of it courtesy off a controversial penalty in the end.
Was it a penalty? No. I have watched the game with the sound off and my first reaction was that Koscielny was brought down and the ref called the foul on Stoke. When he pointed to the spot I was like "What the hell?!" Replays showed the ball struck Koscielny's hand. And I mean "struck". It was as far from a deliberate handball as I've seen.
As it was, Walters converted the penalty and we found ourselves chasing the game. Ozil and the Ox came on and conjured up more than everyone else on the team before that. However, we didn't get anything out of the game.
What worries me most, is our limp attacking performance. We visited Britannia Stadium on the back of a resounding win, only one change was made (Gibbs for Monreal), the players were rested properly. If we can't deliver after that, can we deliver at all?
In the light of the fact, that this campaign draws to a close, we have little time for recuperation. One look at our fixture list says mistakes will prove costly. Our internationals going away on duty makes our task of winning all and sundry nigh on impossible.
Yes, Wenger is right in saying we tend to finish campaigns strongly. But this time around, we're fighting on three fronts. And I hope we still will do so come April.
Until later