By Boris Mellor
January 14 2005

Germaine Greer confessed on Big Brother that she would like to make love to Arsene until he groaned. One wag in the Bank of Friendship suggested he would probably groan on hearing the news.

However there can be little doubt he groaned at half time, as Arsenal went in 1-0 down to Stoke City. There was little real threat from Arsenal in the first half; in fact Stoke probably had a few more chances and a disallowed goal.

Nonetheless Stoke had kept 10 men behind the ball, with only Ade Akinbiyi playing up front. He had a magnificent first half, terrorising the Arsenal defence, it was hardly surprising that it was his header that led to Stoke taking the lead just before half-time. Lehmann was unable to hold the close range header, and Thomas slammed in the loose ball.

Vieira had done a good job in shielding the defence but was unable to prevent Stoke taking the lead, it was just one of those scrappy goal mouth scrambles that always give the Gunners a problem.

As the second half commenced the Arsenal looked a different team, and with the crowd now urging them on the equaliser arrived on 50 minutes. A Toure cross was headed back to Reyes on the edge of the area who drove home his ninth goal of the season.

Arsenal were now pressing for the winner, but Stoke were still dangerous, albeit with still only Akinbiyi up front. Nonetheless the former Leicester City striker saw a great shot hit the cross bar on 67 minutes.

But on 70 minutes the game was effectively ended when Reyes reached the by-line and passed the ball back to Pennant who flicked the ball to the near post where Van Persie, with his back to goal, hooked the ball home.

Stoke City did not give up and now tried to attack with more urgency, but this then opened up opportunities for the Gunners. Arsenal now had a firm grip on the game and could have scored a few more goals but failed to exploit a whole series of chances.

A mixture of youth and experience had managed to avoid the banana skin laid down for them by Stoke.