Stoke 1 Arsenal 0: Jese debut goal downs Arsene Wenger's Gunners

1/23
Tom Doyle19 August 2017

Jese Rodriguez made an instant impact on his Premier League debut as Stoke consigned Arsenal to a 1-0 defeat on Saturday.

Jese, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, looked sharp from the off at the bet365 Stadium as he tested Petr Cech early on, and got his reward after the break as he finished low past the Arsenal goalkeeper 90 seconds after the restart.

Arsene Wenger turned to Olivier Giroud as Arsenal pressed to get into the game, and the back-up striker teed up Alexandre Lacazette to finish with an impudent flick 18 minutes from time - only for the latter to see the effort ruled out for marginal offside.

Wenger's side kept pushing for a late leveller, but were denied as Mark Hughes' men once again ensured that the Gunners left the Potteries empty-handed.

Getty Images

The Gunners controlled a lot of the game and the likes of Aaron Ramsey - who received his usual booing treatment from the Stoke fans - and Granit Xhaka shone in midfield.

Arsenal had a deliberate ploy to chip the ball over the Stoke defence and it created a few openings.

Lacazette teed up Ramsey in such fashion but Mame Biram Diouf did enough to knock the midfielder off his stride and his shot was a tame one.

Diouf, however, was lucky not to concede a penalty when Arsenal tried this mode of attack again and he appeared to bring down Hector Bellerin. Referee Andre Marriner gave only a corner.

Danny Welbeck also got behind the defence from a clever dinked ball but Butland denied him.

AFP/Getty Images

For all the Gunners' composure in possession, they were vulnerable to the counter-attack.

Stoke were starved of possession but Jese served warning of his threat with a powerful run to set up Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who was making his first start, but Petr Cech saved comfortably.

Choupo-Moting then turned provider but Ryan Shawcross headed his cross over.

Butland again had to be alert to smother a chance from Ramsey after Mesut Ozil floated a free-kick into the area and the Stoke keeper also saved a long-range Xhaka effort.

Stoke made a more positive start to the second half and were instantly rewarded as Jese started and finished the move that broke the deadlock.

The Spaniard carried the ball forward from inside his own half, exchanged passes with Saido Berahino - an early replacement for the injured Xherdan Shaqiri - and beat Cech with a low shot across goal.

Getty Images

Berahino, still looking for his first Stoke goal, might have added to the lead but Cech palmed over his awkward bouncing header.

Welbeck had opportunities at the other end but first mistimed a header and then failed to get a clean shot away under pressure from defenders before Ozil had an attempt blocked.

Arsenal upped the tempo, sending on Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott while Stoke withdrew Jese, and Lacazette rifled in a shot, only to turn and see a flag raised.

Getty Images

Wenger's men pressed on - annoying Stoke by not putting the ball out after Erik Pieters went down injured - but the hosts stood firm.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.