Stoke 1-0 Arsenal: Jese Rodriguez scores the winner on his debut as Arsene Wenger's side fall to a damaging defeat at the bet365 Stadium

  • Jese Rodriguez made his Stoke debut while Arsenal brought Aaron Ramsey and Shkodran Mustafi into the XI
  • Ramsey and Danny Welbeck both saw first-half opportunities saved by Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland
  • Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross headed his side's best chance of the opening period over from close range  
  • Arsenal had a penalty appeal turned down when Hector Bellerin was felled by Mame Biram Diouf's challenge
  • Jese gave Stoke the lead on his debut a minute into the second half by sweeping home a tidy first-time finish 
  • Substitute Saido Berahino forced a good save from Petr Cech after meeting a cross from Erik Pieters
  • Welbeck shot straight at Butland from close range after the England striker was played through on goal
  • Alexandre Lacazette put the ball in the net with a stunning strike but he was adjudged to have strayed offside
  • AS IT HAPPENED: Read LUKE AUGUSTUS'S blog from Saturday afternoon's clash between Arsenal and Stoke
  • SIX THINGS YOU MISSED: Sportsmail's JAMES DUTTON on some of the finer details from Stoke 1-0 Arsenal 

Advertisement

Stoke City's newest superstar, Jese Rodriguez, is a man of sublime football skills with another career as a recording artist who goes by the alter ego of Jey M.

Jese scored the winner against Arsenal and the stadium resounded to the familiar beat of the Wenger Rap, a dissonant, angry tune that may signal another long and fraught season ahead for the Gunners.

A few months ago, when Arsenal won 4-1 here, some of their fans hired a plane and flew a banner over the bet365 Stadium that read: 'Wenger – Out Means Out.' After an unconvincing win over Leicester in their opening game followed by a performance that lacked conviction here and a 1-0 defeat, it will not be long until the discontent resurfaces. 


Jese Rodriguez celebrates after firing Mark Hughes's side into the lead in the 47th minute at the bet365 Stadium

Jese Rodriguez celebrates after firing Mark Hughes's side into the lead in the 47th minute at the bet365 Stadium

Jese wheels away in delight after slotting home a debut goal for Stoke - he was set up by a pass from Saido Berahino

Jese wheels away in delight after slotting home a debut goal for Stoke - he was set up by a pass from Saido Berahino

The winger salutes the crowd after making a big impact in his first appearance since joining Stoke on loan on Wednesday 

The winger salutes the crowd after making a big impact in his first appearance since joining Stoke on loan on Wednesday 

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

STOKE CITY XI: Butland 9; Zouma 7.5, Shawcross 6.5, Cameron 6.5; Diouf 5.5, Allen 6.5, Fletcher 7.5, Pieters 6 (Martins Indi 89); Shaqiri 5 (Berahino 25), Jese 8.5 (Ramadan 71); Choupo-Moting 6

Subs not used: Grant; Johnson, Crouch, Bojan

Goal: Jese 47 

ARSENAL XI:Cech 6.5; Mustafi 6, Monreal 5, Kolasinac 6 (Giroud 66); Bellerin 6.5, Ramsey 6.5, Xhaka 5.5 (Iwobi 78), Oxlade-Chamberlain 8; Ozil 5.5, Welbeck 5.5; Lacazette 5.5 (Walcott 78)

Subs not used: Ospina, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Elneny

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga
Advertisement

Arsenal dominated the game here and made chance after chance after chance but their finishing was wasteful and the goalkeeping of Jack Butland was inspired and Jese was ready to make his mark. He has come here from Real Madrid via Paris St-Germain and the quality of his second half finish showed his pedigree.

He is a crowd favourite already and when he was substituted in the 70th minute, he was given a standing ovation. Stoke have been criticised for showing a lack of ambition in the build-up to this season but the evidence of this game suggested that they have the potential to become an accomplished side.

They have a fine goalkeeper in Butland, a strong unyielding defence, clever, experienced central midfielders in Darren Fletcher and Joe Allen and forwards of genuine class like Xherdan Shaqiri, Saido Berahino and now Jese. What's not to like?

Arsene Wenger made two changes to his Arsenal team for the trip to face Stoke at the bet365 in Saturday's late kick-off

Arsene Wenger made two changes to his Arsenal team for the trip to face Stoke at the bet365 in Saturday's late kick-off

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up as right wing-back for Arsenal and caught the eye with some early surges forward

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain lined up as right wing-back for Arsenal and caught the eye with some early surges forward

Jack Butland spreads himself to save from Aaron Ramsey, who started for Arsenal in midfield in place of Mohamed Elneny

Jack Butland spreads himself to save from Aaron Ramsey, who started for Arsenal in midfield in place of Mohamed Elneny

It has become an oft-quoted statistic that there are more Champions League winners in Mark Hughes' squad than in any other team in the Premier League now that Jese has joined Fletcher, Bojan, Shaqiri and Afellay in the ranks. Whatever its worth, there were times in this game when Stoke showed real class and composure.

Jese almost made an immediate impact when he skipped past the challenge of Mustafi in the third minute and advanced on Cech. Cech was quick off his line, though, and blocked Jese's shot as he tried to squeeze it past him and into the net.

Arsenal were the better side in the opening exchanges, though, playing some neat, clever football that pulled the Stoke defence out of position and should have led them breaking the deadlock.

Lacazette set up a chance for Ramsey when he muscled Fletcher off the ball and chipped over the top of the Stoke defence but a Diouf challenge did enough to knock Ramsey off balance and his shot at Butland was weak.

Jese made a bright start to the game in his first appearance since joining Stoke on loan from Paris Saint-Germain 

Jese made a bright start to the game in his first appearance since joining Stoke on loan from Paris Saint-Germain 

Arsenal striker Welbeck forced a save from Butland after he was put through by a pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal striker Welbeck forced a save from Butland after he was put through by a pass from Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal's Spanish defender Nacho Monreal challenges Stoke forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for possession

Arsenal's Spanish defender Nacho Monreal challenges Stoke forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting for possession

A few minutes later, Oxlade-Chamberlain set up an almost identical chance for Welbeck with a brilliantly subtle pass but Welbeck sidefooted a half-volley straight at Butland.

Welbeck is a fine player and his pace unsettled the Stoke defence all afternoon but he is still not the clinical finisher Arsenal need him to be. Against the best teams, Wenger's side need to put chances like that away or they will be punished.

They were nearly punished by Stoke, too. A minute after Welbeck's miss, Stoke launched a lightning breakaway and Jese shrugged off Bellerin and Xhaka way too easily and cut the ball back for Choupo-Moting who should have scored but shot tamely at Cech.

There has been much talk of Jack Butland dethroning Joe Hart as England goalkeeper and Butland proved his excellence again after half an hour when Oxlade-Chamberlain floated a free kick to the back post and Ramsey ghosted on to it.

Stoke forward Xherdan Shaqiri went down after appearing to injure his left hamstring midway through the first half

Stoke forward Xherdan Shaqiri went down after appearing to injure his left hamstring midway through the first half

Shaqiri trudges off the field following the injury - he was replaced by Saido Berahino in the 25th minute for Stoke

Shaqiri trudges off the field following the injury - he was replaced by Saido Berahino in the 25th minute for Stoke

Mark Hughes appeals a decision by referee Andre Marriner as his Stoke side went in search of their first points of the season

Mark Hughes appeals a decision by referee Andre Marriner as his Stoke side went in search of their first points of the season

Hector Bellerin, who was playing at left wing-back for Arsenal, challenges Kurt Zouma for the ball during the first half

Hector Bellerin, who was playing at left wing-back for Arsenal, challenges Kurt Zouma for the ball during the first half

Ramsey met the ball on the volley and struck it well and on target but Butland spread himself and the ball bounced off him and away to safety. The goalkeeper didn't know much about the save but his positioning was superb and he is exuding confidence.

Jese had faded from the game a little but he deceived Xhaka with a beautiful piece of skill on the touchline to win a free kick and remind Arsenal of his presence. Stoke should have taken the lead soon after but Shawcross headed over from six yards out when he was unmarked.

It was only a brief reprieve for Arsenal. Two minutes after half time, Jese picked the ball up in the Arsenal half and ran at the defence. He played a short pass to Berahino, who had come on for Shaqiri, and ran on to Berahino's perfectly weighted return.

Cech came off his line to narrow the angle but Jese swept the ball past him with a clinical left foot finish. It was a glimpse of his class but it was also a worryingly simple goal for this fragile Arsenal defence to concede.

Monreal and Petr Cech watch on as Jese's effort rolls into the Arsenal goal to hand Stoke a 47th-minute lead on Saturday

Monreal and Petr Cech watch on as Jese's effort rolls into the Arsenal goal to hand Stoke a 47th-minute lead on Saturday

Debut boy Jese is congratulated by Berahino, Darren Fletcher and Erik Pieters after his tidy finish gave Stoke the lead

Debut boy Jese is congratulated by Berahino, Darren Fletcher and Erik Pieters after his tidy finish gave Stoke the lead

Cech was forced into a good save from a header by substitute Berahino to keep Arsenal in the game at the bet365 Stadium

Cech was forced into a good save from a header by substitute Berahino to keep Arsenal in the game at the bet365 Stadium

It woke Wenger's side up. Suddenly, they were all over Stoke. Butland nearly handed them an equaliser when he fumbled a weak shot from Bellerin but recovered just in time as Welbeck tried to pounce.

Welbeck's finishing let him down again a couple of minutes later ran he ran unmarked on to a cross from the left but mistimed his leap and instead of heading the ball, it bounced off his shoulder and looped on to the roof of the net. Welbeck grimaced in disappointment.

Stoke nearly went further ahead after an hour when Berahino got across his marker to meet a driven Pieters cross from the left. Berahino headed the ball down into the turf and it was bouncing high towards the roof of the net until Cech produced a brilliant reaction save to push it over the bar.

Welbeck missed another chance midway through the half when he was played in by substitute Giroud but could only manage a scuffed shot that Butland was able to push away. 'Every time,' Welbeck mouthed at the referee, suggesting he had been held but he could have been referring to his profligacy.

Alexandre Lacazette was ruled to have stood in an offside position as he received the ball before shooting home for Arsenal

Alexandre Lacazette was ruled to have stood in an offside position as he received the ball before shooting home for Arsenal

Lacazette reacts in disbelief after he saw an effort ruled out for offside as Arsenal pushed for an equaliser in the second half

Lacazette reacts in disbelief after he saw an effort ruled out for offside as Arsenal pushed for an equaliser in the second half

Lacazette had lashed the ball into the net but was adjudged to have strayed slightly offside before shooting past Butland

Lacazette had lashed the ball into the net but was adjudged to have strayed slightly offside before shooting past Butland

Both dugouts erupt as Hughes and Wenger protest during the second half of the match at the bet365 Stadium

Both dugouts erupt as Hughes and Wenger protest during the second half of the match at the bet365 Stadium

Shkodran Mustafi sends Pieters flying with a strong challenge as Arsenal desperately pushed for an equaliser

Shkodran Mustafi sends Pieters flying with a strong challenge as Arsenal desperately pushed for an equaliser

Lacazette rifled a shot into the roof of the net and brought Wenger and his assistant Steve Bould leaping from the bench but the effort was ruled out for offside. Replays showed it was a tight, tight decision.

As Arsenal pressed, they were nearly caught out by another break. This time, Pieters' charge forward was ended by a robust studs-up challenge from Mustafi that left the Stoke defender writhing on the ground in agony.

The referee waved play on and Arsenal refused to put the ball out, to the understandable dismay of the home crowd. It is one of the curiosities of football that play is allowed to go on when a player appears genuinely hurt and is often halted for what seems to be little more than fatigue. After lengthy treatment, Pieters returned to the pitch but was substituted soon afterwards.

The theme of Arsenal's match persisted until deep into injury time when substitute Giroud wriggled free of his marker but could only direct his free header well wide of Butland's right hand post. The angst of the defeat is only just beginning.

Oxlade-Chamberlain goes shoulder-to-shoulder with Stoke substitute Ramadan as Arsenal tried to get back on level terms

Oxlade-Chamberlain goes shoulder-to-shoulder with Stoke substitute Ramadan as Arsenal tried to get back on level terms

Stoke players celebrate after claiming their first three points of the Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Arsenal

Stoke players celebrate after claiming their first three points of the Premier League season with a 1-0 win over Arsenal

Wenger gestures towards Arsenal's away supporters after seeing his side fall to their first defeat of the season on Saturday

Wenger gestures towards Arsenal's away supporters after seeing his side fall to their first defeat of the season on Saturday

Mesut Ozil hides his face in as he walks off the pitch after a disappointing performance in Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Stoke

Mesut Ozil hides his face in as he walks off the pitch after a disappointing performance in Arsenal's 1-0 loss to Stoke