Arsenal's quest for a top four finish takes them to the Potteries for Saturday's late kick off in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger's men are still in with a shout of making next season's Champions League but must keep winning and hope for a slip-up from either Manchester City or Liverpool.

The Gunners have won four of their last five games to leave them with a slim chance of securing a 22nd consecutive top four finish but will face a tricky task against their old foes from the Potteries.

Stoke: Butland, Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters Cameron, Whelan, Shaqiri, Allen, Arnautovic, Diouf

Stokesubs: Muniesa, Berahino, Adam, Walters, Crouch, Sobhi, Grant

Arsenal: Cech, Holding, Mustafi, Koscielny, Bellerin, Coquelin, Xhaka, Monreal, Sanchez, Giroud, Ozil

Arsenalsubs: Gabriel, Ramsey Walcott, Iwobi, Welbeck, Elneny, Ospina

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He’s not Tim, that’s just how Pards rolls.

Why wouldn’t you want this man your TV screens? Guaranteed entertainment.

And, in fairness, he’s a pretty good pundit.

Didn’t see it clearly at the time, but sounds like Peter Crouch used his hand not his head to convert that cross.

Gary Lineker has drawn his own comparisons and we don’t think he’s referring to Maradona’s dazzling dribbling skills.

Naughty Crouchy.

Yes David, it’s looking that way.

Does this mean Wenger will stay?

Should he stay? Or this just papering over the cracks?

Let us know on twitter @MirrorFootball

Change the tune

That still doesn’t explain the puzzling and insulting banner that was flown over the stadium during the first half, which read ‘Wenger - Out means out!!”. It proved that the so called fans who want rid of their manager have no sense of pride, history or respect.

Even if it is time for Wenger to go - and if they finish top four and win the FA Cup it’s a pretty decent season by whichever measure you choose - surely he deserves better than a crappy plane and a s*** slogan.

Going, going, gone?

Not just bad, but depressing in fact, because the quality the two possess is the difference between solid, hard-working sides like Stoke, and teams at the top. And they are leaving. Surely.

Which means the players who make a trip to the Potteries seem less daunting, won’t be here next season to help coax a title challenge out of Wenger’s trophy-shy team.

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Main men

The key to Arsenal’s dominance was the movement of Sanchez and Ozil, which is both a good, and a very bad thing indeed. Good, because it is sublime to watch, with the second goal a beautiful testimony to the qualities the pair have.

Sanchez’s ball threaded through three defenders was exquisite, Ozil’s run and finish top class. Bad...well, see the next point.

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Rolling back time

What we saw was the Arsenal movement of old. They found so much space behind the home full backs, with both Monreal and the excellent Bellerin galloping exploiting the confusion of who exactly was due to counter the wing backs in the Stoke line up.

In fact, Stoke were lucky that most of the early chances fell to Monreal, who is a hell of a wing back, not so much of a finisher.

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Not like it used to be

Remarkably, this was the first time Arsenal have ever taken the lead at Stoke in the Premier League. Yet the only surprise was how long it was in coming, because the Gunners, for all their supposed weakness here at the Bet365 stadium, looked so comfortable they could have broken out the armchairs.

And the beers...which was probably what Stoke fans needed after their team’s first half performance.

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Stoke 1-4 Arsenal: 5 things we learned

Their contract demands may be eye-watering, but Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil made a strong case for the cash with a fine double act at Stoke .

The pair showed their immense quality in first subduing, and then destroying opponents who have so often proved a nemesis for the Gunners, with a goal apiece and the creative genius influence to give Olivier Giroud a double.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was again shamefully treated to a protest - this time a plane overhead with an insulting slogan - but it didn’t afect him or his side’s performance as they produced a fine display to keep their top four hopes alive.

And even if Giroud took the headlines with his two goals, it was the two contract rebels who proved a massive difference, as they combined brilliantly with a rare desire to show their heart is still very much in the club.

It means the pressure now goes on to Liverpool in the fight for the Champions’ League, with Jurgen Klopp’s side now knowing any dropped points at West Ham could hand a top four spot to the Gunners.

Here are five things we learned...

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Full-time: Stoke City 1-4 Arsenal

Arsenal keep up the pressure on Manchester City and Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification.

The Gunners were in sensational form, while Stoke City were limp in comparison.

Giroud hit a brace, but it was Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez who starred for the Gunners. Both scored, both played some magnificent football.

If Arsenal win the FA Cup and finish in the top four will Arsenal fans still want him out? Their banner, ‘Wenger out means out’ flown over the bet365 stadium during the game suggests so.

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They enjoyed that one didn’t they?

Arsenal have blown Stoke City away this afternoon.

Their first win away at Stoke since 2010.

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Mesut Ozil celebrates scoring Arsenal's 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at Bet365 Stadium on May 13, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) (
Image:
David Price)

Crisis?

Wenger out?

Where’s that banner now?

Some stats from @OptaJoe

15 - Alexis Sanchez has scored 15 away league goals this season; only Kevin Phillips (16 in 99/00) has more in a single PL campaign. Star.

50 - Alexis Sanchez has become the 8th player to score 50 Premier League goals for Arsenal. Elite.

Arsenal can’t afford to let him go - they have to break the bank and show him how important he is.

GOAL! Stoke City 1-4 Arsenal (Olivier Giroud, 80)

Can they do it on a warm, sunny, Saturday evening in Stoke? Yes they can.

Mesut Ozil picks out Aaron Ramsey bursting towards goal down the centre of the pitch.

The Wales international shrugged off Johnson, before firing a fine low cross on the turn to Giroud who slid in ahead of his marker to score his second and Arsenal’s fourth.

The Gunners running away with it.

It might not seem so important now... But Crouchy loves playing against Arsenal.

He’s just built to trouble the Gunners - tall, awkward and gangly.

Looks like his goal will count for nothing now.

GOAL! Stoke City 1-3 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez, 76)

Sanchez scores! Arsenal lead 3-1!

The Chilean was hobbling around the pitch before the Bellerin played the ball infield to him and the Stoke City defence started to back off.

He drove at them and pulled the trigged, hitting a bobbly shot into the bottom left hand corner past Butland.

Now he’s gone off for Aaron Ramsey.

Telling contribution before he leaves the field.

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Arsenal need to take the sting out of this game and slow it down.

The bet365 is rocking and the momentum is with Stoke City.

They need to stay cool and ride out the storm.

But they’re not very good at this sort of thing are they? Especially at Stoke...

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GOAL! Stoke City 1-2 Arsenal (Peter Crouch 67)

Crouch pulls one back. Hope for Stoke City!

The home side worked the ball out wide to Marko Arnautovic out wide on the left, he sped past Rob Holding and whipping the ball into the near post.

Crouch got in front of the Arsenal defence and Cech to head the ball into the back of the net.

Stoke turning this into a battle. Will Arsenal survive?

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CHANCE! Cech tips Bruno Martins Indi's header over!

Four corners in quick succession for Stoke and they almost score from the last.

Half cleared corner finds its way back to Martins Indi who tries to flick it over Cech, but the Arsenal goalkeeper tips the ball over the bar.

Bit of sustained pressure for Stoke City - good reaction to going 2-0 down.

They can’t let him go.

They can’t even contemplate letting him go.

He’s just too important. How much would a suitable replacement cost?

GOAL! Stole City 0-2 Arsenal (Mesut Ozil, 55)

Mesut Ozil doubles Arsenal’s lead with a sublime goal.

Ozil fed Alexis Sanchez who waited for his teammate to make a run in behind before piercing the Stoke City defence with an impossibly precise pass back to his German teammate.

Ozil cushioned the ball into his path with a delicious first touch before lifting the ball over the advancing Jack Butland.

Bravo Arsenal. The Gunners’ annual late surge into the top four is happening.... again.

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Now this is a stat.

They’ve taken the lead, now can they hold on?

Stoke City have started the second half with a bit more energy.

Second half: Stoke City 0-1 Arsenal

We’re back underway at the bet365 Stadium.

Mark Hughes will have asked for a little more intensity and aggression from his team in the second half.

Wenger probably didn’t say anything. He doesn’t like shouting, just ask Ian Wright.

Olivier Giroud’s 11th goal of the season was an easy one.

That’s two-in-two for the Frenchman.

Will he add to that tally in the second half?

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Is Sol enjoying this game?

It’s the weekend and he’s coming for it... apparently.

Enjoy that coffee.

Half-time: Stoke City 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal in complete control.

Stoke City haven’t been able to get close to the visitors who have passed the ball around with ease.

The goal arrived just before half-time with Giroud’s 17th goal of the season. Arsenal could have been 2-0 up before that point with Monreal hitting the post and Jack Butland saving from Mustafi/

Mark Hughes will be telling his team they need to put more pressure on the Gunners. Right now they’re being given too much time and space to play their football.

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GOAL! Stoke City 0-1 Arsenal (Olivier Giroud, 43)

And there’s the breakthrough.

Coquelin slipped a pass to Bellerin hurtling down the right wing and the Spaniard played a measured pass across the face of goal to Giroud who had the easy task of tapping the ball into an empty net.

Arsenal take a deserved lead.

Lively start... now it’s just.... Meh.

Stoke City have started to see more of the ball, but they’re not doing anything threatening with it.

Arsenal coasting along so far. Someone needs to ramp up the intensity.

We suspect the players are dreaming of sandy beaches, cocktails and pool parties.

We are too... But we won’t be doing any of the above.

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This happened again.

People keep spending their money on banners.

We don’t know why.

First booking of the game.

Mustafi goes in the book after he chops down Shaqiri 25 yards from goal.

From the resulting free-kick Arnatouvic curls a free-kick over the bar.