Stoke City - Arsenal players ratings

ARSENAL

Almunia – 5: Very shaky in the air. Could easily have conceded more than just the two goals.

Sagna – 6: Failed to provide support for his attacking winger, despite not having much to do defensively.

Silvestre – 7: Had to show all his years of experience to steady the team’s very wobbly backline.

Touré – 5: Sloppy defending to allow Fuller to latch onto Delap’s long throw. Undoubtedly at fault again for a similar situation which led to the second goal.

Clichy – 6.5: Did his best to overlap down the left flank but not nearly as effective as he would have liked. Did score the consolation goal with a well-struck shot, albeit with the help of a few deflections.

Denilson – 5: Made a lively start to the game but played far too many stray passes. Should have been taken off much earlier as he had no impact on proceedings at all.

Fàbregas – 6: A very subdued display by his normally lofty standards. His crosses, passes and deliveries from set-pieces were disappointing to say the least.

Song Billong – 5: Made up the numbers in midfield. Did not add anything extra to the midfield to help create chances for his forward.

Diaby – 7: The liveliest of the midfield lot. Did a lot of running and constantly cut in to the middle from the left flank. Full marks for effort.

Bendtner – 4: Only had a few touches of the ball. Very isolated upfront and completely disappeared from the game in the second half.

Adebayor – 5: Like Bendtner, he was starved of any meaningful service. At least he was able to drop deep to find the ball and initiate something on his own.

Substitutes:

Walcott – 6.5: As usual, brought an extra spark when he was introduced. A shame to see him stretchered off injured.

Van Persie – 1: Outrageously idiotic foul to get himself sent off at a time when his team was in need of his genius. With Walcott and Adebayor now injured, his services will be missed for the next game against Manchester United. Should realistically get a big fat zero.

Carlos Vela – 5: Didn’t have enough time to show what he can do.