Defeating Stoke, Arsenal close in on fourth place

Coach Arsene Wenger's team is only one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool after winning 4-1 away to Stoke City on the evening of May 13.

Oliver Giroud's brace and goals from Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil helped Arsenal end a six-match winless streak when they visited Stoke City.

With their recent good form (winning five of their last six Premier League games), the Gunners have rekindled their hopes of finishing in the top four at the end of the season to secure a place in next year's Champions League.

Arsenal are accelerating strongly in the race for a Champions League ticket. Photo: Reuters

Arsenal fans continue to be divided over coach Wenger. Before the match, a group of fans rented a plane and hung banners demanding the French strategist's dismissal. Meanwhile, those following the team to Stoke's stadium gave the Professor a round of applause before the match. In response to that sincerity, the Gunners performed a beautiful attacking football, convincingly defeating the home team.

Arsenal attacked immediately after the opening whistle, creating great pressure, constantly threatening the opponent's goal. Goalkeeper Butland made a series of miraculous saves and the post once saved the goal, but Stoke's net was still shaking in the 42nd minute. Bellerin quickly escaped down the right wing, received a pass from his teammate, crossed to "set the table" for Giroud to tap the ball into the goal from close range to open the score.

Just 10 minutes into the second half, Arsenal doubled the gap thanks to a classy combination between Sanchez and Ozil. After passing to Sanchez, Ozil ran down, received a delicate pass from his Chilean teammate, and chipped the ball past goalkeeper Butland to score.

Leading by two goals, Arsenal played slowly, lost control of the game, and let Stoke attack relentlessly. After many missed opportunities, in the 67th minute, the home team scored a goal to reduce the gap to 1-2 thanks to Crouch's goal. In this situation, Arsenal players reacted because they thought the home team's striker used his hand to put the ball into the net like Maradona, but the referee still recognized the goal.

Sanchez was voted the best player of the match. Photo: Reuters

Crouch's goal lifted Stoke's spirits and they played better. Luckily for Arsenal, Sanchez once again shone in a difficult moment with a shot that hit the post before rolling into the net, leaving goalkeeper Butland helpless. The Chilean's goal to make it 3-1 in the 76th minute crushed the home team's hopes of a comeback, relieving the pressure on the Gunners.

The match ended beautifully for Arsenal when Giroud completed his double in the 80th minute with a similar scenario to the opening goal, tapping the ball into the net from close range after a favorable cross from his teammate.

Arsenal currently have 69 points after 36 games, one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Meanwhile, behind them, Man Utd are four points behind but have played one game less than the Gunners. The race for fourth place and a Champions League ticket is extremely tense.

According to VNE