Arsenal slipped to a disappointing defeat at the hands of Stoke City to put the clubs Premier League title push in doubt.
A frustrating game saw the Gunners fall to a single goal, a penalty from John Walters in the 76th minute. We wrote in our preview of this game that three points was the minimum requirement from this game with a difficult March coming up for the team. Now the team has lost there is a real danger that the club could fall further off the pace by the end of the month.
Arsenal struggled to get started in the game as the clubs´ recent poor form once again caught up with the players. Indeed, despite a starting lineup that included Jack Wilshere, Oliver Giroud, Lukas Podolski, and Santi Cazorla the team could only muster two shots on target. With Arsenal looking unlikely to score, Arsene Wenger would have hoped to at least come away from the Britannia Stadium with a draw, but it was not to be.
In the 76th minute referee Mike Jones adjudged Laurent Koscielny to have handled the ball in the area and awarded a penalty. Arsene Wenger protested after the game that the penalty should never have been given, describing the award as “generous,” but nevertheless Walters stepped up and slotted home to give Stoke the lead and ultimately the win.
Arsenal dropped to third in the Premier League as Liverpool took second with a 3-0 win over Southampton. Manchester City can relegate Arsenal to 4th later today if they win their encounter, and suddenly it looks worrying for the Gunners at the top of the league. The team had a poor February and from leading the chase they have slipped to possibly fourth.
Fans will be understandably worried that the title challenge is slipping away and the normal fight for 4th is now beginning. With the Champions League looking unlikely this season, the Premier League should be the focus of the club for the remainder of the season. If Arsenal is to lift the trophy come May, the team will have to navigate a tricky March which includes matches against Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and Manchester City.