Van Persie goal seals vital point in race for Europe

Arsenal will have every right to be pleased with picking up a point after a tough away game against Stoke at the Brittania. It was a fixture which in recent seasons Arsenal have struggled and they went behind again but Van Persie's 28th goal of the season sealed a vital point for the Gunners in the race for Champions League football. It was a good defensive performance from Arsenal as they had to deal with the height from the likes of Peter Crouch. It was also an emotional return to the Brittania for Aaron Ramsey as he returned to the ground where he broke his leg following a challenge from Ryan Shawcross. Indeed Ramsey again started in the Arsenal lineup as Benayoun also returned to the side in place of Chamberlain. Theo Walcott, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with injury, was replaced by Gervinho. 

Robin Van Persie scored his 28th goal of the season to seal a vital point for Arsenal

The first chance of the game fell to Stoke. Pennant's ball in found the head of Crouch but he could only stear the ball wide.

Arsenal's first chance was created by Van Persie as he fed the ball into the path of Benayoun who got into the penalty area before hitting a tame shot with his weaker foot which was easily saved by Begovic.

Robin Van Persie then had a chance of his own to give Arsenal the lead. Rosicky floated the ball towards the back post which found Van Persie, but his header was parmed against the post by Begovic.

Despite the early chances for Arsenal, it was Stoke who broke the deadlock. Etherington found space out on the left hand side and delivered a ball onto the head of Crouch whose effort found the back of the net.

Just 6 minutes later, Arsenal equalised. Benayoun found Rosicky who played a lovely ball into Van Persie who tapped the ball home from close range.

Gervinho then came close to heading the Gunners in front as he almost got on the end of Sagna's cross but he failed to make any sort of contact on the ball.

Arsenal's chances were coming thick and fast and the next one came from a free kick. Van Persie's ball in found Koscielny but he headed the ball over the bar.

Gervinho was looking more lively than in recent games and almost put his side in front again as he raced clear of the Stoke defence before getting into the penalty area and smashing a shot high and wide.

The score at half time was 1-1.

The first good chance of the second half came Arsenal's way. Sagna curled in a cross onto the head of Van Persie but Begovic got across his goal to deny the Dutchman.

Arsenal were then seemed to be denied what looked like a penalty. Van Persie pulled the ball back into Benayoun who was pushed by Whelan but the referee gave nothing.

Stoke then had a rare chance in the match as Huth played in Jerome who got a shot away from a tight angle but Szczesny was able to parry the powerful attempt away from goal.

Bacary Sagna then saved Arsenal from losing the game as Crouch beat Szczesny in the air to a long throw-in which was then cleared off the line by Sagna.

The final score finished Stoke 1-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Stoke: Begovic, Shotton(56), Shawcross, Huth, Wilson, Pennant(77), Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington(84), Walters, Crouch.
Subs: Sorensen, Upson(56), Delap(84), Palacios, Fuller, Jerome(77), Jones.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey(73), Rosicky, Benayoun(83), Gervinho, Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Squillaci, Santos(83), Diaby(73), Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh(78).

My man of the match: Tomas Rosicky

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: 27,502