Arsenal leave it late for 3-0 win over Stoke

Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal’s failure to mount a title challenge was the main reason for another sparse crowd as three late goals saw them beat relegation-threatened Stoke.

The Gunners were booed off at half-time at Emirates Stadium after seeing Aaron Ramsey clip the crossbar with their only clear chance of the first 45 minutes.

But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty broke the deadlock after a disputed foul by Bruno Martins Indi on Mesut Ozil, before the Gabon striker fired home from an Ozil corner.

Aubameyang then passed up the chance to claim a hat-trick after Badou Ndiaye’s push on substitute Alexandre Lacazette, who converted the penalty for a scoreline that flattered the Gunners.

Arsenal, who host CSKA Moscow in the Europa League next, remain 13 points outside the Premier League’s top four after Tottenham later won at Chelsea so Wenger understands why there were scores of empty seats.

“It’s just down to the fact that we’re not fighting for the championship,” he said. “People know that will not change now. They will be back on Thursday, don’t worry.

“It’s explainable by the fact that it’s Easter. It’s a family happening where people go away and it’s a fact that we don’t think about a lot in the Premier League. There’s also the fact that we had a break.”

Despite having 17 days between matches – a result of the international break and being out of the FA Cup – Arsenal looked laboured in possession before showing greater urgency after the break.

Stoke did hit the woodwork through Xherdan Shaqiri’s second-half corner but the hosts were in the ascendancy when the first penalty was awarded. However, replays showed that Martins Indi appeared to get his left foot to the ball before catching Ozil from behind.

Ndiaye then fired narrowly wide for Stoke before Arsenal condemned the Potters to their eighth game without a win, keeping them second from bottom and three points from safety.

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Petr Cech and Granit Xhaka’s ever-present league records came to an end while Laurent Koscielny was left on the bench, with Wenger perhaps trying to keep them fresh for Thursday’s quarter-final first leg.

Arsenal’s European campaign has taken on huge significance for Wenger and the club, at a time when many supporters have been calling for change while disillusioned fans continue to stay away.

Arsenal look certain to miss out on a top-four finish, so it seems their only way of qualifying for next season’s Champions League is to win the Europa League. Wenger may also need to win it to convince the Arsenal board to keep him in charge.

The team he fielded against Stoke played like a side with their eyes on a bigger prize. They were sloppy and sluggish early on, and it was not until the 23rd minute that they got behind the Stoke defence for the first time.

Hector Bellerin’s low cross was deflected into the path of Ramsey, whose deft volley went behind off the bar. Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny then saw shots deflected wide.

Danny Welbeck fired wide as Arsenal improved in the second half. Elneny’s shot was then blocked, with Nacho Monreal’s follow-up saved by Jack Butland, but the Gunners breathed a sigh of relief as Shaqiri’s inswinging corner came back off the far post with David Ospina beaten.

The ruthless nature in which the home side finished the game will encourage Wenger before the European clash, though. Butland had to deny Aubameyang and Calum Chambers before their late goal burst.

Jack Wilshere’s presence, after being forced to withdraw from international duty, was a positive for both Wenger and England manager Gareth Southgate before the World Cup.

‘The ref needs to watch it again’ – Stoke’s penalty rage

Stoke had frustrated Arsenal for long periods before the penalty was given and the visitors had complaints about the decision.

Manager Paul Lambert said: “I thought we were excellent and looked really good but Arsenal got the penalty. It was a game changer.

“I saw Craig Pawson after the game. I respect the referee but he has not got the benefit of television. He explained they only have one major angle to have a look at it.

“Do I have sympathy with the referee? I don’t know. It was harsh on us because I thought we were great. I’ve been here a few times and won, but we haven’t played as well as that.

Defender Bruno Martins Indi said: “It was not a challenge. I touched the ball and it was not a penalty. The referee had a different view or something and gave it.

“I could not believe it. It cost us because we played very well. It killed the moment. I’ve seen it back; I think the referee’s angle was not good enough.

“He said that I stretched my leg and I made a foul. He needs to watch it again.

“Mesut Ozil is of course going to say it’s a penalty – if I was in his position I would say the same. It was no penalty and the cameras don’t lie.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “I will have to look at it again. I don’t know. From outside it looked like it was a penalty.”

Time running out for Stoke

The Potters have won just one of their 10 games under Paul Lambert, who has been trying to stamp his authority on the squad he inherited from Mark Hughes.

Erik Pieters returned after being left out of the defeat by Everton for breaking a curfew while this week Ibrahim Afellay was told to stay away from the club.

Lambert said Stoke would try to win at Arsenal and they certainly started with that intent. Rather than leaving Mame Biram Diouf as a lone striker, Shaqiri and Ramadan Sobhi were up in support.

Shaqiri curled an early effort just wide of the top corner and, partly due to Stoke’s urgency, Arsenal frequently gave the ball away in dangerous positions.

But they failed to create any more clear-cut chances in the first half and, before Shaqiri’s corner almost caught out Ospina, the best they mustered in the second was a tame curling effort by the Switzerland forward which was straight at the home keeper.

Lambert’s no-nonsense stance looks as if it will have long-term benefits, and he had no complaints about the effort of his players. But Stoke need immediate results and, in the short term, they seem to be over-reliant upon Shaqiri.

The suspended Charlie Adam said before the game that three wins from their final seven games would be enough to clinch survival.

They now have just six left but, as Adam said, they still have to play West Ham, Crystal Palace and Swansea. This result makes those games even more important.

Man of the match – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal)