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Нападающий Челси в центре споров во время последней встрече на Стамфорд Бридж, но француз просит игроков сконцентрироваться на своей игре

The Chelsea striker was at the heart of controversy during the last meeting at Stamford Bridge but the Frenchman insists his players must focus on their own game

Arsene Wenger has warned his Arsenal players to expect a battle when they face Diego Costa on Sunday.

The Spaniard was at the centre of controversy in their last meeting earlier this season as his first-half scuffles with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel eventually led to the Brazilian being sent off for retaliating.

Arsenal are top of the table and 19 points clear of Chelsea ahead of the clash at the Emirates Stadium, and Wenger has urged his players to focus on their own game

"We have to be prepared for a battle because Costa gives you a fight. After that, it's down to the referee,” said the Arsenal manager.

"We have to focus on our performance. It's another game where people look at us and see how we behave.

"It will be an intense game, as usual in the Premier League. Overall, I think because of the qualities of the players on the pitch and what is at stake for both teams, it will be a very intense battle."

Stoke City 0-0 Arsenal: Potters hold injury-hit Gunners

Mark Hughes's men had the better of the game at the Britannia Stadium against a Gunners side missing both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil through injury

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League after a tight 0-0 draw at bogey club Stoke City, with Jack Butland again in sparkling form.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper made terrific saves to deny Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Olivier Giroud twice, while Arsenal's Petr Cech made a superb double stop to keep the scores level.

Arsenal had not won at Stoke since February 2010 and never looked likely to find a way through Butland, who continues to pile the pressure on Joe Hart for his England place.

Stoke, having already beaten Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City at home this season, had the better of the game without creating clear chances and Mark Hughes' men could not break the deadlock.

The draw sees Arsenal climb above Leicester City and back to the top of the Premier League on goal difference, while Stoke remain handily placed in seventh spot.

Arsenal were without playmaker Mesut Ozil due to a foot injury, with Alexis Sanchez not ready to return and new signing Mohamed Elneny named on the bench, while Xherdan Shaqiri's hamstring injury kept him out for Stoke.

Openings were rare as the game began in cagey fashion, Marko Arnautovic and Ibrahim Afellay both failing to hit the target with efforts from long range as the hosts started the better of the two sides.

Arsenal's first chance arrived on 20 minutes. Joel Campbell's through-ball freed Giroud but Butland sped off his line to block the in-form France international's shot.

Butland was in action again on 29 minutes, acrobatically tipping over Oxlade-Chamberlain's curling effort, before Laurent Koscielny inadvertently deflected another Oxlade-Chamberlain shot wide.

Stoke switched off from an Arsenal corner in the first minute of the second half, Giroud running clear of his marker to divert a header towards Butland's bottom-left corner, but the goalkeeper was again alert to tip the effort around the post.

Arsenal then had two penalty claims with Philipp Wollscheid involved in both, first appearing to haul down Giroud before Theo Walcott went down under the defender's close attention.

The visitors knew a point would be enough to send them back to the top of the Premier League and Petr Cech pulled off a brilliant double save to keep the game scoreless on 55 minutes. He plunged to his right to deny Joselu, before scrambling to keep out Bojan Krkic's shot.

Cech turned another effort from Joselu around the post as Stoke cranked up the pressure in search of a third straight home Premier League victory.

Aaron Ramsey then cleared a goalbound header off the line in the final minute of normal time, with Cech thrusting out a leg to deny Joselu from the rebound.

Ultimately neither side could force a breakthrough, meaning Hughes continues to enjoy an impressive individual run at the expense of Wenger, with the Welshman's teams now unbeaten in eight home league games against Arsenal.

•  

   

  FULL TIME! Arsenal miss out on the chance to win and go top of the Premier League, with Stoke battling to a good point at the Britannia stadium. Both goalkeepers had to make some good saves, with both outfits cancelling themselves out well in a 0-0 stalemate. That's all that we have time for, we hope to see you again next time.
• 90'+3'

   

  Arsenal put plenty of men behind the ball, with gold shirts filling their penalty area. Pressure is relied on the away side by the linesman's flag yet again, with the Potters being caught offside an unprecedented amount of times this evening.
• 90'+1'

   

  SubstitutionAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain Calum Chambers
  Chambers comes into the fray for stoppage time, with the ex-Southampton man replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain.
• 90'+1'

   

  Monreal makes an important headed clearance on the line! The Spain international is on hand to bail out Cech, after Arsenal fail to deal with a corner delivery in efficient fashion! There are three minutes of stoppage time.
• 89'

   

  Butland is in no rush to take his goal kicks, with the Englishman happy to wind down the clock. Stoke are edging towards a very valuable point at present. A back-post cross is headed away nicely by Monreal, before a follow-up strike from Whelan is deflected over by Koscielny!
• 88'

   

  SubstitutionIbrahim Afellay Marco van Ginkel
  Van Ginkel will offer some fresh legs in the last few minutes.
• 87'

   

  SubstitutionMarko Arnautović Charlie Adam
  Arnautovic takes the applause of the home fans, as he is replaced by Adam for the dying stages.
• 85'

   

  Mertesacker makes an important header to deny Joselu the opportunity to get in behind, which sparks an Arsenal break down the right. Campbell drives into the box and puts the ball onto his left foot, but the ex-Villarreal man can only curl a shot high and wide of the top-left corner!
• 83'

   

  The tempo of this game has dropped, with neither side wanting to fall behind at such a late stage in proceedings. Suddenly, things are a little nervous and cagey. Johnson jinks inside two players and cuts in from the left, but an attempted through ball towards Arnautovic slides right out of play for a goal kick.
• 81'

   

  We're into the final 10 minutes at the Britannia, Giroud is subject to a long through ball in behind enemy lines, but a pass to Ramsey on the edge of the box doesn't unlock any doors. The Wales international is stood up and forced to play backwards.
• 79'

   

  Arsenal are happy to retain possession for a long spell, with this game threatening to end as a stalemate. Neither Hughes nor Wenger is prepared to make wholesale changes to risk conceding the first goal, with the latter getting extremely heated with his players on the touchline. The Frenchman knows that three points would put them top.
• 77'

   

  Campbell tries to drive at pace through the heart of the hosts' defence, but the Costa Rican is brought down by a cynical challenge. The resulting set-piece deliery is angled towards Giroud, but Butland claims easily. The Stoke goalkeeper tries to release Arnautovic with a long kick out of his hands, but the ball skids right through to Cech at the other end.
• 75'

   

  Bellerin tries to break to the byline and whip in a cross, but Diouf tracks back and slides in to deny the Spanish right-back brilliantly. Stoke then look to get down the right-hand side themselves, but attempted link up play between Johnson and Walters is denied simply by Monreal.
• 74'

   

  Arsenal win a free kick on the right-hand side, but Shawcross rises highest to clear the looping delivery away from danger. The visitors maintain their pressure, but a long-range strike from Oxlade-Chamberlain is charged down, before a curling cross makes its way in the from left! Campbell threatens to get on the end of it, but Pieters hacks away!
• 72'

   

  SubstitutionTheo Walcott Alex Iwobi
  Walcott takes his leave for the away side, with young Iwobi coming into the mix for the final 20 minutes.
• 72'

   

  Play is shifted out to the left-hand side, with Walcott the only man who has posed only consistent threat to Stoke throughout this game. Ramsey receives possession in the middle of the park, before attempting to scoop a through ball into Giroud's path, but Wollscheid covers across to punt a clearance away.
• 70'

   

  Both coaches continue to stroll around their technical areas, with this game seemingly set to go down to the wire. Bellerin strokes a cross in from the right, but Walcott can't bring it under his spell! Stoke reply with a counter of their own, but Arsenal get enough men behind the ball to slow the hosts down and defuse the situation.
• 68'

   

  Ramsey sees a shot blocked on the edge of the Stoke penalty area, with Diouf gobbling up the rebound and immediately driving forward. It isn't difficult to imagine what Hughes' instructions to then ex-Molde man would have been. The Potters win yet another corner, with Pieters' near-post cross being diverted away from Walters by Bellerin. Arsenal have their backs to the wall, but keep scrambling clearances out of harm's way.
• 66'

   

  Cech is forced to turn another save around his own post, but the former Chelsea shot-stopper is able to claim the resulting corner delivery. Less than half an hour is left on the clock at the Britannia, with Hughes introducing a forward that has the pace to ask real questions of Koscielny and Mertesacker.
• 64'

   

  SubstitutionBojan Krkíc Pérez Mame Biram Diouf
  Diouf is introduced for Bojan, with the ex-Man United striker having the pace to stretch the visiting defence.
• 64'

   

  Monreal is forced into a defensive header at the back post, following a good cross in from the left flank by Pieters. The resulting corner is cleared at the near upright, with Stoke spurning another good opportunity to do some damage.
• 62'

   

  Walcott skips beyond two players at pace, with Whelan forced into making a rather cynical challenge on the England international. Bellerin and Campbell then combine down the right flank, with Pieters doing brilliantly to track back and deny the former. Both outfits continue to cancel each other out.
• 60'

   

  We're into the final half an hour at the Britannia, with Stoke still looking likely to take a valuable point on home soil. Clear-cut chances have been very few and far between this evening. A long ball forward from the visitors evades Shawcross, but Wollscheid mops up the scraps ahead of Campbell.
• 58'

   

  Shawcross heads just wide! The former Man United defender is picked out at the back post, but looks over to see the linesman's flag raised for offside on the far side. Giroud goes down heavily after a boisterous challenge, but the Frenchman is quickly back to his feet - albeit a little gingerly.
• 56'

   

  A cross is lifted into the Arsenal penalty area from deep on the left, but Walters is caught criminally offside at the far post. The linesmen have been very busy when dealing with the Potters' front four in this contest. Both coaches will presumably be looking to make changes sooner rather than later, as there needs to be some kind of catalyst introduced. Stoke threaten through Joselu, but Cech dives to his right to deny the Spaniard and then Bojan from the rebound!
• 54'

   

  Koscielny half clears some danger from the right-hand side, before Afellay whips a curling cross in towards the near post! Cech is there is punch the danger away, with chances continuing to be rather elusive to the hosts. Joselu hasn't offered a great deal, with Walters also not being presented with any opportunities.
• 53'

   

  Johnson is released down the right-hand side, but an attempted through ball from the ex-Portsmouth defender is cut out with ease. Moments later, Walcott is fed into the penalty area by a low pass, but the Englishman is outmuscled by Wollscheid. The German defender appeared to have hold of his man's arm, but the referee isn't interested in giving a penalty!
• 51'

   

  Afellay curls a corner delivery in from the left-hand side, but Shawcross is penalised for putting too much pressure on Cech. Both sides are competing well, with Hughes now off his bench and barking out instructions from within his technical area. Bojan tries to find space on the edge of the box, but Flamini slides in to deny him. Arsenal respond with a counter, but Walcott is dispossessed in the penalty area by Shawcross.
• 49'

   

  Arsenal are on the front foot from the outset of the second half, with Stoke seeming to be having problems with Joselu and Arnautovic staying onside. Both forwards have been responsible for moves breaking down. Johnson gallivants down the right flank, before curling in a cross, but Mertesacker heads half clear before mopping up the scraps.
• 47'

   

  Good save from Butland! Giroud manages to meet a corner delivery from the right-hand side, with the ex-Birmingham goalkeeper getting down smartly to his left to parry the ball away! Huge chance for the Gunners to take the lead, there.
• 46'

   

  We are back underway in the second half! Hughes' men have perhaps seen more of the ball than Arsenal would have liked, but the Gunners can still go top of the table if they come out with all guns blazing during the next 45 minutes.
•  

   

  HALF TIME! The two sides head in goalless at the break, with Butland making two good saves to ensure that Stoke are still in with a chance of taking three points from Arsenal. The midfield battle has been fairly even, with neither side taking the contest by the scruff of the neck, but there is plenty of time for a breakthrough goal.
• 45'+1'

   

  We're into the only minute of first-half stoppage time.
• 45'

   

  Whelan and Bojan combine on the edge of the box, but the latter is robbed of possession as he looks to turn. Moments later, Arnautovic drives down the left and shifts the ball inside, but Ramsey makes a timely interception. The midfields are certainly cancelling themselves out at the Britannia.
• 43'

   

  Walcott drives down the left flank, before Giroud hangs a cross into the box from the same wing. Wollscheid is present to head the ball into touch, with the German defender coming under no pressure at all. The resulting throw in is taken short, but an errant touch from Ramsey results in the Welshman disappointingly giving away a goal kick.
• 41'

   

  We're into the final five minutes of the first half, with Arsenal trying to probe for a rare opportunity. Campbell is fouled by Pieters, as the away side work the ball from right to left, but Stoke have plenty of shirts behind the ball. Possession has been more ponderous than dangerous in this match, it must be said. Walcott tries to cut inside and drive to the edge of the penalty area, but Johnson denies the ex-Southampton man easily.
• 39'

   

  Butland is in no rush to take his goal kicks, with the Potters happy to ensure that they stay settled and in control of this game. Walters and Shawcross combine, but Johnson is denied from overlapping beyond the former. The hosts work possession backwards as a result, with Arsenal sitting in and biding their time to counter.
• 37'

   

  Narrowly under 10 minutes remain in the first half, with Stoke probably being set to rue missing a few recent chances. Bojan has been bright, while Johnson has whipped in some brilliant deliveries from the right-hand side. All that Hughes needs to see from his personnel is the finishing touch that he provided as a player.
• 35'

   

  Cech's penalty area is subject to a lot of pressure at the moment, but the Czech Republic international is yet to make a tough save. Wenger may well be happy to see his side head into the break still level. Bojan breaks down the left, before jinking inside, but the former Barcelona midfielder shoots beyond the far post!
• 33'

   

  Arnautovic is caught offside yet again, after another teasing delivery from the right-hand side from Johnson! The Austrian got slightly ahead of his man, but wasn't able to turn home the cross anyway! Cech will be relieved, as the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper was flapping at the ball himself!
• 31'

   

  The opening half an hour has been very competitive, with Stoke enjoying a lot of possession after a slow start to proceedings. Arsenal have probably had the better of the chances at the Britannia, but this contest is still delicately poised.
• 29'

   

  The Potters look to break down the right-hand side, but Walters cuts back a terrible pass that is easily intercepted. Arsenal respond immediately, with Walcott picking out Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box. The Englishman tries his luck with a curling, right-footed strike, but Butland tips a save over his crossbar! The resulting corner is half cleared, before a shot from the same Gunners' midfielder is deflected off target by Koscielny.
• 27'

   

  Giroud flicks a header to Campbell, before the Arsenal winger looks to release Walcott in behind enemy lines! Fortunately for the hosts, Johnson is alert to the danger and gets ahead of his man to intercept. Stoke continue to try and force the issue, with the Gunners playing off their lone striker before trying to counter at pace.
• 25'

   

  Bojan drives down the left-hand side, but the Spaniard loses his footing while attempting to stab a low pass in behind Bellerin for Arnautovic to get on the end of. Stoke are approaching the opposition penalty area well, before running out of ideas in the final third. Afellay tries to part the Gunners' defence on the most recent occasion, but slides the ball straight behind for a goal kick.
• 23'

   

  Stoke continue to hold onto the ball nicely, though Butland will feel as though he has importantly kept his side in this match with the save to deny Giroud. Another zipping through ball is fired in the direction of the Frenchman moments later, but he miscontrols entirely. Wollscheid shepherds the ball back to his goalkeeper.
• 21'

   

  Afellay's shot is probably the closest that either side have gone thus far, with the Gunners appearing to be stuck for creativity without Ozil. Campbell slides a neat through ball into the path of Giroud, but Butland is extremely quick off his line to make a sprawling one-versus-one stop!
• 19'

   

  Ramsey is cynically fouled by Johnson, with a few fouls creeping into this contest already. The free-kick delivery is held up well by Giroud, but the ex-Montpellier striker manages to end up fouling Shawcross in the process. Stoke work their way upfield, with Afellay presented with space at the edge of the penalty box, but the Dutchman shoots wide of the right-hand post!
• 17'

   

  Arnautovic is the target of a long pass down the line, but the Austria international's errant touch is gobbled up by Cech. The visitors respond with an attack of their own, with play opened up to the left-hand side. Walcott manages to win a foul from Walters, but the Gunners fail to make anything of the dead-ball situation.
• 15'

   

  Johnson drives forward down the right-hand side, before trying to curl a delivery towards the penalty spot, but Mertesacker cuts the ball out well. Stoke have had a strong last five minutes, with the Potters dictating possession and forcing Arsenal to sit in their shape and absorb some extended pressure. Wenger's men aren't looking high on offensive ideas.
• 13'

   

  Bojan drifts in from the left and puts the ball on his stronger foot, but a shot from the ex-Ajax man is blocked with ease. The opening stages have been quite even, with both sides taking their turns to go on the offensive. Both Joselu and Giroud have struggled to get themselves into the contest, however.
• 11'

   

  Ramsey tries to slice the Stoke defence apart with a pass into Campbell, but the Costa Rica international's first touch lets him down terribly. Moments later, Arnautovic cuts in from the left flank and lets fly, but the Austrian winger can only lash a sliced attempt high and wide of the target!
• 9'

   

  Monreal is forced to make a good clerance, with Joselu looking to creep beyond the shoulder of the last defender in order to meet a diagonal pass. This has very much been a midfield battle thus far, with neither side having any stopping power in the opposition half. A long Stoke ball looks for Arnautovic, but Cech is quick off his line to collect.
• 7'

   

  Afellay wins a good header in the middle of the park, but the ex-Barcelona midfielder's forward pass is intercepted before Arnautovic can race into a dangerous area. Wenger's men have kept the ball on the ground thus far, with Giroud not getting any service whatsoever. A rather cagey start to proceedings in the Midlands.
• 5'

   

  Arsenal enjoy the early possession, with the home fans turning their attentions towards jeering the visiting outfit. Arnautovic tries to race down the left flank, but the ex-Werden Bremen winger is caught quite obviously offside. Hughes is remaining on his bench at the moment, but could be provoked into action should Stoke continue to stutter.
• 3'

   

  Walcott is found trying to drive down the left-hand side, with Wollscheid deliberately blocking off the England international. The referee has a word with the German defender, who is already walking on thin ice in terms of going into the book. The resulting free kick is whipped into the box, but the hosts clear.
• 1'

   

  We are underway in the first half at the Britannia! Arsenal will be hoping to take top spot with a win today, but they're having to do it all without their main man Mesut Ozil.
•  

   

  Arsenal substitutes: Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Ospina, El Nenny, Iwobi, Chambers.
•  

   

  Arsenal starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Flamini; Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Campbell; Giroud.
•  

   

  Stoke substitutes: Muniesa, Odemwingie, Van Ginkel, Adam, Diouf, Crouch, Haugaard.
•  

   

  Stoke starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Afellay; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Joselu.
•  

   

  TEAM NEWS: Laurent Koscielny is chosen to partner Per Mertesacker at centre-back, with Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey tasked with shielding the back four. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts in place of the injured Mesut Ozil, with Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell deployed in the wide areas. Olivier Giroud starts up front. New signing Mohamed El Nenny gets a seat on the bench for the Gunners.
•  

   

  TEAM NEWS: Xherdan Shaqiri misses out due to injury for the home side, with Jonathan Walters starting out on the right-hand side of midfield. Bojan sits into the number 10 role, with Joselu being given a rare league start up top. Ibrahim Afellay will sit in midfield alongside Glenn Whelan, with no other surprises in the back four. Mame Diouf is among the substitutes.
•  

   

  Arsenal are unbeaten in three top-flight fixtures, though Liverpool managed to hold the Gunners to a 3-3 draw at Anfield last time out. Mark Hughes' men, meanwhile, should come into this clash rather high on confidence. A comfortable 3-1 win over Norwich has left the Potters with a great opportunity to push into the upper reaches of the Premier League table, especially with West Ham dropping points against Newcastle yesterday.
•  

   

  Hello and welcome to live coverage of Arsenal's trip to the Britannia to face Stoke City! This clash has got a good amount of history, with the home supporters certainly not the biggest fans of Arsene Wenger and his personnel, with the Gunners able to go back top of the Premier League with a win this afternoon. The hosts, meanwhile, could jump into sixth place if they take three points.