Aubameyang grasps the bigger picture
Pierreemerick Aubameyang ended a difficult week on a positive note as he celebrated his two goals in typical style (top). The striker’s grandmother, Marina, died last week and the Gabon international had her name line, and this was a big missed opportunity.
Wenger partially attributed another low crowd to Easter and the international break but he did also acknowledge the obvious cause of a Premier League season that has become an irrelevance.
The Europa League now offers both the only hope of silverware and the last realistic opportunity of a Champions League place and he was certain that there will be a full stadium on Thursday. “They will be back – don’t worry,” said Wenger.
An air of indifference was reflected both in Wenger’s team selection and the start to the game. Arsenal were largely passing sideways and their pressing out of possession was half-hearted, with Xherdan Shaqiri afforded space to cut in from the right and shoot inches outside the top corner.
Arsenal did become increasingly dominant in possession but, with Danny Welbeck wastefully volleying their next chance wide, a lack of speed and urgency remained evident. Stoke sensed their chance and did almost take the lead when Shaqiri’s curling corner swirled beyond everyone, including goalkeeper David Ospina, and on to the inside of the post.
It seemed to awaken Arsenal, and they did finish the match convincingly. A precise Mesut Ozil pass released Aubameyang but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland stood tall one-on-one to smother the attempted finish.
Calum Chambers also had an excellent chance from inside the six-yard box before Arsenal did then take the lead after Ozil went down following Bruno Martins Indi’s tackle. Replays clearly showed that he had first played the ball before upending Ozil but referee Craig Pawson had no doubt and Aubameyang sent Butland the wrong way with his penalty.
An Ozil corner was then volleyed past Butland by Aubameyang before Badou Ndiaye needlessly shoved Lacazette and gave Pawson little alternative but to award a second penalty.
It offered Aubameyang the chance of a hat-trick but he seemed genuinely delighted for Lacazette to get a goal ahead of Thursday’s big Europa League quarter-final.