Gunners’ top-four hopes
But none of that seems to be distracting his team, with this representing a third win inside a week and fifth in six league games for a side who also have an FA Cup final against Chelsea.
Stoke were struggling to get going, but were presented with an opportunity just before the half-hour mark as Shkodran Mustafi fouled Xherdan Shaqiri just outside the Arsenal box, picking up a booking in the process. The resulting free-kick was curled just over by Marko Arnautovic.
The Gunners were soon back on the front foot, with Sanchez firing narrowly wide after Glen Johnson lost the ball in a dangerous position.
And a fine Arsenal move then saw them grab the lead as Hector Bellerin ran on to Francis Coquelin’s throughball and delivered a cross that Giroud met with a tap-in.
It was another delightful move that made it 2- 0 after the interval as Ozil gave the ball to Sanchez and then latched on to the superb pass the Chilean sent to him in return, before beating Butland by lifting a shot over him.
That goal seemed to stir Stoke into life, with Mame Diouf wasting a good chance by heading wide before he was then replaced by Crouch.
Petr Cech then tipped a Bruno Martins Indi header over, before Crouch converted another Arnautovic cross in controversial circumstances, with it appearing the striker had used his arm to divert the ball in.
Wenger made his displeasure clear by the dugout, but the effort stood – and his men then responded admirably to the setback.
Sanchez put them 3-1 up as he received the ball from Bellerin and saw his strike deflect in off Ryan Shawcross.
Aaron Ramsey, booed by some Stoke fans after coming on for Sanchez, then made a lively contribution at the ground where he broke his leg in 2010, providing the cutback from which Giroud prodded in for his second.