Published: 12 January, 2015
By TOM FOOT at the EMIRATES STADIUM

ARSENE Wenger revealed that he is “in the market” for an experienced full back after watching Mathieu Debuchy dislocated his shoulder at the Emirates.

The Arsenal boss, who was without Kieron Gibbs and a “sick” Calum Chambers, said: “Debuhcy has dislocated his shoulder – that gives us a problem. He will certainly not play next week. What is sure that we will not have Gibbs and losing Debuchy means Monreal will play centre back. So we have Gibbs’ position short.”

Debuchy fell awkwardly into the advertising hoardings during the first half and had to be substituted.

When asked if this would change his plans for the January transfer window, Wenger said “no – because I was in the market anyway”, adding that he had rested defender Calum Chambers today because he was “sick”.

Wenger insisted that his smoking goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny is still “our number 1” despite confirming that he had been dropped because a bad run of form.

“I don’t want to speak anymore about that as the more I tell you, the less I will inform you,” he added cryptically. 

Columbian David Ospina kept a rare Arsenal clean sheet in an impressive win against an unusually soft Stoke City. The Potters were sluggish from the start extended their terrible away record against Arsenal, having not one a match since 1981.

Player of the season Alexis Sanchez was at his commanding best and provided the first goal with a pin point cross met by an unmarked Laurent Koscielny on 6 minutes. On 33 minutes, Sanchez then jinked past two defenders and found the inside of the near post, after shaping to shoot in the far corner. 

Early in the second half, the Chilean sensation grabbed a second with a free-kick that went straight through the wall and was fumbled in by Begovic. Arsenal were in total control for the rest of the match.

There was a welcome return for Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil after log lay offs in the second half and both should have notched their names onto the scoresheet. Walcott shanked a shot wide when clear through on goal, and Ozil lashed a wild shot high over the bar.

Francis Coquelin provided some steel in midfield while full back Hector Belerin, on for the injured Debuchy, was impressive going forward and tackling back.

Wenger said: “At home they are different, here they are less confident. We had a very offensive team today and everybody played well.”