Published: 17 January, 2016 
By STEVE BARNETT
Premier League 

STOKE 0, ARSENAL 0 

ARSENE Wenger praised the "outstanding" Petr Cech after the goalkeeper shone at Stoke today (Sunday) to help Arsenal climb back to the top of the Premier League. 

Cech, and his opposing number, Jack Butland, were the standout figures as the battle at the Britannia Stadium finished goalless. 

Butland twice denied Olivier Giroud and tipped a long-range effort from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain over the bar, while Cech stood strong in the second period with a string of smart stops, including thwarting Bojan with a double save. 

Reflecting on his No 1's influence on the game, Wenger said: "Petr was outstanding. We needed a player like him in the air when Stoke played that kind of game. 

"Stoke played very well, were very physical and were very direct, which is an unusual style for them. Cech helped us deal with that in a positive way. 

"We needed to be strong physically and had a great spirit. We fought very hard but couldn't take our chances." 

"It is a hard fought 0-0," added Wenger. "We have done better than years before at this ground and showed we can fight even when we miss certain players."

Amongst those "certain players" were injured duo Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Without their drive and creativity the Gunners rarely looked like finding the back of the net. When they did, Butland was at his best – the pick of his saves denying Giroud in the first half. 

Stoke finished strongly and could have won it late on, but Aaron Ramsey was in the right place to clear Jon Walters' header off the line. 

Cech insisted afterwards that the Arsenal players were happy with their point. He said: "I thought Stoke did very well. We did well in the first half and had a chance to go 1-0 up but Jack Butland made a good save. 

"In the second half the momentum shifted and they had chances. We will take the point.

"We were coming here and heard from everyone we would lose. But we showed we can compete. We are in a position we wanted to be."

ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Campbell, Walcott (Iwobi, 72), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Chambers, 91), Giroud. 
Substitutes not used: Ospina, Gabriel, Gibbs, Arteta, Elneny.
Attendance: 27,683.