Arsenal… Title contenders? Who would have thought it? Despite a disastrous start against Aston Villa, four games into the Premier League season the Gunners are perched near the top and there is renewed optimism around the club. Today they have the opportunity to fly to the summit as they welcome Stoke to North London. Welcome to live coverage of Sunday’s clash at the Emirates.

Premier League / Matchday 5

Emirates Stadium / 22.09.2013

Arsenal

Completed

Stoke City

G. Cameron(26')

Live

Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 22/09/2013 at 14:25 GMT

37'

The home section of the stadium, which is most of it, is a happy place once more.

36'

GOAL! Mertesacker drops off his man to meet the corner with his head. It loops into the air, but Begovic can't dive as Koscielny stands between the keeper and the flight path of the ball.

35'

Arsenal win a free-kick in their inside left channel. Headed behind for another corner.

34'

Gibbs charges down the left wing in pursuit of a diagonal pass played in his general direction. Nope. He's not getting that one.

33'

Undeterred, Stoke come forward with Mark Wilson spraying the ball left and right to various teammates.

32'

Lovely build up featuring Flamini and Wilshere sees the latter's shot deflect behind for a corner... Mertesacker meets the resulting set-piece but his goalbound header is nodded clear by a Stoke shirt. All action.

31'

The game has really opened out now. Both sides fancy taking the three points.

30'

But the crowd's efforts almost pay off! Giroud works himself an opening but sees his driven effort blocked.

29'

The crowd trying to encourage their side with chants ranging from "Come on Arsenal" to "Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal". Not the most original.

28'

A long ball hoisted through the middle finds Kenwyne Jones inside the area. He's got acres of space but his first touch is woeful which allows Mertesacker to get back and make a challenge. Arsenal wobbling...

27'

Well, that makes it very interesting. Arsenal have hardly been tested up to this point but find themselves level.

26'

GOAL! Gibbs concedes possession inside his own half. N'Zonzi floats one towards new boy Arnautovic who lets the ball drop before striking his volley against the post. Not to worry, Cameron is on hand to place the rebound beyond the reach of Szczesny. Game on!

25'

Kieran Gibbs weaves his way inside before firing over the bar. Right idea.

24'

Arsenal deal with the corner pretty comfortably and break. Sagna finds himself in the right-wing position and wins a throw by the corner flag.

23'

It's taken by Adam who blasts it into the wall. Surely it suited a right-footed player from that angle? They still manage to force a corner.

22'

Charlie Adam gets bundled to the ground by Sagna right on the edge of the Arsenal box. Free-kick Stoke.

21'

Still they pass... 30 and counting... Ozil gets fed up and tries to thread a pass through to Wilshere. Doesn't come off.

20'

The game's gone a touch flat. Arsenal have the ball, but their passing has lost its early zip. Stoke content to let the hosts have it in their own half.

19'

Arsenal slow the tempo down on the right wing as Sagna and Gnabry knock the ball between them in an attempt to open up a gap in the Stoke defence. No gap appears.

18'

Geoff Cameron thinks he has time on the ball and slows his run to a trot. Wham, in comes Wilshere to rob him of the ball. Per Mertesacker follows it up with an even sharper tackle.

17'

That's better from the visitors. They break down the right and whip in a delivery into the penalty area. Bacary Sagna heads clear.

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