Stoke City 0 - 0 Arsenal

By Richard Butler

STOKE AWAY. Two words that install fear into every Arsenal fan. How can one team and one ground have caused us so many sleepless nights over the years?

Of course this is not the same physical, long ball Stoke team of the Tony Pulis era. But while they play much better football these days under Mark Hughes, the presence of Ryan Shawcross in the team means events from the past will never quite be forgotten.

But the improved spectacle now being offered at the Britannia is wasted on these home fans. They are stuck in a 1980s time-warp. The sick chanting and booing aimed at Aaron Ramsey, who's only crime is to have had his leg shattered by that thug Shawcross, showed the Stoke fans for what they really are; uneducated morons.

This was not Ramsey's best game of the season, in the circumstances how could it have been, but the way he has fought back from such an horrendous, career threatening injury deserves respect. The guy has developed into one of the best box-to-box midfielders in European football and has, of course, scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final.

This summer he will playing for Wales in the European Championships, the first time his country has qualified for a major tournament since 1958, and it was the performances of Ramsey that went a long way to helping them achieve that goal.

Shawcross, on the other hand, is stealing a living as a professional footballer. He has been described as an old fashioned centre half. Basically this means he would not look out of place in local, park football. But I have seen much better players than him playing in Sunday League.

Apparently the main reason for the Stoke fans hostility towards Ramsey was his refusal to accept a written apology sent to him by Shawcross in the aftermath of that 'tackle' in 2010. But by accepting the apology it would have been condoling that kind of behaviour on the pitch.

And it is not like Shawcross has learnt from it. Over the years I have still seen him flying into tackles and injuring other players with his recklessness. So, Stoke fans, if you really want to boo anyone, boo Shawcross. The guy is a disgrace. But then again you deserve each other.

But I digress...

Coming just four days after a tough trip to Liverpool, and missing the creative genius of Mesut Ozil, this was always going to be a big ask.

In the past we would have capitulated. Indeed the corresponding fixture here just over a year ago saw us 3-0 down at half time. But this team has a tougher, more resilient look to it these days. And in the final reckoning this could well go down as a very good point.

Lets remember that Manchester City were blown away here a few weeks ago. Chelsea and Manchester United were also beaten, while Leicester were held to a draw. None of the big sides ever find it easy here.

So in sub-zero temperatures and with a hostile home crowd this was all about standing up and being counted. It was a test we passed with flying colours.

In fact had it not been for two great saves by Stoke goalkeeper, Jack Butland, either side of the break, both to deny Olivier Giroud, we would have got the result we wanted.

The first chance, just before half time, was the big one. In a game like this the first goal is vital, and had we gone in front at that stage there is no doubt we would have gone on to win.

As has been the case in recent weeks the chance was created by Joel Campbell. Needing someone to step up in the absence of Alexis Sanchez, the Costa Rican has done just that with a series of top quality performances.

But when his lovely defence-splitting pass had sent Giroud clear, the Stoke goalkeeper was out quickly to deny the Frenchman. Cue the same old 'Arsenal need a world class striker' cliché.

But Giroud did very little wrong. He opened up his body well as Butland came out and was simply denied but a very good save. We could have spent £90 million on another striker in the transfer window but there is no guarantee that they would have scored in that same situation.

Giroud's second half header was also unlucky. Again Butland showed his international pedigree with a smart save down to his left. Sometimes you just have to praise the goalkeeper. On another day both chances would have gone in and Giroud would have been the hero. But that is the life of a striker.

Talking about goalkeepers. The £10m Arsene Wenger invested in Petr Cech last summer might just prove to be the best £10m ever spent. You do not realise the importance of a world class goalkeeper until you actually have one. And Cech is still one of the best in the business.

His double save in the second half not only ensured we left here with a point but also showed his value to this team. Without Ozil, Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck, we lacked the creativity to win the game. But without Cech we would have lost it. And in the final analysis that could prove to be the difference between finishing first and second in such a tight title race.

So despite only two points out of a possible six over the last week or so it is hard to feel too disappointed. The frustration is over the late goal conceded at Anfield as four points would have been an exceptional return from two such tough away games.

But two is by no means a disaster. We are still top and have played two home games less than City. With their away form even more shaky than ours, that could just prove crucial in the final reckoning.

It was suggested that we may have better winning at Anfield and losing here as three points is better than two. But I believe not losing either game will be far more important in the long run. Avoiding defeat at Stoke is also a sign that this group have grown together this season.

With some key players due to return imminently things are looking good. Beat Chelsea at the Emirates next Sunday and that momentum could well propel us over the line.

And who knows, in May we may well look back on Stoke away as the game that won us the title!