London // Arsenal's goalless draw at Stoke City took them to the top of the Premier League on Sunday.
A share of the spoils at the Britannia Stadium saw Arsenal return to the summit on goal difference ahead of surprise title contenders Leicester City, with both clubson 44 points from 22 league matches.
But for the second time in a matter of days Arsenal were left to reflect on whether they had gained a point or in fact dropped two after a thrilling midweek 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
It was yet another frustrating trip to Stoke for Arsenal, who have now failed to win at Stoke’s home ground in six attempts.
Both veteran Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech and Stoke counterpart Jack Butland were in good form, but it was England international Butland who produced the save of the match when, early in the second half, he dived low to his left to push away a goalbound-header from Olivier Giroud.
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“I thought Stoke did very well,” Cech told Sky Sports. “We did well in the first half and had a chance to go 1-0 up but Jack made a good save.
“Second half the momentum shifted and they had chances. We could have won and could have lost.
“We will take the point.”
Stoke manager Mark Hughes, whose side ended the weekend in seventh place, was heartened by his team’s latest impressive display against one of the Premier League’s leading clubs.
“Both teams approached the game in the right manner and created chances,” Hughes told BBC Sport.
“All-in-all we’re pleased. It shows our progress. Teams have found it difficult to get points here.”
Though chasing possession for much of the second half, a spirited Stoke side deserved a point and could have taken all three if not for a superb double save by Cech midway through the second half.
The goalkeeper palmed away a shot by Joselu and then got up quickly to block the follow-up from Bojan Krkic.
Arsenal survived some late pressure from the home side before settling for a point that kept Arsene Wenger’s side top on goal difference – but failing to capitalise on Leicester’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday.
After a scrappy opening littered with fouls and poor passes, it was Stoke who carved out the first chance through Marko Arnautovic.
The Austrian wandered in off the left flank to collect possession in a central area 30 yards from goal, but his ambitious effort flew high into the Arsenal fans behind Cech’s goal.
The game finally came to a semblance of life in the 20th minute when Glen Johnson and Jonathan Walters found space on the Stoke right to pick out Joselu on the edge of the area.
His deft flick teed up Ibrahim Afellay, whose long-range effort flew a yard wide of the target.
Arsenal immediately broke and created an opening of their own thanks to a fine pass by Joel Campbell and an equally clever run by Giroud that Butland was able to push away.
Wenger’s team last tasted victory at the Brittania Stadium in February 2010, a match that became infamous for the sickening broken leg suffered by midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who was again singled out for some unsavoury abuse by Stoke fans during his 250th Arsenal appearance.
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