Arsene Wenger: This is why Arsenal failed to beat Stoke

ARSENE WENGER believes Arsenal 'lacked creativity' at Stoke as his side claimed the point they needed to return to the top of the Premier League.

 

Arsene Wenger rues lack of creativity against Stoke

 

The Gunners were unable to add to their solitary Premier League win at the Britannia Stadium yesterday but a goalless draw moved them back up above Manchester City and Leicester.

The absence of Mesut Ozil, who has 16 assists to his name this term, is likely to have affected the outcome after he was ruled out with a foot injury.

And while Wenger was happy to leave Staffordshire with a draw, the Frenchman feels it's two points lost in the title race.

 

"Overall it was a battle, an old-fashioned Stoke battle," Wenger said. "They made the game very physical, the crowd were up for it, the players were up for it.

"They went for a very direct game and we had to show physical response, solidarity, fighting spirit, togetherness - which is what we did.

"We lacked a bit of creativity to force the way through and on top of that we missed two or three good chances.

 

Mesut Ozil picked up a foot injury before the trip to Stoke

"They were really up for it, they really tried from the first to the last minute.

"We of course wanted to win the game but, looking at the history we have here, it is a positive result.

"Looking at the results of the other teams that play at the top, it's a positive result. But, overall we missed two points today."