Arsenal 3 Stoke 1: Watch highlights as Mesut Ozil proves his worth to Gunners in week where his contract talks dominate headlines

MESUT OZIL scored for Arsenal in a week where his contract talks have dominated headlines.

Charlie Adam sent the visitors ahead through a 29th-minute penalty.

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Granit Xhaka was the guilty culprit after recklessly elbowing Joe Allen in the face, leaving the little Welshman in need of medical attention.

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Theo Walcott pulled one back for Arsene Wenger's men three minutes before the break after neatly tucking in a cross from Hector Bellerin - subbed on for the injured Shkodran Mustafi after 25 minutes.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then played a delightful dinked through ball to Ozil, who caught out Stoke keeper Lee Grant with a clever looping header in the 49th minute.

Alex Iwobi wrapped up the game with a Thierry Henry-esque strike 15 minutes from full time.

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Facts, stats, goals and lols

• Only four players from Tuesday’s 4-1 Champions League win in Basel survived the cull to face Stoke.

• Stoke fans had fellow Tube passengers smiling on the Piccadilly Line to Arsenal with a rousing chorus of their version of ‘12 Days Of Christmas’ - only with every day their true love bringing them an extra pint of Bass beer.

• Arsenal lose Shkodran Mustafi after only 25 minutes through injury letting Hector Bellerin back in the side after five weeks out himself.

• Granit Xhaka gives away a penalty in the 27th minute with an elbow in the face of Joe Allen. Charlie Adam sends Petr Cech the wrong way from the penalty spot.

• Theo Walcott equalises for Arsenal three minutes from half time with a touch onto a pinpoint cross after a superb run from sub Bellerin.

• Stoke boss Mark Hughes puts his fingers in his ears after prolonged haranguing from Arsenal fans behind the dugout who want him to sit down.

• City keeper Lee Grant spoken to by ref Lee Mason for continual time wasting.

• Mesut Ozil scores stunning goal to put Arsenal ahead in the 50th minute and sudenly Grant starts getting a move on.

• Arsenal go top of the table on a single

  goal scored ahead of Chelsea, who play tomorrow.

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Big picture

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Social says

Dream Team Ratings

ARSENAL: Cech 6, Gabriel 6, Mustafi 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Coquelin 7, Xhaka 7, Walcott 8, Ozil 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Sanchez 7.

SUBS: Iwobi 7, Giroud 6, Bellerin 7.

STOKE: Grant 6, Johnson 6, Martins-Indi 6, Muniesa 7, Pieters 6, Diouf 6, Imbula 6, Adam 7, Shaqiri 6, Allen 6, Arnautovic 6.

SUBS: Sobhi 5, Ngoy 6, Crouch 6.

What they said

Arsene Wenger on the penalty decision: "We got a very unlucky penalty because it wasn't even a foul, but we have shown again the resources.

"A few times this season we have come back from one down to win the game and that shows great mental strength."

Mark Hughes: "Teams will struggle to come here and cope with the pace and power Arsenal have at the moment. You have to take it on the chin."