Arsenal played host to Stoke City this afternoon knowing that a victory would send them top of the Premier League.
They took the lead through Aaron Ramsey early on, but Stoke's Geoff Cameron soon levelled up proceedings.
However, goals from defenders Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna sealed a 3-1 win for Arsene Wenger's team.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
12.32pmAfternoon all. All the talk today will be dominated by the Manchester derby, but first up we have Arsenal, who are hoping to challenge the two rivals for the Premier League title this term. They will play host to Stoke City.
12.35pmRight, before we look a little more deeper into this clash, the team news from the Emirates is starting to filter through. Let's start with the hosts...
12.37pmARSENAL XI: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud
12.40pmAs expected, Mesut Ozil is given his first start as an Arsenal player in front of the home faithful. He's part of a five-man midfield that also includes Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud will continue in his role as a lone centre-forward, while Kieran Gibbs keeps his place at left-back.
12.42pmSTOKE XI: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Wilson, Nzonzi, Adam, Arnautovic; Jones
12.44pmOne change for the Potters as Matthew Etherington drops out, handing a full debut to Marko Arnautovic in the process. Meanwhile, Kenwyne Jones keeps his place up front, while Mark Wilson has again been handed a midfield slot. It's likely that he may be charged with the task of trying to shackle Ozil - easier said than done!
12.47pmAs well as Ozil's first Emirates start, there is also a major plus for Arsenal among the substitutes. Here is both benches...
12.49pmARSENAL SUBS: Viviano, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Arteta, Monreal, Bendtner, Gnabry
STOKE: Sorensen, Whelan, Pennant, Palacios, Crouch, Etherington, Ireland
12.53pmNo, it's not Nicklas Bendtner's return! Mikel Arteta is back on the bench, having recovered from a thigh injury. The Spaniard is yet to feature for the Gunners this season and his presence is bound to be a big boost. If Arsenal can gain a healthy lead, perhaps Arsene Wenger will give him 30 minutes or so today.
12.57pmOf course, a lot of the pre-match talk here has been dominated by Ozil. The playmaker has just been talking to Sky Sports News ahead of his first outing at the Emirates:
"I am looking forward to it very much because I have played two away games. I have seen the Emirates Stadium which is incredible. I cannot imagine how great the atmosphere is going to be. I am really excited about it."
1pmHe was also asked if Arsenal can win the title this season, to which he replied: "Of course." If they are to realise that ambition, they need to cut out the mistakes that resulted in dropped points at home last season. It's a point that Wenger was recently keen to make:
"If you look at the numbers, away from home, we have been remarkably consistent. At home we want of course to create the same consistency," the French boss told reporters. "I believe we have a chance [to challenge for the title] and what is most important is that my full energy is to make sure we grab that chance.
"It is too early to say who will be in the fight, who will not be in the fight. You are a bit cautious because these days you are very quickly in a crisis - one bad result and everyone questions your potential to be in there, so let's be consistent."
1.04pmWenger has also been complimentary of the work that his opposite number Mark Hughes has already carried out at Stoke. Known as a direct side under Tony Pulis, the Potters have played more passing football so far this term:
"It is always difficult to change the style of a team because you are judged immediately on the results. They look to have adapted remarkably quickly," said Wenger. "For me it shows as well that Stoke have good players. When they are capable to adapt, it is always a sign of quality."
1.08pmAnd here is some of what Hughes has had to say about this match just now to Sky Sports News: "I'm really pleased with what we are producing at the moment. It's helped that we've got positive results so far. We are looking forward to the game and it is a big test. Arsenal are playing well, but so are we."
1.12pmBREAKING NEWS! Theo Walcott has been ruled out for Arsenal. More to follow...
1.16pmNo news yet as to what has happened to Walcott, but perhaps he has picked up an injury during the warm-up. That has handed a chance to German youngster Serge Gnabry, who has been hoisted into the starting lineup by Wenger. It's a blow for Arsenal so close to the start, but a big opportunity for Gnabry at the same time.
1.20pmArsenal really have gone Ozil made today on their Twitter - he best play well:
.@MesutOzil1088 running out to warm-up. He looks a happy guy, perhaps @Podolski10 made him laugh #AFCvSCFC #Ozil pic.twitter.com/FUDpdLxqlN
— Arsenal.com (@Arsenal) September 22, 2013
1.25pmA bit more on Walcott, with reports now emerging that he is suffering with an illness. It seems strange, surely he must have known that he was struggling when he woke up this morning?! Whether that disrupts the Gunners, only time will tell.
1.28pmRight, the players are now filtering into the tunnel. Not long now until we are off and running at the Emirates...
1 minGAME ON! Visiting Stoke, attacking from right to left, get us started in North London.
4 minArsenal have a free kick 25 yards from goal, with Ozil standing over it...
5 minGOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Stoke (Ramsey)
5 minWhatever Aaron Ramsey has for breakfast in the morning, I want some! What a season he is having, this is his seventh goal already. Ozil's free kick is low and lacking in power, but Asmir Begovic can only parry the ball back into the area. Ramsey is alert and gets there first to turn in the rebound from close range. Great start for the Gunners.
8 minLooking at further replays of the goal, that really is poor goalkeeping from the usually reliable Begovic. Yes the ball bounces just in front of him, but he's got to push that out much wider than he did.
11 minOkay, so it seems that Walcott was ill yesterday, but has recovered from that. The reason that he dropped out of the team so late is because he picked up an abdominal injury during the warm-up. It's not thought to be a major problem, though, and he could even come if needed.
14 minRight, final point on Walcott, I promise! He's not actually on the bench and his place in the squad has been taken by Japanese attacker Ryo Miyaichi. To make matters worse for Arsenal, Jack Wilshere has taken a couple of knocks already, although he is trying to run them off.
18 minStoke are really struggling to keep hold of the ball right now. What's more, lone striker Jones has made numerous positive runs forward, but the passes are being delayed, which is allowing Arsenal players the chance to retreat. You can see the frustration coming from the Trinidad international.
22 minBacary Sagna brings down Charlie Adam right on the edge of the area, giving Stoke a free kick in a very dangerous position...
24 minWhat a waste from Adam, who can only find the wall with a lame attempt. Stoke had thrown the likes of Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth forward there. If Stoke are going to score, you get the impression a set piece may be the best chance. The delivery has to be much better though.
26 minGOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Stoke (Cameron)
26 minPerhaps a set piece isn't Stoke's best chance of a goal! Steven N'Zonzi plays a neat chip into the area for Arnautovic, whose instant volley crashes against the post. The ball rebounds for Cameron, though, who rolls a low effort beyond the reach of Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. That is the American's first goal for Stoke and what an important one as well. It's level pegging.
29 minWhat an opportunity for Jones to add a second for Stoke. He's left all alone by the Arsenal rearguard, but his first touch is far too heavy and it gives Per Mertesacker enough time to get back and mop up the danger. Better control there and Jones would have been through on goal.
32 minCHANCE! Superb defending from Erik Pieters, who has just prevented Arsenal from retaking the lead. Mertesacker rises highest to meet Ozil's corner from the right, but his goalbound header is cleared off the line by the Stoke defender, who was under pressure from Gnarby.
36 minGOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Stoke (Mertesacker)
36 minStoke were warned of Mertesacker's prowess in the air moments ago and this time the German centre-back has punished the visitors. Again it was Ozil with the corner, which is flicked on with a looping header by Mertesacker. It appears that Begovic is going to punch clear, but he is put off by Laurent Koscielny's presence and the ball bounces over the line. A poor goal to concede from a Stoke point of view.
41 minIt's now all Arsenal - they really are playing some good football at the moment. If they score again before the break, that is likely to be game over. On the flip side, Stoke need to hold firm otherwise it will be damage limitation after the restart.
44 minGary Lineker on Twitter:
Stoke really have changed. They've conceded a goal from a set piece.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 22, 2013
45 minWe will have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
45+3 minHALF TIME: Arsenal 2-1 Stoke
2.24pmWell, a mixed half for the home side, it must be said. They've played much the better football and have been the dominant force, but they haven't created too much. Having said that, they've scored twice, so won't have too many complaints. What will also have pleased Wenger is the understanding that Wilshere and Ozil are starting to form.
2.28pmFrom a Stoke point of view, Hughes is likely to be angered by the two goals that they've conceded. The first was an error from Begovic, while the second was from a corner, where Stoke are known to be strong defensively. Credit where it is due, though, because they have tried to pass the ball on occasions, but they do need to get more support up to lone striker Jones.
2.31pmWhat may help the visitors is the introduction of Stephen Ireland. The Aston Villa loanee is lacking a bit of match fitness at the moment, but he should be able to put in a decent 30-minute shift. He could provide that link between Jones and the midfield, which Stoke have found difficult to do thus far.
2.33pmWenger is unlikely to make too many changes to his side, but he may look to give Arteta some game time at some stage. The Spaniard would be useful in the last 20 minutes or so when the aim is to slow down the match and keep hold of possession.
46 minRESTART! The players are back with us and Arsenal have got the second half underway. It's a bit of a cliche, but the next goal in this contest is very important.
50 minSAVE! Gnabry may only be a youngster, but he seems to possess plenty of confidence. The German has just cut inside from the right and tried his luck from the edge of the penalty area with his left boot. It's a powerful enough strike, but Begovic is able to get down and hold at the first attempt.
54 minSAVE! That's the Begovic we've become accustomed too! He dives to his left to turn over a rising effort from Olivier Giroud, which looked to be heading for the top corner of the net. Meanwhile, Huth has gone into the book for a body-check challenge earlier in the move.
58 minCHANCE! It seems right now that it is only a matter of time before Arsenal add a third. It's Giroud who fails to hit the target on this occasion, having been neatly set up by Ozil. The Gunners are really starting to dominate proceedings now, as Stoke bring on Ireland to replace Charlie Adam in a bid to turn the tide.
63 minSAVES! Begovic is having a much better second half, it must be said. Ozil is the latest to try his luck, but his low drive from a Wilshere knock-down is palmed away by Stoke's Bosnian goalkeeper. Then, moments later, Szczesny, who has been a spectator for large parts of the half, pushes away Wilson's shot from distance.
67 minSUBSTITUTION: A second change of the afternoon for Stoke as Pieters is given a breather, with former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Wilson Palacios coming on in his place. It's a switch that is likely to see Wilson move out of the midfield and into a more natural defensive berth.
72 minGOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Stoke (Sagna)
72 minHughes will be tearing his hair out - his side have conceded another goal from a set piece. Ozil sends over a cross from the left towards the back post where Sagna is waiting. The full-back gets up well and is able to loop a header over a stranded Begovic and into the net. That could be game over.
75 minSUBSTITUTIONS Having opened up a two-goal advantage, Wenger looks to protect Wilshere by removing him from the action. On comes Nacho Monreal, while Ryo has taken the place of youngster Gnarby. Also, Stoke have made a final change, with Jermaine Pennant taking the place of Jones.
79 minStoke look like a side that have conceded here. What's more, Arsenal look happy with what they have and just keeping the ball with ease. It could all render the final 10 minutes or so meaningless.
81 minSUBSTITUTION: That is the end of Ozil's home debut for Arsenal, but perhaps more importantly, the player replacing him is Arteta. The midfielder gets a huge cheer from the supporters as he runs on - that's how important he is to the team.
85 minBig news coming in from the Manchester derby, which we are covering on Sports Mole - former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has been ruled out for Manchester United because of a thigh strain. If you what to follow our coverage of that clash, you can do so here.
90 minFour minutes of stoppage time is signalled as Arsenal supporters greet every successful pass with a chant of 'Ole'.
90+3 minSAVE! Almost the icing on the cake for Arsenal, but Begovic intervenes. Giroud breaks and unselfishly plays in Ramsey, who turns and smashes a powerful drive towards the top corner. Begovic is alert, though, and tips the ball over the crossbar.
90+4 minFULL TIME: Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City
3.25pmWell, it was relatively comfortable in the end, and what's more, the Gunners are top of the Premier League. There were positives for Stoke as well and if they continue to play like that, they'll be fine. That's all we have time for from the Emirates, but be sure to check back soon for our analysis of the clash. Until next time, goodbye.
