Arsenal are still searching for their first goal of the season as they shared a tame goalless draw with Stoke.

Santi Cazorla was again their most impressive performer and tested Asmir Begovic, but others struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities.

Lukas Podolski had an early effort that hit the falling Andy Wilkinson's arm, while Olivier Giroud's shot was just over as the Gunners finished strongly.

Arsenal attack missing something - Arsene Wenger

Stoke's Jon Walters was also wasteful and had no power in his late prod.

The hosts had little else to point to as they too shared their second draw of the season.

Arsenal dominated possession but did not possess any real endeavour until late in the game - that coincided with the late introduction of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who replaced the disappointing Lukas Podolski and Gervinho.

And the lack of cutting edge will give Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger food for thought as he continues to rebuild his attacking options after the departure of last season's top scorer Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

Giroud's diagonal lob in the dying stages almost caught out Stoke keeper Begovic, but his decision to shoot rather than pass to the onrushing Aaron Ramsey was one example of how the Frenchman still needs time to link with his new team-mates as he made his full debut.

Arsenal's slow start

  • For the second season running, Arsenal have failed to score in their opening two league games, something they had never done before in the Premier League

Tony Pulis's side will be more content with the point as they failed to fashion too many chances, although they had an early Walters effort ruled out for offside and Jermaine Pennant was furious when he claimed he was pushed over by Kieran Gibbs in the penalty area.

In keeping with his performance against Sunderland last week, Arsenal's Cazorla was quick to run the show in midfield, proving equally adept with either foot and finding space with ease.

But where Arsenal showed promise in the attacking third, with Podolski dropping inside to support Cazorla, they could not create many attempts on the Stoke goal in the first half.

Tony Pulis still keen to "freshen" up Stoke squad

The hosts handed a debut to American Geoff Cameron in place of the suspended Dean Whitehead and he became the latest of Stoke's long throw-in specialists, though they rarely troubled the Gunners defence.

And after the interval, Stoke were limited to Walters's late poke with only Vito Mannone - making his first Premier League start for almost three years in place of the injured Wojciech Szczesny - to beat.

Once Arsenal finally gathered some momentum, Giroud, Abou Diaby and Mikel Arteta failed to work Begovic with speculative efforts, but at least the Gunners can take some satisfaction from two consecutive clean sheets, a sign perhaps that new assistant Steve Bould is having some effect.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Stoke City

  • 01 Begovic
  • 02 Cameron
  • 04 Huth Booked
  • 12 Wilson
  • 17 Shawcross
  • 28 Wilkinson Booked
  • 06 Whelan (Palacios - 81' )
  • 07 Pennant (Jerome - 65' )
  • 21 Kightly
  • 19 Walters
  • 25 Crouch (Shotton - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 29 Sorensen
  • 20 Upson
  • 30 Shotton
  • 08 Palacios
  • 24 Delap
  • 09 Jones
  • 33 Jerome

Arsenal

  • 24 Mannone
  • 04 Mertesacker
  • 05 Vermaelen
  • 25 Jenkinson
  • 28 Gibbs
  • 02 Diaby
  • 08 Arteta
  • 19 Cazorla (Ramsey - 81' )
  • 09 Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain - 72' )
  • 12 Giroud
  • 27 Gervinho (Walcott - 72' )

Substitutes

  • 36 Martinez
  • 11 Santos
  • 20 Djourou
  • 14 Walcott
  • 15 Oxlade-Chamberlain
  • 16 Ramsey
  • 22 Coquelin
Ref: Mason
Att: 27,072

Match Stats

Shots

7 16

On target

4 6

Corners

0 11

Fouls

9 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:11 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:36

Centre by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

90:00 +0:17

Foul by Thomas Vermaelen on Jonathan Walters, free kick awarded. Marc Wilson takes the direct free kick.

89:47

The ball is sent over by Olivier Giroud, clearance made by Robert Huth.

88:43

Olivier Giroud produces a left-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

87:41

Foul by Mikel Arteta on Michael Kightly, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Michael Kightly, clearance made by Per Mertesacker.

86:28

Aaron Ramsey has an effort at goal from outside the penalty area which goes wide right of the goal.

86:03

Jonathan Walters takes a shot. Save made by Vito Mannone.

83:43

The ball is swung over by Aaron Ramsey, clearance by Wilson Palacios. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mikel Arteta played to the near post, clearance by Wilson Palacios. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain concedes a free kick for a foul on Ryan Shotton. Free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.

83:12

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Mikel Arteta from the right by-line, Geoff Cameron makes a clearance.

81:50

Outswinging corner taken by Mikel Arteta from the right by-line, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

79:56

Mikel Arteta takes the free kick.

79:56 Substitution

Substitution Aaron Ramsey on for Santi Cazorla.

79:56 Substitution

Substitution (Stoke) makes a substitution, with Wilson Palacios coming on for Glenn Whelan.

79:56

Unfair challenge on Olivier Giroud by Robert Huth results in a free kick.

77:59

Vito Mannone takes the direct free kick.

77:59 Substitution

Substitution Peter Crouch goes off and Ryan Shotton comes on.

77:59

A cross is delivered by Marc Wilson, Unfair challenge on Kieran Gibbs by Peter Crouch results in a free kick.

76:50

The ball is sent over by Theo Walcott, blocked by Robert Huth.

76:25

The ball is delivered by Peter Crouch.

75:23

The ball is crossed by Kieran Gibbs, save by Asmir Begovic.

73:48

Carl Jenkinson sends in a cross, Effort on goal by Vassiriki Diaby from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

72:21

Mikel Arteta produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

71:07 Substitution

Substitution Lukas Podolski leaves the field to be replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

71:07 Substitution

Substitution Yao Gervinho leaves the field to be replaced by Theo Walcott.

70:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marc Wilson by Carl Jenkinson. Marc Wilson restarts play with the free kick.

69:25

Corner taken by Santi Cazorla from the left by-line, Shot by Olivier Giroud from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

69:06

Santi Cazorla takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Geoff Cameron gets a block in.

68:49

Foul by Ryan Shawcross on Olivier Giroud, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mikel Arteta.

68:22

Andy Wilkinson produces a cross, Shot from close in by Peter Crouch misses to the left of the target.

68:00

Centre by Geoff Cameron, blocked by Santi Cazorla.

65:45

Shot from long distance by Cameron Jerome goes wide of the left-hand post.

64:57 Substitution

Substitution Cameron Jerome joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jermaine Pennant.

63:21

Mikel Arteta produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

63:21 Booking

Booking Andy Wilkinson goes into the referee's book.

62:55

Andy Wilkinson concedes a free kick for a foul on Thomas Vermaelen.

61:51

Unfair challenge on Mikel Arteta by Jonathan Walters results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Mikel Arteta from right channel, clearance made by Geoff Cameron.

61:09

The ball is delivered by Lukas Podolski, clearance by Marc Wilson. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Santi Cazorla, clearance made by Robert Huth.

59:37

The ball is delivered by Lukas Podolski, save by Asmir Begovic.

58:42

Michael Kightly produces a cross.

58:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Geoff Cameron by Vassiriki Diaby. Marc Wilson restarts play with the free kick.

56:31

Centre by Santi Cazorla.

55:24

Peter Crouch concedes a free kick for a foul on Per Mertesacker. Vito Mannone takes the free kick.

53:31

Peter Crouch takes a shot. Blocked by Per Mertesacker.

51:31

Corner taken by Santi Cazorla from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Jonathan Walters. Santi Cazorla sends in a cross, Jermaine Pennant gets a block in.

50:35

Effort from the edge of the area by Yao Gervinho goes wide of the left-hand upright.

48:09

Jermaine Pennant crosses the ball, Vassiriki Diaby manages to make a clearance.

47:20

Jermaine Pennant fouled by Vassiriki Diaby, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Shawcross.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:23 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +0:51

Corner taken right-footed by Santi Cazorla, Ryan Shawcross makes a clearance.

45:00 +0:23

Santi Cazorla takes the inswinging corner, Ryan Shawcross manages to make a clearance.

42:28

Shot by Peter Crouch. Blocked by Thomas Vermaelen.

40:40

Inswinging corner taken by Santi Cazorla from the left by-line played to the near post.

40:22

Centre by Michael Kightly, Thomas Vermaelen makes a clearance.

40:12

Geoff Cameron sends in a cross, clearance by Per Mertesacker.

35:45

Lukas Podolski gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine Pennant. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jermaine Pennant, clearance made by Olivier Giroud.

34:30

Corner taken right-footed by Santi Cazorla from the left by-line, Olivier Giroud concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc Wilson. Direct free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.

34:05

Santi Cazorla takes a shot. Asmir Begovic makes a fantastic save.

31:57

Santi Cazorla produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.

31:06

Marc Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Santi Cazorla. Direct free kick taken by Mikel Arteta.

28:53

Michael Kightly takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Vito Mannone makes a comfortable save.

26:35

Shot by Andy Wilkinson. Vito Mannone makes a comfortable save.

24:43

Shot from just outside the box by Lukas Podolski goes over the target.

22:45

Santi Cazorla takes a shot. Asmir Begovic makes a comfortable save.

20:29

Centre by Kieran Gibbs.

18:39

Peter Crouch is adjudged to have handled the ball. Per Mertesacker takes the free kick.

18:05

Mikel Arteta concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Walters. Direct free kick taken by Marc Wilson.

15:36

Shot on goal comes in from Santi Cazorla from the free kick. Santi Cazorla has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

15:36 Booking

Booking Booking for Robert Huth.

15:30

Olivier Giroud fouled by Robert Huth, the ref awards a free kick.

14:41

The referee blows for offside against Jonathan Walters. Thomas Vermaelen restarts play with the free kick.

13:52

Olivier Giroud delivers the ball.

11:11

Lukas Podolski is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Asmir Begovic.

8:26

Inswinging corner taken by Santi Cazorla.

8:10

Lukas Podolski has an effort at goal from 12 yards. Blocked by Andy Wilkinson.

6:29

The referee blows for offside against Jonathan Walters. Vito Mannone takes the free kick.

5:59

The ball is sent over by Michael Kightly, clearance made by Per Mertesacker.

1:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Wilkinson on Santi Cazorla. Mikel Arteta takes the free kick.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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