Welcome to live text commentary of Arsenal's Premier League encounter with Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal would finish the night sixth in the table if the scores stay like this - but win the match and they would leapfrog Everton, who are losing to Villa.

Stoke do break into the Arsenal half, however - Shotton and then Walters with crosses, but Crouch at the far post remains isolated.

Goal attempts: Arsenal 9-5 Stoke. But that doesn't tell the story of quite how one-sided it's been.

GIROUD CLOSE! It's Wilshere who provides him with the chance, cutting the ball across goal - Giroud cannot get there and keep it down, but again, Stoke were undone.

Meantime Walcott is felled by Wilkinson off the ball. That looked crass, and it's something of a surprsie that the assistant didn't see it. Walcott appealed furiously to him to do something about it.

MONREAL! Lovely give and go from the Spaniard, who cuts to the byline and delivers a superb, teasing cross. Doesn't lead to a goal, but it was a superbly-judged run from the debutant.

The Gunners work the ball this way and that, waiting patiently 30 yards back for an opening.

We're starting the second half very much as we ended the first. Arsenal dominating possession, sniffing around for the opener. Stoke resisting well, however.

Arsenal have now failed to score in the first half of 13 of their 25 Premier League matches this season. (Infostrada)

Oxlade-Chamberlain turns past Shotton, then has to turn him again and then a third time as he looks for options in the box. Not to be, but Monreal does then force a corner.

Miscommunication from Sagna, who strokes the ball out to nobody in particular on the right and out for a throw in.

Arsenal would be 13th in the Premier League if all matches would end after the first half. They would be second though if looking only at the second half of the Premier League matches. (Infostrada)

Wilshere and Giroud kick off for Arsenal at the start of the second half!

What did you make of the first half? Will Arsenal come through to win in the second? Have your say with me on Twitter @Mark_Eurosport -

HALF TIME: Stoke hold on until the interval. They neutralised Arsenal for half an hour, then had to cling on and weather a storm as Arsenal clicked into gear. Oxlade-Chamberlain had the best two opportunities and Begovic denied him.

Huth shepherds out Arteta and wins a goal kick in what is likely to be the last action of the half.

Wilshere trying to take control of this game. He just looks a level above those around him at the moment.

Bandaged-up Walters continues. He can scarcely see out of the right eye, as it closes and as the bandages are a little too low down....

Walters still receiving treatment. The board says there'll be two minutes of stoppage time, but in all likelihood it will be more after this hold up.

Ouch - Monreal and Walters clash heads as the pair go for a header - it's the Stoke man who comes off worse and there's a lot of blood.

Stoke look to slow things down a bit. A couple of passes exchanged between Shawcross and Huth before the long ball forward.