The Arsenal fans didn’t seem too happy with the decision to pick Walcott ahead of Giroud for this game, but Wenger will feel vindicated by a first-half display that saw the England forward heavily involved throughout.
It was his goal that set Arsenal up for the win, while his pace and movement in the box caused plenty of problems for the Stoke defence all afternoon. Giroud showed what he brings in his late cameo off the bench, and his fans will point to Walcott’s missed header and Giroud’s goal as the reason why he should return to the starting line-up.
But it seems to be working right now for Arsenal, so why change?