Stoke 1-4 Arsenal: Premier League - as it happened

That is all we have time for on this Premier League live blog. We're back tomorrow with coverage of three more games including Crystal Palace vs Hull City at the bottom, and Tottenham against Manchester United in the final day at White Hart Lane. But until then it's goodbye.

Full time: Stoke 1-4 Arsenal

The race for the Champions League places will go until the final week of the season after Arsenal beat Stoke for the first time since 2010 in the Premier League. Olivier Giroud scored twice, while an injured Alexis Sanchez netted one and laid on another for Mesut Ozil. Peter Crouch provided the game's major flashpoint with a Stoke goal which he punched into the net, but in the end it proved irrelevant.

Olivier Giroud slides in to claim Arsenal's fourth.

Peter Crouch could be off. Having punch Stoke back into the game after coming on he is booked for an aggressive challenge in his own half, and is subsequently booked.

Arsenal's goal difference is now +29, level with Liverpool, with a game in hand - which could prove crucial come the final day. Petr Cech keeps arsenal level with a fine save to keep out Arnautovic.

Alexis Sanchez fires home a vital goal for Arsenal's top four hopes.

GOAL! Stoke 1-4 Arsenal (Olivier Giroud)

Arsenal's first Premier League win at Stoke since 2010 is secure. Aaron Ramsey hustles and harries Glen Johnson into a mistake and he crosses brilliantly for Giroud to slides in to make it four. Fine goal to secure a vital win.

Peter Crouch pulls one back for Stoke by scoring with his hand.

Sanchez is now replaced his match-winning intervention. Only he could have done such a thing.

GOAL! Stoke 1-3 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)

Unbelievable. Arsenal are readying to replace Alexis Sanchez but in the time it takes to get Aaron Ramsey prepared to come on he scores a third goal which surely secures the points. The Chilean picks up possession, drives into the box and first, via a deflection, past Butland.

Stokes fans have been roused by the Crouch goal, regardless of how it has come and their team has responded. Alexis Sanchez is injured meanwhile and is going off. Is Arsenal's top four challenge going to unravel here?

GOAL! Stoke 1-2 Arsenal (Peter Crouch)

Stoke back in front but controversy will reign if they get anything from this game. Arnautovic is the provider again and he crosses on a plate for Crouch who knocks the ball in. But replay show he has fisted the ball beyond Petr Cech and into the back of the net. It is a huge Maradona effort from the ex-England striker. Pretty shameful you have to say.

Mesut Ozil thumps Arsenal into a comfortable two-goal lead.

Better from Stoke, who threaten from a succession of corners. Martins Indi heads on and Petr Cech turns the ball over.

How have Stoke not scored? Arnatovic skins Holding and his cross, though just behind Diouf, is headed behind by the Senegal international. Peter Crouch on the for the hosts, as is Saido Berahino. Thirty minutes to go.

Alexis Sanchez's best season in an Arsenal shirt continues.

GOAL! Stoke 0-2 Arsenal (Mesut Ozil)

Still 35 minutes to go but you have to feel that the points are safe for Arsena. Alexis Sanchez threads a 20 yards pass between three Stoke defenders into the path of Ozil and he slots beyond Butland for his eighth league goal of the campaign.

Olivier Giroud celebrates putting Arsenal ahead.

Back underway at the Bet365 Stadium. Stoke were booed off at half time. Can they improve?

Half time: Stoke 0-1 Arsenal

Pretty easy for Arsenal who are taking advantage of another side already on their holidays. Olivier Giroud netted the only goal and unless Stoke waken from their slumber that should be enough for the points. The Gunners could do with adding a few more however, to help ease the goal difference gap.

GOAL! Stoke 0-1 Arsenal (Olivier Giroud)

It has been coming and Arsenal have a crucial goal in the top four race. Sanchez plays through Bellerin and the Spaniard keeps his cool, playing the ball across the six yard box where Giroud taps into an empty net.

Surely there is a better way to spend the money that this cost.

Arsenal still with all the pressure but little thrust has accompanied their display so far. They'll be content for the most part however, given how they have tended to fair in these kinds of games on the road this season.

Stoke coming more into the game but Mark Hughes is on his feet in the dugout and is not happy with the effort in the first 25 minutes. Arsenal have control but that opening goal is needed to convert their dominance.

AGAINST THE POST! Arsenal have been superb in this opening 17 minutes and they go within inches of taking the lead. A cross from the right goes all the way through and Monreal coming in nods against the upright with the loose ball failing to call to a visiting player.

Jack Butland with a brilliant save to keep the scores level. The England 'keeper has to extend himself to save from Mustafi after Ozil's corner.

Chance for Alexis Sanchez as he breaks in behind the Stoke back-four but as Butland comes out to smother he is flagged offside. Warning sign for the hosts.

A clear message from at least one Arsenal fan before kick-off.

Underway in the Potteries. Big afternoon for Arsenal.

Both teams are out at the Bet365 Stadium and we're nearly ready to go. A must win for Arsenal. A must win for Stoke too if they have any ambitions of a top half finish.

While Stoke and Arsenal battle for Premier League points, Fulham and Reading are scrapping just to be in the division next season. Their play-off semi-final first leg gets underway in a matter of minutes and I shall keep you updated as and when.

What is on the line for Stoke today? Mark Hughes' side may not be able to better their record points total of 54 which they achieved last term, but an eighth place finish is still within their grasp.

Mathematically, Stoke could still finish 17th in the table and there is a seismic difference in terms of prize money between a finish in the top and bottom halves. It could even prove to be the difference in the transfer market.

After a campaign riddled with errors, Arsenal cannot afford another slip-up as they chase down a Champions League place. Wenger's side must win their last three games and hope either Man City or Liverpool slip up before the end of the campaign. A top four place and the FA Cup; would that be enough for you Gunners fans?

Full time in the Premier League in the three 3pm kick-offs and Swansea City have taken another stride towards achieving survival with a win at Sunderland.

Bournemouth meanwhile have struck late to Burnley, while relegated Middlesbrough's trouble continue as they are beaten by Southampton.

All that follows Manchester city's narrow win over Leicester.

Here comes the Arsenal team news info-graphic which shows us all is ok with the world.

Four changes from the win at Southampton for the Gunners. Laurent Koscielny, Francis Coquelin, Hector Bellerin and Olivier Giroud come in; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs and Danny Welbeck drop out.

Arsenal: Cech; Holding, Mustafi, Koscielny; Bellerin, Coquelin, Xhaka, Monreal; Özil, Sanchez; Giroud.

Pieters drops to the bench where there is a return for Saido Berahino after illness. We are still awaiting the Arsenal team, somewhat curiously.

One change for the hosts from the draw with Bournemouth as Erik Pieters comes in for Marc Muniesa.

Stoke team is in with an hour to go until kick-off.

Arsenal's players have arrived at the ground they have won once at in the league since 1982.

Atmosphere building nicely in and around the Potteries.

Ibrahim Afellay and Stephen Ireland remain sidelined for Stoke, who have no new injury problems.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return after going off against Southampton. Laurent Koscielny missed the game on the south coast and is a doubt. Santi Cazorla is out.

Teams on the way from the Bet365 Stadium, but how do we expect both sides to line up?

With the Premier League title having been sown up and the battle to avoid relegation coming to a climax; pursuit of the top four and next season's Champions League looks like being the central narrative in the final week of the season. After Manchester City's win earlier, it is the turn of Arsenal to flex their muscle and put pressure on Liverpool and Manchester United.

The Gunners have to win their last three games to stand any chance of continuing Arsene Wenger's 100% record of qualifying for Europe's premier competition in each of his 20 seasons in charge. Stoke meanwhile have very little left to play for but a best Premier League finish of eighth is still within their grasp if they can arrest a run of form which has seen them win just one of their last nine games.

Team news and updates on the way ahead of the 5:30pm kick-off on the way.