Arsenal 0 Stoke 0: Theo Walcott believes Gunners 'should be proud of top spot in most exciting Premier League ever'

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League despite 0-0 draw with Stoke that Walcott believes was a 'positve result' at one of their toughest grounds to visit

Theo Walcott believes Arsenal should be proud of being top of the Premier League (Getty Images)

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott believes the club should be “proud” of their place at the top of the table in what he says is turning into the “most exciting Premier League ever”, and admits that the goalless draw at Stoke was a good result for the side.

The Gunners held on to take a point back with them down the M6 in a difficult fixture that had seen them take just one victory from their previous eight trips to the Britannia. It leaves the Gunners top of the Premier League on goal difference after overtaking Leicester, who had gone top following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, and keeps them out of the clutches of third-placed Manchester City and fourth-placed Tottenham.

Speaking after the match, Walcott admitted that the squad needed to look at the result as a point won and not two points lost, whereas the midweek 3-3 draw with Liverpool was more of a wasted opportunity given Arsenal conceded a 90th-minute equaliser.

"After the Liverpool game, we're looking back at that and there are two points dropped at Anfield,” Walcott said. “You always felt here it was going to be a tough match. All the big clubs that have come here have always struggled and they [Stoke] have managed to get a positive result. There were a few mixed emotions in there, to be honest, but it's probably a positive result reflecting back at the game.

"It shows how difficult this Premier League is. Results, you can't tell what's going to happen this year, it's just so tight. The amount of teams that could potentially win this league, it's probably going to be the most exciting Premier League for a neutral ever. No one can call it at this moment in time but we're top of the league and we can be proud of that at this moment in time.”

Both Arsenal and Stoke had chances to take all three points, but both Petr Cech and Jack Butland were in inspired form with the Stoke goalkeeper saving well from Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud twice to deny the Frenchman, while Cech kept Stoke’s talented front-line at bay.

The match saw a significant change from previous encounters between the two sides, given Stoke have ditched their physical approach for a more aesthetically pleasing style that has been possible due to the additions of the likes of Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri and Marko Arnautovic.

"We felt from the start physically we were up for the fight and the battle and tried to unease them,” Walcott added. “We managed to do that. It's a shame we couldn't get the result we desperately wanted but it's an improvement from previous performances here. We've got to be proud of that point.”

The England international was also keen to praise the effect of having Cech in the dressing room immediately after the match, with the experienced goalkeeper helping to lift the team and ensure they realised the importance of avoiding defeat at a stadium where Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have all come unstuck this season.

"The mental strength in this dressing room's the strongest it's ever been. When you have the likes of Petr Cech come into the dressing room as well he just enhances that.

Petr Cech took the plaudits for his performance as well as lifting the Arsenal side after the 0-0 draw with Stoke (Getty Images)

“He's a leader in that dressing room as well. He's lifted everybody's heads up in that dressing room today saying this is a very good point, no-one tends to win here. We've just got to look at him because he's obviously been at the top level and won many things. We all have the belief he's got that we can push on."