Jese Rodriguez struck a superb debut winner as Stoke held on for a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Premier League.
The former Real Madrid forward, who joined the Potters on a season-long loan from Paris St Germain this week, struck the only goal of the game after 47 minutes at the newly-expanded bet365 Stadium.
The Spaniard carried the ball forward from inside his own half, exchanged passes with Saido Berahino - an early replacement for the injured Xherdan Shaqiri - and beat Cech with a low shot across goal.
Arsenal were aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty in the first half and Alexandre Lacazette had an effort ruled out for offside among a host of other chances created by the visitors.
Jack Butland was also impressive in the home goal as Stoke claimed their first points of the season but Arsene Wenger's side will wonder how they came away with nothing.
The Gunners controlled a lot of the game and the likes of Aaron Ramsey - who received his usual booing treatment from the Stoke fans - and Granit Xhaka shone in midfield.
Arsenal had a deliberate ploy to chip the ball over the Stoke defence and it created a few openings.
Diouf was lucky not to concede a penalty when Arsenal tried this mode of attack again and he appeared to bring down Hector Bellerin. Referee Andre Marriner gave only a corner.
Danny Welbeck also got behind the defence from a clever dinked ball but Butland denied him.
Welbeck had opportunities at the other end but first mistimed a header and then failed to get a clean shot away under pressure from defenders before Ozil had an attempt blocked.
Wenger's men pressed on - annoying Stoke by not putting the ball out after Erik Pieters went down injured - but the hosts stood firm.
See the table as it stands and all the scores from around the grounds HERE .Arsene Wenger reacts
Arsene Wenger was not happy.
Here he is talking to the BBC.
“It’s a difficult defeat to swallow. We had chances - we should have won the game comfortably.
“We were unlucky. I think we scored a regular goal that was given offside and it wasn’t offside.
“It was frustrating getting caught cold for the goal. Defensively there is no excuse. We gave them a cheap goal.
“It was difficult to get the fluency. We tried but we couldn’t find the goal. There was lack of anticipation in the box with the second ball.
“To lose a game like that is disappointing You don’t want to lose games that you should win.”
Jese reacts
Dream debut time for Jese.
Here he is talking to BT Sport:
“Yes, yes. Coming here from Spain I realise the Premier League is tough and it’s great to get the first win of the season.
“Nothing comes easy in football. Stoke are a historic club and I’m really looking forward to getting involved with the lads.
“It’s a great opportunity for me. They’ve got a lot of great players.”
Mark Hughes reacts
Mark Hughes is very happy with the result.
Here he is talking to the BBC:
“That was a big result for us. A huge amount of work was put in by the guys and you have to do that against a quality side like Arsenal. They’re intelligent, quick, strong. You have to dig in at times and that’s what we did.
“We struggled to play the amount of football as we wanted to. That’s a credit to Arsenal.
“Everyone knew what an acquisition Jese is. He’s a game-changer. You have to say he put a shift in too.
“When you think about it, he only had two or three training sessions. If that’s what’s to come then we’ll be delighted. He’s an elite player and can carry the fight for you.
“The lads around him helped him through it. It’s a great learning curve for him.”
Arsenal's dismal day
This has not been a good Arsenal performance.
The goal they conceded was poor and they have not attacked strongly.
They did have the ball in the net earlier, but Lacazette was adjudged offside.
Jese's goal
You’ve seen the celebration.
Now feat your eyes on this finish.
Beautiful.
Doh!
Ignore Jese’s celebration and glance to the top left of this picture.
If there is a way to celebrate a goal against Arsenal that is probably not it.
Hopefully he is OK!
GOOAAALLLL Stoke 1-0 Arsenal (Jese)
What a way to announce yourself to your new club!
The hosts have deserved that.
Jese a deserving goal scorer as well - he’s been the star so far.
That wasn’t very good was it?
A couple of weak chances at both ends but a lot of cancelling each other out.
Big second half in store.
Can he do it on a Saturday night in Stoke?
Alexandre Lacazette is getting his first run out on the road in England.
Stoke is not quite as glamorous as Nice in May.
The Frenchman is holding his own up front but hasn’t had a good chance to trouble the scorers.
Manager watch
Arsene Wenger and Mark Hughes are in the dug out this evening.
Both are looking rather nervous on the side.
Both also looking smart in their suits.
Early action
Lively start, with both sides looking well up for this.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is fighting for a new Arsenal contract and has began strongly.
Here he is shrugging off a tackle.
Petr Cech warms up
Petr Cech is out going through his pre-game warm up.
The keeper will be hoping to be slightly less busy this weekend.
Last time he was forced to collect the ball from the back of the net three times in a 4-3 win over Leicester.
Stoke team news
Jese Rodriguez makes his debut.
Arsenal team news
No Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal.
Storm a brewing at Stoke
I was about to send a message about how picturesque the bet365 Stadium looks, albeit under the clouds.
But then I noticed Football.London man Charles Watts’ tweet!
There appears to be a downpour on the way to the Potteries.
Take your umbrella and coat!
Ryan Shawcross arrives
Ryan Shawcross is never a popular man with Arsenal fans.
The defender is regularly booed for breaking Aaron Ramsey’s leg.
He’ll be hoping to get one over the booboys today.
Here he is signing his autograph for Stoke fans.
Arsenal will face a traditionally tough trip to Stoke on Saturday but in Sead Kolasinac, manager Arsene Wenger believes he has the perfect man to deal with the situation.
The Gunners travel to the Bet365 Stadium to continue a rivalry which developed as a clash of two sides with a different approach to the game after Stoke’s promotion to the top flight.
The ill-feeling only intensified after a Ryan Shawcross tackle on Aaron Ramsey in 2010 left the midfielder with a double leg fracture.
While Wenger’s Arsenal continue to play in a similar fashion, Mark Hughes has been tasked with altering the Stoke approach.
That meant less of an in-your-face battle for Arsenal and this was borne out with a 4-1 win for the visitors in this corresponding fixture last season, their first victory in the Potteries since that game in February 2010.
But if the going does get rough for the FA Cup holders on Saturday, Wenger has backed new-boy Kolasinac to handle the pressure.
“He has started well,” Wenger said of the summer arrival from Schalke. “Maybe he is the strongest, he is naturally strong. He uses quite well the strength of his body without violence and when he intervenes it doesn’t look to be a foul, he just uses his body strength.”