We suffered our first defeat of the season as Stoke debutant Jese scored the only goal of the game, right at the start of the second half.
Our first away game of the campaign was at the same venue as the last away game of last season, but we were unable to repeat May's victory, despite dominating the second half.
Stoke City took the lead when their new Spanish winger Jese scored 90 seconds after the restart, tucking home Saido Berahino's through ball inside the area.
We enjoyed more than 80 per cent of possession from that point on, but were unable to find a way past Jack Butland.
Alexandre Lacazette did have the ball in the net with 20 minutes to go, only to be flagged offside when replays suggested he was level.
The first half was lively too, if unspectacular, with Danny Welbeck having our best chance. He latched onto a floated Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pass inside the area, and connected well with his volley, but Jack Butland parried the effort away for a corner.
Stoke's more measured approach was in contrast to their usual blood and thunder style, and Jese was looking lively on the left flank, frequently running at the Arsenal back three. One of those mazy runs ended in an excellent chance for Maxim Choup-Moting, but he fluffed his effort straight at Petr Cech.
Ryan Shawcross then headed over when completely unmarked, and at the other end Aaron Ramsey eluded his marker to meet Oxlade-Chamberlain's free-kick at the far post, but again Butland made the save.
We were caught cold at the start of the second half with Jese's strike, but continued to make chances of our own in the second period.
Hector Bellerin, Welbeck and Ramsey all had shots saved, while Giroud headed wide late on.
AS IT HAPPENED
WHAT IT MEANS
After the euphoria of the last-minute win over Leicester, we came back down to Earth, suffering our fifth Premier League defeat away to Stoke.
The result left the Premier League table looking like this at full-time:
WHAT'S NEXT
We travel to Anfield next Sunday evening, looking to kick-start our away campaign. Arsène Wenger has suggested Alexis Sanchez may be ready to return in that game, and his inventiveness and attacking spark would certainly have been welcome at Stoke.
CHANCES GO BEGGING
21 - Danny Welbeck volleys Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's lofted pass straight at Jack Butland.
30 - Aaron Ramsey ghosts in behind the Stoke defence to meet Oxlade-Chamberlain's deep free-kick, but Butland saves.
50 - Hector Bellerin bursts into the box, his shot lacks power, and Danny Welbeck's attempt on the rebound is bundled away
59 - Welbeck is alone in the area, and Mesut Ozil's cross is inch perfect, but Welbeck's header loops over the bar.
61 - Ramsey's left-footed shot in the stretch is easily held by Butland after good work from Shkodran Mustafi.
67 - Oliver Giroud flicks the ball through to Welbeck, who advances on goal but is crowded out by a combination of Stoke defenders and goalkeeper.
70 - Alexandre Lacazette's touch lets him down when he is teed up eight yards from goal by Oxlade-Chamberlain.
73 - Lacazette buries this chance, but is controversially flagged offside.
90 - Giroud's header goes just wide, after getting on the end of a deep left-wing cross.
Referee: Andre Marriner
Attendance: 29459
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