Jon Walters and Marko Arnautovic are strikers masquerading as wide men. Walters bring industry but falls short in technical ability, while Arnautovic has all the technical ability but does not have the engine nor mind to play wide. Hazard might have been unplayable anyway, but no doubt Stoke's Geoff Cameron would have appreciated some help. Walters is fine as a stop gap, although a Premier League team should not be so reliant on someone who is a grinder. Arnautovic, however, shows some flashes of talent but this often happens so deep that it rarely causes real concern to the opposition. One example in the second half saw the Austrian burst past three opponents before running out of steam as he approached the penalty box. Oussama Assaidi came off the bench and offers a true threat from the wings (no doubt he was being saved for Wednesday's crucial game at Sunderland) but when Jermaine Pennant was released last week it only confirmed Stoke's problems on the flanks. The imminent signing of Peter Odemwingie may or may not provide a solution.
