Stoke City 1-0 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points, Premier League 2017/18

4) Zouma stars at the back, Diouf not suited to a wing-back role

Kurt Zouma was Stoke City's best defender against Arsenal

Playing a back-three seems to be the name of the game in the Premier League now and even Hughes lined up Stoke City in a 3-4-2-1 formation to counter Arsenal. With Geoff Cameron, Ryan Shawcross and Kurt Zouma lining up at the back, he deployed Erik Pieters and Mame Diouf as the wing-backs on either side.

Chelsea loanee Zouma was undoubtedly one of the Potters' best players on the pitch. Wave after wave of Arsenal attacks were thwarted by the Stoke defence and Zouma was central to it all on the right side with Welbeck and Bellerin seeing a lot of the ball on that flank.

The 22-year-old Frenchman made 3 tackles (with a 100% success rate), 3 interceptions and 7 clearances in the game to cap off a memorable afternoon at the bet365 Stadium.

Kurt Zouma, who helped Stoke beat Arsenal today, is one of 62 (sixty-two) senior professional footballers currently contracted by Chelsea.

— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) August 19, 2017

However, playing Diuof as a right wing-back almost backfired for Hughes. He is a striker and not suited to the defensive duties tasked with a wing-back.

It became quickly apparent when Arsenal continually got in behind the the Senegalese player - which is why Zouma was called into action more than required.

While Diouf could make runs with the ball at his feet, he is at times unaware of where he needs to position himself when they do not have the ball.