Stoke punish sorry Gunners

Fuller and Olofinjana score for Potters, Clichy for Gunners

Last updated: 1st November 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Stoke punish sorry Gunners

Fuller: Scored opener

Man of Match: Ryan Shawcross. Was outstanding marshalling the Stoke defence, got first to the crosses into the Potters' box.

Moment of the match: Ricardo Fuller's opener for the Potters. Until that point the Gunners had been on the front-foot but his goal rattled the visitors and gave the home side the belief to go on and win.

Attempt of the match: Salif Diao's low shot from the edge of the box which took a slight deflection and looked like it was going into the bottom right-hand corner but Manuel Almunia pulled off a fantastic save to push it out for a corner.

Save of the match: As above - Almunia's great save from Diao.

Talking point: Has this defeat - coupled with the draw against Spurs in midweek - put paid to Arsenal's title hopes already?


Goal of the game: None of the goals were classics but Fuller's was the best from the Delap throw-in as he got to the ball before Kolo Toure to score.

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Stoke recorded a famous and deserved victory over Arsenal at the Britannia on Saturday after the Gunners failed to deal with Rory Delap's throw-ins.

Ricardo Fuller put the Potters ahead on 11 minutes after outjumping Kolo Toure to a Delap throw-in and flicking the ball in.

The Potters then doubled their advantage on 73 minutes when a Delap throw-in was helped on by the outstanding Ryan Shawcross to Seyi Olofinjana who chested the ball in.

Arsenal's afternoon went from bad to worse as substitute Robin Van Persie was deservedly sent off for a stupid challenge on Thomas Sorensen, before fellow substitute Theo Walcott had to be stretchered off through injury, while Emmanuel Adebayor also went off hurt.

Wenger had been expected to make a decisive selection following the debacle against Spurs, where his side shipped two goals in the dying seconds.

He did not disappoint. Toure was restored to both the starting XI and captaincy duties in place of the injured William Gallas, while Walcott, Samir Nasri and Van Persie gave way for the more robust Alex Song, Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner.

A typically patient Arsenal move in the fourth minute presented Cesc Fabregas with an early chance to try his luck, but the Spaniard's attempt was scuffed wide of the post.

The visitors continued to pour forward, with full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy finding acres of space on the flanks.

But Stoke held firm, clearing a handful of early crosses.

First goal

After 10 minutes, good interplay between Fuller and Mamady Sidibe handed Delap a first chance to cause havoc and he duly obliged.

The midfielder's throw, as it has so often this term, arrowed wickedly towards the far post where Fuller got the better of Toure to glance home from close range.

Wenger, already unimpressed by his side's generosity in the North London derby, stalked the touchline furiously.

Delap again caused problems after 20 minutes, looping a header goalwards after a mis-hit punch from Manuel Almunia.

Only a Clichy clearance off the line kept the score at 1-0 as the Gunners' defence started to wilt under examination.

Arsenal then did not cope considerably better with another Delap throw, this time surviving a goalmouth scramble more through luck than good judgement.

Toure was, at least, doing a more visible job of rallying the Arsenal troops than the ineffectual Gallas in midweek.

But, for all his fist-pumping and shouting, the best his side could muster in response was a quick turn and shot from Adebayor which failed to trouble Sorensen.

Delap was enjoying the limelight and showed another side of his game when tracking back 30 yards to rob Fabregas as he lined up a shot on the edge of the box.

Arsenal were starting to find their feet going forward but it was the unlikely figure of Griffin who showed the first half's fanciest footwork, leaving Bendtner for dead with a deft turn that delighted the home fans.

Second-half

Wenger resisted the temptation to go to his star-studded bench at the interval and his side responded by starting in a more settled fashion.

But with time on Stoke's side, something more drastic was required and Walcott was duly summoned to warm-up.

His 57th-minute introduction, for the injured Sagna, gave Arsenal a more attacking shape and three minutes later Adebayor volleyed over from close range having met a Fabregas corner.

Van Persie was next to get the call, arriving in the 64th minute in place of the anonymous Denilson.

But, predictably, it was a Delap throw that gave rise to the next scoring opportunity, Almunia making a sharp save after Salif Diao's deflected drive looked to be heading for the net.

Olofinjana then made it two for Stoke, but again Delap was the central figure. It was another long, lofted throw into the area and another Stoke goal as Shawcross nodded on to Olofinjana, who bundled the ball past Almunia via two touches off his chest.

Van Persie added to Wenger's woes when he petulantly charged at Sorensen, knocking him into the net and earning a red card for his trouble.

Clichy made it 2-1 in the closing seconds with a twice-deflected shot - but it was not enough and a bad day got worse as Adebayor and Walcott left the pitch in considerable pain, the latter with his left arm in a sling.

Stoke CityTeam StatisticsArsenal
2Goals1
11st Half Goals0
3Shots on Target4
2Shots off Target8
4Blocked Shots2
3Corners5
12Fouls8
3Offsides0
4Yellow Cards2
0Red Cards1
59.8Passing Success81.8
31Tackles20
77.4Tackles Success85
27.6Possession72.4
38.4Territorial Advantage61.6
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Comments (4)

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Glad Ngwira (Arsenal fan) says...

This should be a good lesson to Wenger for not buying experienced players.Buying young and skilful players si not enough.let us face the reality the team is not doing well bcoz of Wenger's unlistening ear.He was told in the summer that the needs players who can compete at that level not neccessarily.Perhaps its high time someone stepped in his shoes othrewise its a shame.

Posted 05:46 3rd November 2008

Mike Simmonds (Arsenal fan) says...

After the midweek draw with Spurs, Arsne Wenger admitted the side lack maturity. It was inevitable Stoke would score via a Rory Delap throw in as they are just the new Wimbledon. And in the same way we are becoming the new West Ham: Great Academy but not strong enough to win anything. We need to recongnise that a belnd of youth and quality exerience is what would win.

Posted 22:54 2nd November 2008

Kevin Dunn (Arsenal fan) says...

Let's be realistic ... the points we've dropped have probably put paid to the title... but we haven't suddenly become a bad side. There seems to be a confidence problem which stems from the spine of the team being weaker than it should be ... central defence and holding midfield needs sorting out very quickly or our European chances will soon disappear the same way.

Posted 11:15 2nd November 2008

Derick Francis (Arsenal fan) says...

Arsenal play the best football in the premier but that wont be enough. Thier defence is appalling for a side who should be challenging for the title. Spurs should never have come back to draw. Arsenal have little chance in Europe too. This is a shame.The team needs some steel to winand Arsnal are lacking in that department Im afaid.

Posted 02:36 2nd November 2008
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