Jan

Stoke City still able to give Arsenal a bloody nose

“They don’t like it up ‘em” in the FA Cup

In recent weeks, Arsenal have been looking like the Arsenal of old. A win at the Reebok Stadium and then a tremendous fight-back at home to Bolton indicated that Arsene Wenger’s team had rediscovered their backbone.

Arsenal definitely had a weakened team out, so it is not as if it was a major upset but when it has been so long since their last triumph, Gooners fans will be disappointed at their Britannia Stadium exit.

Ricardo Fuller was quick off the block to fire the home side into a 2nd minute lead, with Rory Delap’s long throw striking fear into the Arsenal defence.

Arsenal play some amazing flowing football but they remain massively vulnerable when put under any amount of pressure and their failure to deal with this tactic saw them chasing the game from the start.

Stoke will consider themselves unlucky not have earned a penalty for a foul on Fuller, which Arsene Wenger may find ironic after his annoyance about his side not getting penalties and before half-time, Arsenal got themselves back on level terms.

Denilson’s shot was deflected home and Arsenal may have thought that much like the last round against West Ham, they would come from behind against Premier opposition.

Wenger brought on Eduardo and Ramsey in a double substitution in an attempt to win the tie but it seemed to galvanise Stoke City further and it wasn’t long before the home side struck again.

With 12 minutes to go, Ricardo Fuller was on hand to convert Sidibe’s cross and their passage was secured when Dean Whitehead calmly finished the tie.

Arsenal can now focus on their league push with games against all their major rivals in the next few weeks but this defeat will be a let down.

With Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal out, is the FA Cup open for a surprise winner?