Report: Stoke City 3-1 Arsenal
A brace by Fuller and Whitehead’s late strike condemned Arsenal to a humble exit out of the FA Cup on Sunday.
Stoke had done all the talking of a giant-killer prior to this tie.
Tony Pulis had called on his fans to get behind the team for a place in the fifth round of the cup while Ricardo Fuller declared his side were out to gun down Arsenal.
In truth, they lived up to their word.
Within 70 seconds after kick-off, Arsenal were picking the ball out of the net. Rory Delap’s very first long throw-in caused Fabianski and his defense a blood rush as Fuller headed home.
The fashion through which that goal came was a summary of how Arsenal showed up at the Britannia Stadium. The Gunners appeared flat and sluggish from defense to attack and every occasion where Delap delivered a throw-in was a heart-in-mouth moment.
Still, this Arsenal side, whether reshuffled with the likes of Fabinaski, Silvestre, Campbell, Coquelin, Eastmond and Emmanuel-Thomas or not, always had some character in their genes.
So it was encouraging and of little surprise when out of nothing, Arsenal were level two minutes before half-time.
Spurring the equalizer were two of their more accustomed faces in Fabregas and Denilson. The skipper laid off a free-kick to the Brazilian who fired one of his long-range stunners. This latest edition of Denilson’s thunderbolts was not the prettiest though, but his fizzling low shot somehow found its way through a crowded area and past an inattentive goalkeeper.
Like against Bolton in the midweek comeback, momentum was on Arsenal’s side heading into the break. They utilized it well in the second-half but Stoke were able to repel whatever resurgence Arsenal had in them which, in fact, was very little.
The closest Wenger’s men came to fully turning the tie on its head was a dangerous 25-yard drive from Fabregas which was parried over by Sorensen.
The manager sensed all his side needed was some direct and recognized threat now so the ‘still learning’ likes of Emmanuel-Thomas and Theo Walcott were sacrificed for Arshavin and Edaurdo while Wenger stiffened the muscle at right back with Ramsey making a surprise return from injury – after previously been ruled for three weeks – to replace Coquelin.
That triple substitution stated Arsenal’s intent of a match winner very clear but the hosts had their own agenda. That would be an FA Cup upset, and when Sidibe charged onto the right flank and slid in a cross, Arsenal were alerted.
Campbell and Coquelin were unable to deal with it, and Fuller guided home his second. The visitors were desperate again but with time running down on the clock, their fight back was put to a stop as Whitehead capitalized on another teasing cross.
Arsenal were finsihed in the FA Cup for this season.
I don’t think we should feel too bad about this. The line-up featured 9 changes, a clear indication of the FA Cup’s priority to Arsene. Was a good win for Stoke, and at least we didn’t suffer any further injuries.
I expected AW to throw this game, and when I saw the teamsheet I knew we wouldn’t win.
So I will not waste my time discussing individual player mistakes or a lack of ability.
I understand why Wenger threw the game, but what bothers me is that AW should know better than anyone that we are a confidence team.
Unbeaten since December, top of the league for the first time since August and a tough run of games coming up.
Tricky trip to Stoke, who, in fairness, do not offer anything than a long throw and some brusing challenges.
Rest a few players – sure… but to chop the team up so much that you are handing 1st starts of the season to 3-4 players, playing 2 or 4 others that are either back from injury or haven’t played for at least a month and then sticking our most important player into the mix so he can get sythed down and risk picking up an injury is madness.
Utter utter madness and I blame AW wholeheartedly for the manner of the defeat.
40 million pounds in the bank, and unable to build a squad capable of challenging on 3 fronts?
Pathetic.
BUT – and it’s a huge but, If we now go on to win the league or ECL then, AW made the right decision.
However, through his lack of willingness to spend resulting in the shambles of a team we put out today, AW has only served to back himself into an even tighter corner – failure to win either the league or ECL and he has no choice but to move on at the end of the season.
If Mr Wenger makes excuses for Flapianski AGAIN after this latest horror show I’ll be very disappointed. To be fair Stoke were worth the win over a very inexperienced Arsenal line-up, but I was disapointed how we conceded 2 with the big boys on near the end.
Chance missed for me.
Please, let’s learn from this and sell Flapianski and buy a proven World Class keeper to replace Manuel the clown!
@ Topcat
Get a life man.
Our squad is too big as it is; Arsene made the right decision and trophy or not, I will not be condeming him come May, albeit with the benefit of hind sight.
It was never a guarantee that we’ll be lifting the FA cup and EPL takes precedence over that competition.
I would’ve been more worried if most of our 1st team players were involved.
Support ManU if the pain of missing out on a trophy is too much to bear.
Oh, plus anyone noticed since Bob Wilson
left all our keepers have been crap??
Without a doubt,it was a dissapointing loss today,and we may well come to regret having taken this gamble at the end of the season.While i understand the reasoning behind resting the first team players,the team which we put out today had little chance against the burly and aggresive Stoke City team.The mix or balance was just not right and the professor must take full blame for this.But,there are individual players who must also share the blame,particularly,Fabianski and Silvestre.They were pathetic.I know the calls for reinforcements will only get louder now,but we have to careful and take note that two of the goals scored by Stoke City,were scored when we had reinforced the team on the field today.All i am saying is that reinforcements by itself does not GUARANTEE success.Sure we could do with one or two additional players,but we should not assume that it will bring instant success.In any event,just who or where would we find the quality players who would be readily available and at reasonable prices.I am sure Mr.Wenger and his scouts have been out there searching for months,and if they have not made any purchases yet,it is not because they don’t want to,or don’t have the funds to do so.Good quality players are not layiny around on supermarket shelves.If any good is to come out of today’s defeat,it must be the fact that we can now fully concentrate of efforts on the two remaining,and may i say,most important competitions,that we are challenging for,the EPL and Champions league.I think we have a reasonably good chance of taking one of these.What do you think ?
After this match, I believe Vito Mannone will have a great chance to overtake Fabianski
Arsenal have the worst group of GoalKeepers in the league. Almunia and Fabianski are both shit. Spend the money on a good keeper AW or we won’t win a thing.
if we cannot beat teams like stoke, what makes you think we will win the CL or the EPL. No fucking chance under the coaching clown
team of weak midgets are useless. we need to get rid of the damm frog fast. we have no chance in the next games
the big game this season will be aginst spurs. i see a whipping by the scum comming, and then i hope people will get their heads out arsene wengerholes ass
I hate f_ing Spurs fans pretending to be Gooners! You should be shot! In the head!
we could of had given and dunne for 6million, what a steal that would of been, but no the professor found out they drink guinness on a night out
lol ye the spurs game is HUGE! ye right. you are definately a spurs fan. incase you haven’t noticed stoke are the real deal. a premier league that will not be involved in a relegation scrap. they are excellent at home and outside of the big 6 or 7 teams, its the hardest place to go in the pl. no team could make that many changes and expect to win at stoke.
I love all the so called fans. AW played his team and you can’t blame him for that. The youngsters let him down. He has put a lot of faith in them by not buying anyone and telling them they have a chance, they just need to prove it. Hopefully this taste will last in their mouths for a bit and the regulars will take it out on Villa, Chelsea, Maure and Pool.
We will be fine.
Stoke deserved the win today, bottom point and not because Fuller is my fellow Jamaican.
Unlike a lot of persons, I am not condemning AW’s choice of players to play the FA cup, nor am I saying I totally agreed, but, AW is the boss and he makes the choice!
With all of that said, it’s more than evident that we need serious re-enforcement, especially when we have players who are so prone to injury. Personally, I think Mannone needs to be promoted to at least 2nd rank; I was impressed in his last few starts. Our reserves also need to prove their worth and be able to step up to the plate at any given time.
Premiership & UEFA hopes still alive, right?
One Love!