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Stoke 3 - 1 Arsenal
Fuller was too hot to handle for Arsenal
By Ian Hughes
Ricardo Fuller struck twice to help send Stoke through to the FA Cup fifth round and ruin Sol Campbell's first game back at Arsenal.
Fuller headed home Rory Delap's long throw inside two minutes and he was unlucky not to win a penalty when caught by Mikael Silvestre soon after.
Arsenal equalised when Denilson's low drive went in via a deflection.
But Fuller headed in Mamady Sidibe's cross to make it 2-1 and Dean Whitehead slotted home a third to seal the win.
It was no more than Stoke deserved as they produced the better moments in a scrappy match, although it was not until the final quarter that they could exert their authority against a virtual Arsenal youth team.
Aside from captain Cesc Fabregas, Silvestre and Campbell - back in Arsenal colours for the first time since the 2006 Champions League final - the Gunners line-up lacked experience.
606: DEBATE
The second half was one of the best performances by Stoke I have ever seen
sgtpotter89akaTheIncredibleSulk
And that was to prove their undoing as Stoke raised the tempo at a crucial time in the match and ran away with the tie after producing a devastating last 20 minutes.
Stoke's late dominance served as a harsh reintroduction to top-level football for 35-year-old centre-back Campbell.
The former England centre-back spent five years at Arsenal from 2001 but his only previous first-team action this season was in a 2-1 defeat at Morecambe during his one-game spell with Notts County.
The result also raises questions about manager Arsene Wenger's decision to rest players and trust in youth.
The Frenchman did bring on the big guns in Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin, as well as Aaron Ramsey, on 67 minutes but ironically it was after those changes that Stoke took control.
The home side had taken the lead after only 70 seconds when Fuller ghosted past the Arsenal defence and got to Delap's throw-in ahead of Lukasz Fabianski to head in.
And Stoke had the better of things for a while after as Arsenal struggled to gel, with young right-back Francis Coquelin, particularly, looking overawed.
Fuller should have won a penalty when caught by Silvestre but the striker stayed on his feet and his honesty cost him.
Other chances were at a premium and slowly Arsenal worked their way into the game.
They got their equaliser thanks to some good fortune, first when awarded a free-kick for a handball by Whitehead and then when Denilson's shot from the set-piece was deflected in.
After the break, Fabregas went close with a fizzing drive, while Stoke took the aerial route and bombarded a shaky-looking Fabianski.
Then twice in succession, Stoke threatened by mixing it up with low crosses that just needed a final touch.
Perhaps sensing a chance to change the game and snatch a victory Wenger made a triple change.
It did have the effect of ensuring there would be no replay but not in the way the Gunner boss intended, for it was Stoke who suddenly went through the gears.
Sidibe made a strong run down the right flank before sending over an inviting cross that Fuller thumped home.
Eight minutes later Stoke had sealed their progress to the next round as Etherington picked out Whitehead with a low cross and the midfielder coolly slotted in.
There was even time for Stoke to have a goal correctly disallowed as Tuncay clearly handled before finishing.
But Stoke had already done enough to march on in a competition that is now devoid of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Fuller was too hot to handle for ArsenalBy Ian Hughes
Ricardo Fuller struck twice to help send Stoke through to the FA Cup fifth round and ruin Sol Campbell's first game back at Arsenal.
Fuller headed home Rory Delap's long throw inside two minutes and he was unlucky not to win a penalty when caught by Mikael Silvestre soon after.
Arsenal equalised when Denilson's low drive went in via a deflection.
But Fuller headed in Mamady Sidibe's cross to make it 2-1 and Dean Whitehead slotted home a third to seal the win.
It was no more than Stoke deserved as they produced the better moments in a scrappy match, although it was not until the final quarter that they could exert their authority against a virtual Arsenal youth team.
Aside from captain Cesc Fabregas, Silvestre and Campbell - back in Arsenal colours for the first time since the 2006 Champions League final - the Gunners line-up lacked experience.
606: DEBATE The second half was one of the best performances by Stoke I have ever seen
sgtpotter89akaTheIncredibleSulk
And that was to prove their undoing as Stoke raised the tempo at a crucial time in the match and ran away with the tie after producing a devastating last 20 minutes.
Stoke's late dominance served as a harsh reintroduction to top-level football for 35-year-old centre-back Campbell.
The former England centre-back spent five years at Arsenal from 2001 but his only previous first-team action this season was in a 2-1 defeat at Morecambe during his one-game spell with Notts County.
The result also raises questions about manager Arsene Wenger's decision to rest players and trust in youth.
The Frenchman did bring on the big guns in Eduardo and Andrey Arshavin, as well as Aaron Ramsey, on 67 minutes but ironically it was after those changes that Stoke took control.
The home side had taken the lead after only 70 seconds when Fuller ghosted past the Arsenal defence and got to Delap's throw-in ahead of Lukasz Fabianski to head in.
And Stoke had the better of things for a while after as Arsenal struggled to gel, with young right-back Francis Coquelin, particularly, looking overawed.
Fuller should have won a penalty when caught by Silvestre but the striker stayed on his feet and his honesty cost him.
Other chances were at a premium and slowly Arsenal worked their way into the game.
They got their equaliser thanks to some good fortune, first when awarded a free-kick for a handball by Whitehead and then when Denilson's shot from the set-piece was deflected in.
After the break, Fabregas went close with a fizzing drive, while Stoke took the aerial route and bombarded a shaky-looking Fabianski.
Then twice in succession, Stoke threatened by mixing it up with low crosses that just needed a final touch.
Perhaps sensing a chance to change the game and snatch a victory Wenger made a triple change.
It did have the effect of ensuring there would be no replay but not in the way the Gunner boss intended, for it was Stoke who suddenly went through the gears.
Sidibe made a strong run down the right flank before sending over an inviting cross that Fuller thumped home.
Eight minutes later Stoke had sealed their progress to the next round as Etherington picked out Whitehead with a low cross and the midfielder coolly slotted in.
There was even time for Stoke to have a goal correctly disallowed as Tuncay clearly handled before finishing.
But Stoke had already done enough to march on in a competition that is now devoid of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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