Source: Team_Talk
Powerful Potters punish Gunners
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger brought in several youngsters for the fourth-round tie, but the inclusion of Campbell was the most notable selection.[LNB]Despite the presence of the former England centre-back, the Gunners were over-powered by Stoke's physical game.[LNB]Ricardo Fuller scored two headers, one in each half, while Dean Whitehead set the seal on a great day for the Potteries club.[LNB]Campbell, 35, was making his first appearance for Arsenal since scoring in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona in Paris.[LNB]His comeback, after spells at Portsmouth and Notts County, came in a much-changed line-up, which featured teenagers Francis Coquelin, Craig Eastmond and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.[LNB]Wenger included only Cesc Fabregas and Denilson from the side that beat Bolton in midweek to briefly go top of the Premier League.[LNB]Stoke, who are on the brink of clinching the signing of England goalkeeper David James, brought in Danny Collins, Glenn Whelan and Fuller.[LNB]And they could hardly have got off to a better start, taking the lead after a minute and 11 seconds when their famed long-throw tactic paid off.[LNB]Rory Delap's effort arrowed into the box, bypassing Campbell at the near post, for Fuller to power a header home as Lukasz Fabianski failed to get there first with his punch.[LNB]Arsenal struggled against Stoke's tenacious play, being quickly harassed into mistakes and losing possession.[LNB]For a spell, every Stoke set-piece was a problem, while Arsenal's attacking play produced little of substance.[LNB]Fuller's run on the right past Armand Traore created a good opening for Mamady Sidibe after 25 minutes, but he mis-hit a hooked shot from 12 yards out.[LNB]Wandsworth-born Eastmond, starting only his second first-team game, was slowly growing into the game with good positioning and effective passing from a holding role, and steadily Arsenal began to impose their passing game.[LNB]One late Ryan Shawcross tackle into Fabregas' skins deserved more than just the free-kick referee Martin Atkinson awarded, and the Arsenal captain clearly made his feeling felt to the Stoke defender.[LNB]Stoke might have had a penalty when Denilson caught Fuller late in the box, but referee Atkinson waved away appeals.[LNB]But three minutes before the break, Arsenal were level. Fabregas' short free-kick square to Denilson caught Stoke napping. It resulted in a low drive that clipped two defenders before flashing past Thomas Sorensen into the bottom corner.[LNB]The Danish goalkeeper, who has been in discussions with boss Tony Pulis over his future ahead of James' imminent arrival, could have done more to keep the ball out.[LNB]Arsenal should have made a greater impact after equalising, but they were being constantly pushed back.[LNB]And it took a brave interception from Coquelin, a yard out, to stop Matthew Etherington from scoring on the far post after 64 minutes.[LNB]Then Delap missed his connection in the six-yard box after another Etherington run and cross.[LNB]Arsenal then threw on the big guns, with Andrey Arshavin, Eduardo and Aaron Ramsey replacing Emmanuel-Thomas, Theo Walcott and Coquelin in the 70th minute.[LNB]The new faces made an initial difference, with quick passing moves that stretched Stoke's defence.[LNB]But Stoke responded with greater resilience, and were back in front after 78 minutes.[LNB]Sidibe surged down the right and fired over a cross that evaded Campbell and was headed home by a gleeful Fuller as the home support erupted.[LNB]Stoke sent on Tuncay and Salif Diao for Fuller and Delap, and grabbed their third after 85 minutes when Dean Whitehead finished off more good work from wideman Etherington.[LNB]Danny Pugh came on for Etherington in stoppage-time, as the Stoke fans took great delight in taunting the beaten Gunners.[LNB][LNB]
