Source: Telegraph
Stoke 1 Arsenal 3: match report
Almost two years after Arsenal forward Eduardo suffered a broken leg in a challenge from Martin Taylor in Birmingham, Arsenal once again suffered a serious injury in the Midlands, this time Aaron Ramsey having to be stretchered off in the second half after being subjected to an out-of-control tackle by Ryan Shawcross. [LNB]Somehow, his team-mates collected themselves and overcame Stoke City with goals from Nicklas Bendtner, Cesc Fabregas and Thomas Vermaelen. They will not be celebrating, though. [LNB] Related ArticlesAaran Ramsey suffers horror tacklePremier League tablePremier League actionTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesSport on televisionThis was football with attention deficit disorder, and nothing less than enthralling because of it: the only problem is that it can create an environment in which players easily find themselves carried away. [LNB]As the Britannia Stadium shrilled to a cacophony of whistles and yells, fluctuating between exhortation and irritation, Shawcross went into Ramsey with a horrible challenge for which he was rightly sent off, and Ramsey stretchered off. [LNB]The incident left Wenger standing granite-faced in his technical area, shaking his head. Whatever he would have us believe, the Arsenal manager does not think Stoke are a fine footballing side. [LNB]As one would expect, he had still pointed out that they have scored 15 goals from set-pieces this season, 14 of them at home, and of those 14, most were from their long throws. [LNB]Perhaps he not think to tell his players, though. Eight minutes in and, you guessed it, Rory Delap directed his throw to Shawcross, who eluded Bacary Sagna and flicked on to the far post. [LNB]Danny Pugh was inexplicably unmarked and, with Manuel Almunia stranded in the middle of the box, had the simple task of heading into an open net. [LNB]Delap's ability to launch the ball like a ballistic missile never ceases to amaze, but even more incredible is that, after almost two seasons, their opposition have still not come up with an initiative, a Star Wars programme, to deal with it. [LNB]With nearly half an hour gone, Arsenal had only one proper attempt on goal, a Cesc Fabregas drive from outside the area which went a foot wide. Time to adopt the when-in-Rome philosophy. [LNB]Emmanuel Eboue cannot throw as far as Delap, but he found Fabregas, who crossed deep into the box and Nicklas Bendtner arched his header beyond Sorensen's fingertips and into the far corner. Wenger sprinted out of the technical area, arms raised, proof he'll take them any way they come. [LNB]The second half began as the first had finished, full speed ahead. Eboue's drive from 20 yards was palmed away by Sorensen. Then Shawcross felled Ramsey. [LNB]The players crowded around, and rapidly signalled their concern. Shawcross tried to console the stricken midfielder, but was advised to walk away. Yet Arsenal continued to attack. Pugh handled in the area, Peter Walton pointed to the spot. Fabregas drove his penalty tight into the corner. [LNB]Then Vermaelen, one of those who had been most affected by Ramsey's injury, covering his eyes in dismay, found his way past Sorensen. [LNB]
