Stoke beat Arsenal on FA Cup

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Only Chelsea can hold out on FA Cup, after The Gunners Arsenal defeat by Stoke city 1-3 on Britannia Stadium, England. Two goal from Ricardo Fuller and one from Dean Whitehead make Stoke city flying on FA Cup to next round.

Arsene Wenger brought in several youngsters for the fourth-round tie, but the inclusion of Sol Campbell was the most notable selection.


Sol Campbell, 35, was making his first appearance for Arsenal since scoring in the 2006 Champions League final against Barcelona in Paris.

Arsene Wenger included only Cesc Fabregas and Denilson from the side that beat Bolton in midweek to briefly go top of the Premier League.
Stoke City , who are on the brink of clinching the signing David James, brought in Danny Collins, Glenn Whelan and Ricardo Fuller.

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.
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.
The Gunners Arsenal struggled against Stoke's tenacious play, being quickly harassed into mistakes and losing possession.
For a spell, every Stoke set-piece was a problem, while Arsenal's attacking play produced little of substance.
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.
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.
One late Ryan Shawcross tackle into Cesc 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.
Stoke city might have had a penalty when Denilson caught Fuller late in the box, but referee Atkinson waved away appeals.
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.
Thomas Sorensen, 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.
Arsenal should have made a greater impact after equalising, but they were being constantly pushed back.
And it took a brave interception from Coquelin, a yard out, to stop Matthew Etherington from scoring on the far post after 64 minutes.
Then Delap missed his connection in the six-yard box after another Etherington run and cross.
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.
The new faces made an initial difference, with quick passing moves that stretched Stoke's defence.
But Stoke City responded with greater resilience, and were back in front after 78 minutes.
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.
Stoke City sent on Tuncay and Salif Diao for Ricardo Fuller and Delap, and grabbed their third after 85 minutes when Dean Whitehead finished off more good work from wideman Etherington.


Soccer Livescore