Arsenal dumped out of FA Cup by Stoke

Published>Mon, Jan 25 10 12:13 AM

Arsenal joined Manchester United and Liverpool on the FA Cup scrapheap on Sunday when Ricardo Fuller's double helped Stoke City to a 3-1 fourth round victory at the Britannia Stadium.

At least Arsenal, unlike United and Liverpool, fell to Premier League opposition, although it will still be a bitter pill for manager Arsene Wenger to swallow as the Gunners seek a first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2005.

Arsenal, who included Sol Campbell in an otherwise inexperienced side after the 35-year-old's return to the club this week via Portsmouth and Notts County, never fully recovered from Fuller's second-minute opener. Despite an equaliser from Denilson just before the break, they were eventually overpowered.

"It was a good opportunity to win a trophy and we wanted to go through but I think we gave everything," Wenger, who made eight changes to the side that beat Bolton on Wednesday to briefly go top of the Premier League, told the BBC.

"It was a scrappy game but we made a mistake at 1-1 and got caught on a counter-attack. I had not much choice (with team selection) today. It's my responsibility to pick the team and I stand by that."

Stoke celebrated a first FA Cup win against Arsenal and with three of England's big four already licking their wounds they will fancy their chances of a long run in the competition.

Chelsea are now clear favourites to retain the Cup after they beat Preston North End 2-0 away on Saturday to book their place in the fifth round.

"I know he left players out today but they still had good players on the pitch," Stoke boss Tony Pulis said. "I don't care who it is in the next round but if we bring anybody to the Britannia I will be pleased."

Arsenal were shellshocked after two minutes when Stoke's throw-in specialist Rory Delap launched a delivery into the area which evaded the whole of the visiting defence and reached Fuller who headed past Lucasz Fabianski.

They got back on level terms just before halftime when Cesc Fabregas lined up a free kick but instead of shooting cut the ball back to Denilson whose low strike deflected into the net.

Wenger sent on his big guns Eduardo and Andrei Arshavin midway through the second half but they had little impact and the hosts went back in front 13 minutes from time when Mamady Sidibe galloped down the right wing before his inch-perfect chipped cross gave Fuller the simplest of headers.

Dean Whitehead made sure of Stoke's victory from Matthew Etherington's low cross.

Fourth round action concludes later on Sunday with Manchester City in action at Scunthorpe United.

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