Stoke City 3-1 Arsenal: Gunners' title hopes officially over after getting smashed by Stoke

Pennant set up the first goal for Kenwyne Jones, before adding a spectacular second goal in the first half. Robin van Persie seemed to have earned a way back into the match with his goal 10 minutes from time, but Stoke responded immediately through Jon Walters to put the match to bed.

The match began with some choice chanting from the Stoke fans about Arsene Wenger following his comments deriding the club's ‘rugby tactics’, and also criticizing Arsenal for its “boring, boring” style.

Arsenal was dominating possession as expected, but the Stoke defense was holding out intelligently, holding off Arsenal and keeping a solid line at the back.

Aaron Ramsey carved open the Stoke defense to create Arsenal’s first chance of the afternoon after five minutes for Robin van Persie, but the Dutchman’s effort was hurried and struck over the bar.

The first flashpoint came in the 15^th minute, with Jack Wilshere’s challenge on Dean Whitehead slightly after the ball had gone, causing parties from both teams to get involved. The England midfielder avoided a booking, however, as referee Mark Halsey kept the situation under control.

The next 10 minutes passed largely without event, until Andrey Arshavin conceded a cheap free kick on Jermaine Pennant down the right wing. Pennant picked himself up and put in a delicious delivery that Arsenal did not deal with at all.

Van Persie missed his header, allowing Kenwyne Jones to bundle home from two yards to the delight of the Stoke fans, breaking out into renditions of “1-0 to the rugby team”, before “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” rang around the Britannia.

Arsenal really didn’t trouble Asmir Begovic in the Stoke goal at all in the first half, and it was almost unsurprising when Stoke increased its lead in the 40^th minute.

Ramsey, at the scene of his horrific injury last year, cheaply gave the ball away to Pennant, highlighting Arsenal’s sloppy play in the first half.

Former Arsenal player Pennant then drove at the Arsenal center backs, and when no challenge arose, he drove a shot from long range, which took a very favorable deflection of the boot of Johann Djourou, and looped over the wrong-footed Szczesny.

It was the last real action of the half, as Arsenal stuck to its plan ‘A’ in trying to break down Stoke with quick passing 30 to 40 yards from goal, but it simply wasn’t working against the organized defense.

By the end of the half the Gunners were attempting more crosses, but to no avail as the center back pairing of Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross easily dealt with any intrusion into the box.

Wenger rang the changes for Arsenal at halftime, bringing off Ramsey and Arshavin for Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh, as the Gunners went in search of goals.

The second half almost started terribly for the visitors, however, when Huth headed just over from a Pennant corner. After the header, a terrible case of handbags broke about as the German defender seemed to get an elbow in the face from Alex Song, having dragged the midfielder to the ground.

Only a minute after the incident, Huth was on the floor again, and was soon forced from the field with injury, putting him in doubt for next Saturday’s FA Cup final with Manchester City, though the Stoke medical team later stated they were optimistic he would be fit for Wembley.

It took until the 58^th minute for Arsenal to get its first shot on target, and it was hardly a test for Begovic, stooping down to pick up a tame effort from Van Persie.

And in the 61^st minute came the first booking of the match, to the substitute Bendtner. It was Arsenal’s 8^th foul of the game, compared to Stoke’s solitary indiscretion, a statistic which perhaps shows why Stoke feels it has unfairly been labeled as a dirty team.

Ten minutes later the match threatened to boil over, as Wilshere put in a poor studs-up challenge on Pennant. After the referee had blown, Wilshere was then taken out by Andy Wilkinson. After this challenge, Wilshere was confronted by Pennant, full of rage.

Plenty more shoving was promptly cut short by a combination of referee and linesman, and a booking was given to both Wilshere and Pennant.

Arsenal then came as close as it had all match, as Bendtner slipped Van Persie through on goal, but Begovic was off his line quickly to close down the shot and make a fantastic block.

Tony Pulis then made a quick substitution, bringing off Pennant to a standing ovation, all too aware that a red card would earn him a suspension for next week’s marquee event at Wembley.

Van Persie looked to have gotten Arsenal back in contention, with a sublime solo effort as he took on Stoke’s defense almost single-handedly before striking low into the net with his right foot in the 80^th minute.

But Stoke went straight up the other end and restored its two goal advantage, as Djourou attempted to clear a shot, only for it to bounce straight to Jon Walters, who clipped a neat finish over the advancing Szczesny.

It was a performance of the highest order from Stoke. The defense excelled in robbing Arsenal of possession before setting up Jones and Walters to counter attack. Arsenal lacked in any sort of incisiveness, and did not seem to have any way through Stoke’s wall-like defense, barring the individual brilliance of Van Persie.

For Stoke, it was the perfect way to approach next weekend’s match with Manchester City, and the club will arrive at Wembley full of confidence after this victory. For Arsenal, it only posed more questions about the style and even personnel, questions that Arsene Wenger will need to answer if his side is to win the league next season.

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