When Arsenal first visited the Britannia Stadium early in 2008-09, they were completely undone by Rory Delap's famous long throws; he launched the ball into the box for goals from both Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana in a shock 2-1 victory. A look at how the tensions between Arsenal and Stoke City have heightened to create a fierce rivalry.
You would, of course, The rivalry, then, was essentially started by a programme seller wearing the wrong-coloured jacket, and it rumbled on over the next decade or so. In nine visits since Stoke's promotion to the Premier League, they've won just once: the 3-1 victory that was completely overshadowed by the Ryan Shawcross tackle that left Aaron Ramsey with a broken leg.That has somewhat dominated discussion about this fixture, and slightly misrepresents Stoke's strategy against Arsenal down the years.
Stoke's players were furious in the aftermath, their supporters for considerably longer.The reason Matthewson didn't flag was supposedly because he'd mistaken a programme seller in a white coat for a white Stoke City shirt. Having clinched the league title at White Hart Lane the Monday before with a 1-0 victory.The week that culminated in achieving the Double had started with a vital 1-0 league victory over Stoke at Highbury, with a goal from Eddie Kelly. The Observer's match report from that game ended a passage about Durban's remarks by suggesting only a "masochist" would want to watch their football.Fast forward nearly 30 years, and the constant clashes between Tony Pulis -- like Durban, a no-nonsense, straight-talking Welshman -- and Arsene Wenger were fundamentally about playing style: "route one" versus possession football. In 2008, after Arsenal lost to Stoke, the flames of rivalry were fanned after a few Stoke players – mainly Thomas Sorenson – accused Arsenal of having no backbone when Arsenal lost, and Wenger retorted with this comment: “The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say,“
Stoke lost 2-0, and when a journalist criticised the lack of entertainment value from the Potters afterwards, Durban was furious.
Arsenal vs Tottenham – History of the North London Derby.
Arsenal triumphed in both, and it's become accepted to refer to the two matches as "controversial" wins -- although the truth is slightly more complex.In 1971, their FA Cup semifinal took place at Hillsborough, with the Potters storming into a two-goal lead within half an hour. The Arsenal vs Stoke rivalry has been simmering since the 1970s. The Arsenal versus Stoke rivalry has rumbled on for decades. Peter Storey converted the penalty, Arsenal won the replay four days later and eventually defeated Liverpool at Wembley to clinch the double.The following season's FA Cup semifinal also went to a replay. Charlie George and John Radford getting the goals for the Gunners.
He’s recovery was aided with loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Cardiff, before he resumed playing regularly for Arsenal.Ramsey who said it took him over three years to fully recover physically and mentally from the injury has never accepted the apology offered by Shawcross after the match.Shawcross has had to live with the consequences of the tackle too. They have their ninth opportunity to take something this Saturday. Astonishingly, linesman Bob Matthewson didn't flag, and George crossed for John Radford to smash in the decider. Arsenal and Stoke City will resume hostilities when they meet for the second time in the Premier League this season at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Stoke complained bitterly that John Radford was in a offside position when he scored Arsenal’s clinching goal.Stoke City fan legend has it that the referee mistook a programme seller walking down the touchline for a Stoke defender and so allowed Radford the chance to score.Arsenal went on to lose the final 1-0 to Leeds, with Mick Jones scoring the only goal of a dull match at Wembley.We await the latest episode of the rivalry with much anticipation.
Technically, we moved to North London and they were outside the city limits, but that's pedantic if you ask me. Arsenal captain Frank McLintock had headed powerfully towards goal, and Stoke's Welsh international midfielder John Mahoney palmed the ball, Luis Suarez-style, from the goal line and into safety. Charlie Eccleshare 13 May 2017 • 9:44 AM. Their rivalry dates back over 100 years. Charlie George scored the goal.Then came the winner, the goal that really made Stoke hate Arsenal. Although Mark Hughes has used an attack-minded side in in his last two matches, he's likely to be more cautious at the Emirates -- as he usually is in this fixture -- with a deep defensive line and a midfield based around ball-winning rather than passing.