Rory Delap Makes Arsenal Throw Up!

Stoke 2 - 1 Arsenal

Yet again the incredible and accurate throwing ability of Rory Delap proved to undo the opposition. This time Arsenal were on the receiving end and seemed to have no answer to the Stoke man's unique ability. It seems that a ball can be thrown more accurately than it can be kicked, at least by Delap. He threw a ball in from about 45 yards, and found Fuller in the penalty area who opened the scoring after 11 minutes.

Stoke are not just about throw-ins, and Delap nearly scored himself, but Clichy cleared the ball off the line. Accurate long throw-ins have to be met by people in the box, who can deflect the ball into the net. So Stoke are not a one trick pony, but a side that has found a different and exciting way of achieving a favourable result. It's good fun to watch but not so much for Arsenal et al!

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Arsene Wenger had chosen a side he thought could handle Stoke's physical presence, with Walcott and Van Persie both on the bench. However, they were being missed, and Arsenal were either not at their best, and disrupted by a side they were finding it difficult to handle. Walcott and Van Persie came on as substitutes, but not for long as Van Persie was red-carded for a foolish attack on Stokes goalkeeper. The unfortunate Walcott was stretchered off, and it is to be hoped that his shoulder injury is not too bad.

The Gunners managed to salvage a goal in the 90th minute, but it was too late to make any difference to the result. At the end it was three points, and a notably deserved victory for Stoke, whose tactics outmanoeuvred their more illustrious opponents.

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Stoke 2 - 1 Arsenal
soccer and football
Stoke 2 - 1 Arsenal