Stoke City 1 Arsenal 3: match report

By Sandy Macaskill at the Britannia Stadium Published: 7:00AM GMT 01 March 2010

Previous of Images Next Straight red: Ryan Shawcross goes in on Arsenal"s Aaron Ramsey Photo: PA Agony: Arsenal"s players rught away signalled to the dais for obligatory courtesy Photo: REUTERS

"I would never, ever go out to harm a associate professional," Ryan Shawcross said. "I am deeply dissapoint that Aaron has suffered such a bad damage and my thoughts are with him. I would identical to to send him my most appropriate wishes for a rapid recovery."

The Stoke defender was referring, of course, to his 65th notation plea on Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who was carried off five mins after on a bracket with his feet unresolved at a an eye-watering angle. Naturally, the heart goes out for Ramsey who, if a identical damage postulated by his team-mate Eduardo probably dual years ago underneath a plea from Birminghams Martin Taylor is anything to decider by, right away faces an endless duration of surgery and reconstruction if he is to deliver his career. But it additionally goes out for Shawcross.

Arsenal contend they will not be derailed by Ramsey damage Aaran Ramsey suffers abhorrence plunge in to Premier League list Premier League movement player rater Premier League fixtures

The defender has been, arguably, the vital success story at Stoke this season, provider of brave performances for that he was rewarded with a call up to the England patrol on Saturday night nonetheless Fabio Capello at the back of his preference to cruise how the situation would affect Shawcross mentally. Clearly, the England earthy education instructor motionless that it is most appropriate to get at the back of on the horse, but as any one who sat by the press discussion since by Taylor when Eduardo done his lapse to rival football, eighteen months after he had been left writhing on the St Andrews turf, will know, the demons linger. The mental scars take usually as prolonged to heal as the physical.

Shawcross was in tears as he left the pitch, and was rught away taken home by his mother. Tony Pulis, his voice cracking, could not costume his concern. "Im desperately, desperately disturbed about him," the Stoke earthy education instructor said. "I dont know what outcome this will have on him. He has been an comprehensive dream. Every day he does additional work."

First impressions of Shawcross plea were of a dangerous tackle, but radio footage at initial denied the assembly by Sky Sports producers who deemed it as well upsetting showed that nonetheless it was mistimed, it was never malicious. "It is a unsatisfactory challenge," Pulis agreed, "but of all the players that we have here, Ryan is such a genuine kid. It will be harmful for him. We have to have certain we keep a close eye on him. It was a bad challenge."

Wenger considers himself surrounded by swindling at the most appropriate of times, and he decried what he interpreted to be an unnecessarily earthy proceed taken opposite his side, but Pulis was discerning to hit down the suggestion. "I know Ryan Shawcross improved than Wenger," he said. "He doesnt have a bad bone in his body. We are a rival team. We dont have unwashed players."

Stoke are not dirty, but they are, as Wenger accepted, "committed". For 65 minutes, as Stoke belted all forward, leaping in to aerial plea after aerial challenge, Arsenal entrance at the back of at them with rapier responses, it was edge-of-your-seat football. Only stuck-in-the-mud purists would have found it anything less than enthralling.

As usual, it was Rory Delap who had got the Britannia going, eight mins in. His throw to Shawcross was as correct as ever, and Danny Pugh was there at the far post to head in the crack on. A deserved head start, but so as well was Arsenals equaliser. Cesc Fabregas crossed and Nicklas Bendtner twisted his header over Thomas Sorensen and in to the far corner.

The quickness usually subsided when Ramsey and Shawcross collided. The players hold their heads in their hands and for five mins wandered to and fro, uncertain of what to do. But when fool around restarted, it all flooded back. When Pugh rubbed in the area Peter Walton forked to the spot, and Fabregas found the corner. Deep in combined time Vermaelen done it three.

The reply was conspicuous in the single-mindedness. Arsenal are austere that the mistakes of dual years ago when Eduardo was harmed and Arsenals pretension aspirations used will not be repeated. They are still in the race, 3 points at the back of Chelsea. "We had alternative problems dual years ago," Wenger said. "This organisation is so clever and so united, that if you give us one some-more reason to fight, we will win. We will do it for Aaron."

Broken Gunners

Abou Diaby: The French midfielder suffered a damaged and dislocated ankle following a distressing plunge in to by Sunderland defender Dan Smith in May 2006.Time out: Eight months

Eduardo: The Croatians really bad damaged right leg, caused by a plunge in to from Birminghams Martin Taylor, contributed to Arsenals end-of-season unemployment in 2008.Time out: twelve months

Aaron Ramsey: Ryan Shawcrosss awkward plunge in to on the teen left him with a stand in detonate of his right leg that compulsory puncture surgery.Time out: At slightest 6 months