David Pleat's analysis: Stoke City v Arsenal

Stoke's Matthew Etherington proved an ever-present threat down the wing, which Arsenal failed to deal with. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images

How were Stoke set up?

Stoke were never likely to veer away from their trusted and well-suited direct style of play, whoever their opponents were to be. With home advantage and the crowd behind them, Tony Pulis would hope that the power of his 4-4-2 would out-strength Arsenal's tidy movement and generate enough problems to eke out the win. Their tall back four, a running winger in Matthew Etherington and a long-throw expert in Rory Delap (supplied with plenty of clean towels) were vital support for Pulis's two strong front players, who had each served apprenticeships in the lower leagues. That the hosts would try to maximise their set-plays to pierce the visitors' resistance was clear, but would their game-plan be to concede or deny space to Arsenal's two main midfield passers, Cesc Fàbregas and Denílson?

How did Stoke frustrate Arsenal?

Did Stoke succeed in hurting Arsenal?

It quickly transpired that, bolstered by Lukasz Fabianski's early hesitancy and their opening goal, Stoke were happy to concede the centre-field and allow Arsenal possession there. They got goal-side quickly and were never overly concerned with Arsenal benefiting from greater possession. Fàbregas and Denílson duly commanded the ball, but they were still unable to make real inroads from the middle as Delap dropped narrow into midfield as soon as the ball was lost and stiffened Stoke's numbers against the visitors' passers (see Figure 1). That served to create a three versus two situation in the middle, while Etherington – a genuine winger – stayed wider in the hope of gaining a clear run at the opposition full-back. More importantly still, Stoke never allowed their own back four to become stretched or pulled out of position. Robert Huth and Danny Collins, natural centre-backs asked to play at full-back, rarely ventured forward: the centre-halves defended and the full-backs covered. For the amount of possession Arsenal boasted, they mustered a paucity of shots. Yes. Consistently. The home side sensed an advantage if they could use their width and stretch Arsenal in an attempt to drag the opposing central defenders out wide. Stoke made in-roads down the Londoners' right side, with Etherington receiving early passes to run at the youngsters Francis Coquelin and, later, Craig Eastmond. With the winger having the beating of his full-back, the returning Sol Campbell was dragged out of position (see Figure 2) offering Stoke hope of capitalising in the centre where Arsenal lacked protection once the wide man had crossed early into the middle. Etherington simply had too much of the ball, and Arsène Wenger's side failed to snuff out his threat. The former Tottenham and West Ham winger's performance contrasted markedly with that of Theo Walcott, the England hopeful making his latest return from injury, and it was deserved reward for Stoke when Dean Whitehead converted one of Etherington's centres to secure the victory. On the day, the more powerful, forceful unit had succeeded.