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Five reasons Arsenal will defeat Stoke

By Jocelyn Taub

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal with Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at Bet365 Stadium on May 13, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Olivier Giroud of Arsenal celebrates scoring his sides fourth goal with Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at Bet365 Stadium on May 13, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Tony Pulis, the Stoke City manager shouts instructions during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium on August 26, 2012 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Tony Pulis, the Stoke City manager shouts instructions during the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium on August 26, 2012 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) /

Tony Pulis can no longer torment Arsene Wenger at Stoke

Tony Pulis guided Stoke from the Championship Division to the Premier League in 2008.

He deserves a lot of the credit for the fact that the club has remained in the top flight since. He also deserves recognition for being able to get under Arsene Wenger’s skin.

The bad blood kicked off the first time the two managers met in November 2008. In Stoke’s 2-1 victory Wenger stoked (pardon the pun) the flames when he branded several of Pulis’ players as “cowards.” The Arsenal manager was angered after Bacary Sagna, Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott picked up injuries due to bad tackles from Stoke players.

The two managers exchanged barbs over the next six years as Stoke continued to frustrate the Gunners.

After Pulis moved on from the Potters at the end of the 2012-2013 season, the relationship between the two antagonists became one of mutual admiration.

Since Mark Hughes replaced Pulis as manager, Arsenal’s fortunes against Stoke have turned around.

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