Arsenal manager admits the Potters were physically stronger.
Stoke City 3-1 Arsenal
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fourth Round Proper
1.30pm, Sunday 24 January 2010
Britannia Stadium, Stoke City FC
Winning clubs receive £90,000 from The FA's prize fund
Fourth Round results
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Arsene Wenger admitted his Arsenal side were undone by a battle-hardened Stoke after the Gunners were stunned in The FA Cup.
A Ricardo Fuller double and a strike from Dean Whitehead ensured Tony Pulis' men claimed a 3-1 victory and on to a Fifth Round clash with Manchester City.
Wenger said: "The game was more physical than technical, and physically they were stronger than us in a very simple game. We were exposed to a fight, and some of our players were a bit young and could not cope with it.
"I do not regret the side I put out, I did not have much choice. We had ten injuries and a very difficult programme coming up."
Arsenal were undone as early as the first minute when Fuller headed home one of Rory Delap's trademark long throws. And Wenger reckoned his side did not cope with the aerial battle as his side crashed out.
Stoke City Sorensen, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Collins, Delap (Diao 85), Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington (Pugh 90+2), Sidibe, Fuller (Sanli 85).
Subs Not Used Simonsen, Lawrence, Beattie, Wilkinson.
Goals Fuller 2, 78, Whitehead 86
Arsenal Fabianski, Coquelin (Ramsey 67), Campbell, Silvestre, Traore, Eastmond, Denilson, Fabregas, Walcott (Eduardo 67), Emmanuel-Thomas (Arshavin 67), Vela.
Subs Not Used Mannone, Rosicky, Bartley, Frimpong.
Goals Denilson 42
Referee Martin Atkinson
Attendance 19,735