Stoke claim Gunners triumph

Delap found Ricardo Fuller after 11 minutes, then helped set up Seyi Olofinjana for the hosts' second before a defected Gael Clichy effort reduced arrears.

It was a case of bad to worse for Arsenal after the dramatic 4-4 draw with Tottenham in midweek and a red card for Robin van Persie, coupled with injuries to Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott made it a grim day indeed for Arsene Wenger.

After 10 minutes, good interplay between Fuller and Mamady Sidibe handed Delap a first chance to cause havoc and he duly obliged - arrowing his throw wickedly towards the far post where Fuller got the better of Kolo Toure to glance home.

Delap showed another side of his game when tracking back 30 yards to rob Cesc Fabregas as the Spaniard lined up a shot.

The unlikely figure of Andy Griffin showed the first half's fanciest footwork, leaving Nicklas Bendtner with a deft turn that delighted the home fans.

Walcott's 57th-minute introduction, for the injured Bacary Sagna, gave Arsenal a more attacking shape and three minutes later Emmanuel Adebayor volleyed over from close range.

But, predictably, it was a Delap throw that gave rise to the next scoring opportunity, Almunia making a sharp save after Salif Diao's deflected drive looked to be heading for the net.

In the 73rd minute another long throw brought another Stoke goal as Ryan Shawcross nodded on to Olofinjana, who bundled the ball past Almunia via two touches off his chest.

Van Persie was sent off three minutes later when he petulantly charged at goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, knocking him into the net before Clichy pulled a goal back in the closing seconds.