Potters punish Gunners

Pennant: On target against his former employers

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Stoke warmed up for next weekend’s FA Cup final with a 3-1 win over lacklustre Arsenal.

Kenwyne Jones and former Gunner Jermaine Pennant netted in the first half for the Potters, as Tony Pulis’ side put in a thoroughly professional display at the Britannia Stadium.

Robin van Persie pulled one back for Arsenal late on, but Jonathan Walters restored Stoke’s two-goal advantage inside 60 seconds.

As has become custom, Arsene Wenger’s visitors saw plenty of the ball but were unable to turn possession into chances.

They fell behind on 28 minutes as Pennant fizzed over a free-kick from the right and Jones bundled the ball home from close range.

Stoke then added a second five minutes before the interval when Pennant surged forward and saw a 20-yard drive flick off Johan Djourou and into the top corner.

It almost got worse for Arsenal before half-time, but Walters saw a shot from the tightest of angles cannon off the face of the crossbar.

Things were going so well for the Potters, but early in the second half they suffered an injury scare as Robert Huth was forced off and he must now be doubtful for a Wembley meeting with Manchester City.

Van Persie then had Stoke twitching nine minutes from the end as he took matters into his own hands and drilled low under Asmir Begovic.

The Potters need not have worried, though, as they went straight up the other end and, following a defensive error from Djourou, Walters poked past Wojciech Szczesny to wrap up the points.

More to follow…