http://www.teamtalk.com/stoke-city/6775357/Time-to-call-end-to-Arsenal-v-Stoke-feud? TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes hopes a line can finally be drawn under the long-running Arsenal v Stoke feud following Wednesday's Emirates clash. Rivalries come about for all manner of reasons in sport, but never has one tackle caused as much bad feeling as Ryan Shawcross' on Aaron Ramsey last year. There was a already a hint of needle between Arsenal and Stoke - Gunners fans had complained about Stoke's physical approach in their 2008 win, while the Potters' elder statesmen still talk to this day of being 'robbed' by the north Londoners in back-to-back FA Cup semi-finals in the 70s - but, by and large, there was no real rivalry to speak of between the two clubs. Until February 27, 2010. With a Britannia Stadium clash finely poised at 1-1, Shawcross and Ramsey went in together for a loose ball - and everyone knows what happened next. Ramsey was left with a horrific broken leg and only now, one year on, is he closing in on his full comeback for the Gunners. Every man and his dog has had a say on the challenge - how much blame should be apportioned to Shawcross, is he 'that' sort of player, and was Ramsey's injury an inevitable by-product of Stoke's style of play - but the arguing has gone on far longer than anyone could have expected. Most of it not even about Shawcross or Ramsey. Arsenal fans have labelled Stoke 'neanderthals'; Stoke fans have labelled Arsenal 'fairies'. Arsenal fans have accused Stoke of playing 'anti-football'; Potters fans have taunted the Gunners over their failure to win trophies. Back and forth it has continued until the sides finally met again at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. The Beauty was up against the Beast for the first time since that fateful day in North Staffordshire - almost 12 months ago exactly. But, thank goodness, the game passed without controversy. There was a clash of styles, certainly, but there were no bad tackles, no squabbles and nothing to fill the back pages with. The media tried their best to goad Wenger after the game, but he refused to rise to the bait. Theo Walcott had gone off on a stretcher following a challenge by Dean Whitehead, but Wenger described the injury as "accidental". And when pressed further, he responded: "It was a fair game, I didn't see any bad tackles." The media might want to reignite the war, but for Wenger it is clearly over. He wants to move on, and now is the time for everyone else to do the same. Arsenal's fans don't have to like Stoke's style of play, but they don't have to berate it at every opportunity either. And even if they do, Stoke fans should not care - after all, the Britannia Stadium is packed out every week and the current period is the club's most successful since the 1970s. In actual fact, there ought to be some mutual respect as, forgetting about a clash of styles for a second, both of these sides are in a good position to achieve great success this season. If Stoke finish higher than 11th - they are currently 10th - they will be only the second side in history to improve their finishing position in their second and third Premier League seasons following promotion. Arsenal, meanwhile, are still in four competitions and are in a strong position to win their first title since 2004. Given Manchester United's fixture list, the Gunners are arguably favourites. Both sides are still in the FA Cup too, Arsenal have recently beaten Barcelona and Stoke are once again well clear of the relegation dogfight - surely now is the time for both sets of supporters to enjoy their own team and stop worrying about the other.
TEAMtalk's Mark Holmes hopes a line can finally be drawn under the long-running Arsenal v Stoke feud following Wednesday's Emirates clash. Then why bring up the shawcross/ramsey incident this guy is a journo, who is still trying to stir up trouble. Mark Holmes **** OFF
I think you will find that the arsenal fans are all ways starting cause they can't stop whining the past is history leave it where it belongs and stop harping on about it
if he is a stoke fan but trying to keep the peace, then why bring up the shawcross incident, just report about the game & dont drag up the past.
F.T.C. in WELL ******* Put. Some Gunners I do not have a problem with. Fibreglass van is one and John Smith also there are quite a few more whom I don't remember but, thanks guys. To all the others on the soon to be redundant bbc 606 site who called me and EVERY Stoke fan a ******. YOU are Sick! and make me sick. And, we're not the only fans who think that way either. They have a fantastic footballing team to support. Frankly, they don't deserve it. Forget, sure I will when they stop bringing it up every few weeks. PATHETIC! P.S. sorry for the foul and abusive language.
last i'm ever going to say on this but who gives a crap what arsenal fans think of stoke they are not worth talking about as it is only the minority eg arsole wanger and his boys end off up the potters KTF XXXXXXXXXXXX see you all monday night
