Arsenal dumped out by Stoke City

Arsenal joined Manchester United and Liverpool on the FA Cup scrapheap when Ricardo Fuller scored twice to condemn them to a 3-1 defeat at Stoke City in the fourth round yesterday.

Manchester City won 4-2 at Scunthorpe United but Arsenal became the latest big-four club to be knocked out, a bitter pill for manager Arsene Wenger to swallow as the Gunners seek a first trophy since the FA Cup in 2005.

Arsenal, who included 35-year-old Sol Campbell in an otherwise inexperienced line-up against their Premier League rivals, never recovered from Fuller's second-minute opener and despite an equaliser from Denilson they were overpowered.

"It was a good opportunity to win a trophy and we wanted to go through but I think we gave everything," Wenger, who made eight changes to the side that beat Bolton on Wednesday to briefly go top of the Premier League, said.

"It was a scrappy game but we made a mistake at 1-1 and got caught on a counter-attack. I had not much choice (with team selection) today. It's my responsibility to pick the team and I stand up by that."

Stoke celebrated a first ever FA Cup win over Arsenal and with three of England's biggest clubs licking their wounds they will fancy their chances of a long run in the competition.

Chelsea are now favourites to retain the cup after they beat Preston North End 2-0 on Saturday to book their place in the fifth round.

Wenger sent out a youthful team at one of the Premier League's most intimidating grounds with 19-year-olds Craig Eastmond and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and 18-year-old Francis Coquelin in the starting line-up.

They were shellshocked after two minutes when Stoke's throw-in specialist Rory Delap launched a delivery into the area which evaded the Arsenal defence and reached Fuller who headed past Lucasz Fabianski.

Stoke's bombardment could have brought further goals but Arsenal equalised when Cesc Fabregas lined up a free-kick but instead of shooting cut the ball back to Denilson whose low strike deflected into the net just before half-time.

Wenger sent on big guns Eduardo and Andrei Arshavin in the second half but the hosts went back in front 13 minutes from time when Mamady Sidibe galloped down the right wing and his inch-perfect cross gave Fuller the simplest of headers.

Dean Whitehead added the third from Matthew Etherington's low cross.

Manchester City, who play Manchester United in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday, included unsettled Brazil striker Robinho at Championship Scunthorpe and in possibly his last game for the club he scored a dazzling fourth goal.

Roberto Mancini's side made a great start when Martin Petrov put them ahead, only for Paul Hayes to equalise.

Nedum Onuoha edged City 2-1 ahead and Sylvinho's scorcher appeared to have made the game safe but an own goal by Dedryck Boyata insured a tense finale before Robinho finished off a slick move.

Fifth round draw

Wolves/C. Palace vs Aston Villa;
Man. City vs Stoke;
Derby vs Birmingham;
Bolton vs Tottenham/Leeds;
Chelsea vs Cardiff;
Fulham vs Notts County/Wigan;
Reading vs West Brom;
Southampton vs Portsmouth.