England Premier League Media

Barclays Premier League
Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday, 6 March 2010 Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio, Final Score & highlights on Match of the Day

Arsenal must make at least two enforced changes against Burnley, with Alex Song suspended and Aaron Ramsey injured.

Abou Diaby and Andrey Arshavin are back in contention after recovering from respective knee and hamstring problems.

Burnley are hopeful that leading scorer Steven Fletcher can play with a cast on the broken hand which ruled him out of Scotland’s midweek friendly.

Player-coach Graham Alexander is expected to return from a five-week lay-off with a calf strain.

Arsenal

Suspended: Song (two matches)

Injured/unavailable: Campbell (groin), Djourou (knee), Gallas (calf), Gibbs (foot), Merida & Van Persie (both ankle), Vela (jet lag)

Burnley

Doubtful: Fletcher (hand)

Injured: Caldwell (groin), McCann (knee)

As Aaron Ramsey begins his recovery, Arsenal must continue theirs. The Gunners have reignited their title hopes with three straight wins, but the last time they endured a bad break they were unable to repair the damage.

The broken leg sustained by midfielder Ramsey at Stoke last weekend evoked haunting memories of Eduardo’s compound fracture at Birmingham in 2008. Arsenal failed to win any of their next four league games after that incident, and only collected seven points from seven matches to drop from first to third in the table.

Current Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas believes that this time they will not flinch from the challenge. Arsenal can go top, however briefly, with a four-goal victory, and have spoken of their determination to win the league for Ramsey, of whom an 18ft wide banner is set to be unveiled before the game by a supporters’ group.

If Arsenal could have chosen their next fixture, it would surely have been this one. Second-bottom Burnley have been obliging opponents away from Turf Moor, mustering a solitary point from 14 games.

Burnley’s players will wear black armbands on Saturday in memory of Janette Fackrell, mother of young striker Alex MacDonald, and former club goalkeeper Adam Blacklaw, who both died in the last week.

Head-to-head

Arsenal have only lost one of their last 11 league matches at home to Burnley, a 1-0 defeat in September 1974.

Burnley lost in their only previous visit to the Emirates Stadium – 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round on 8 March 2009.

Arsenal

Arsenal have won their last three league games, having only taken one point from their previous three matches.

They are the joint leading scorers in the division, alongside Manchester United, with 66 goals in 28 matches.

However, the Gunners have yet to score in the opening 15 minutes of a home match in any competition this season.

Cesc Fabregas needs one goal to equal the club record tally scored by a midfielder in a Premier League season: Robert Pires scored 14 goals in three consecutive seasons (2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05).

Burnley

Burnley have only won one of their last 16 league matches – 2-1 at home against West Ham on 6 February.

Their away form is the worst in the English leagues, having earned just one point from 14 matches. The Clarets have conceded two or more goals in all bar one of those games.

They have lost their last eight away league matches.

Burnley have the worst defensive record in the top flight, conceding 55 goals.

Stephen Jordan celebrates his 28th birthday on Saturday.

Arsenal

Fabregas: 16 goals (13 league); Arshavin: 9 goals (7 league)

Burnley

Fletcher: 11 goals (7 league); Alexander: 6 goals (5 league)

Referee: Alan Wiley

Assistant referees: Shaun Procter-Green & Mark Scholes

Fourth official: Mike Dean

Arsenal (W3-1 v Stoke, a): Almunia; Sagna, Vermaelen, Campbell, Clichy, Eboue (Walcott 75), Fabregas, Song, Ramsey (Rosicky 69), Nasri (Eduardo 83), Bendtner. Subs not used: Fabianski, Vela, Silvestre, Traore.

Burnley (L1-2 v Portsmouth, h): Jensen; Mears, Carlisle, Cort, Fox, Elliott (Eagles 63), McDonald, Bikey (Cork 63), Blake (Thompson 80), Fletcher, Paterson. Subs not used: Weaver, Duff, Edgar, Jordan.

Burnley scorer: Alexander (pen) 28

Arsenal scorer: Fabregas 7

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has vowed to return “fitter and stronger” from the horrifying broken leg he suffered against Stoke last weekend.

Speaking for the first time about the injury, the 19-year-old thanked Stoke’s Glenn Whelan for his help at the time.

But he did not mention Ryan Shawcross, whose tackle caused the injury.

“It is difficult for me to take it all in at the moment,” he said. “I thought I had been progressing well so this is a real setback. It’s hard to take.”

Fortunately for the promising Welshman, the fractured fibula and tibula he suffered is not thought to be career-threatening.

However, in the statement, released through the club, he does not address Shawcross, who left the field in tears after the incident and later contacted Ramsey to apologise.

Still, Ramsey, who has not set a timeframe on his return after undergoing surgery on the leg last weekend, thanked Whelan (who comforted him on the pitch), the Stoke City medical staff, Arsenal for their support and the club’s fans.

And he is keen to look to the positives as he begins his recovery.

“I am young and have time on my side,” he said. “While it will take time for my leg to heal, I am determined and focused on overcoming this injury and hope to be back fitter and stronger than before.

“I remember what happened clearly and after the tackle went in I saw that my leg was broken and hanging at an angle,” Ramsey said. “I have seen images of the aftermath of the collision but I don’t want to dwell too much on the challenge as I can’t change what has happened.”

Manager Arsene Wenger, though, is less keen to move on.

Last week the Frenchman described the tackle as “horrendous and unacceptable” and, speaking on Friday, he stood by his criticism of the challenge as well as Stoke’s tactics last week.

“I stand by what I said 100%,” he said. “I can understand people want to be committed against us, and I have no problem with that.

“I love the commitment of the English game. I don’t want to change that and it makes the game even more attractive, but high commitment demands fair intention as well.

“I admire a great technical tackle as much as a creative pass.

“We have some good tacklers in this league, some who are not good – but that does not mean you go into it trying to break a leg.

“I am continuing to defend the values that I believe are important for our club and football.

“That doesn’t mean we are angels and everyone else is the devil. It is for everybody.”

The same doctor who operated on Eduardo after the Arsenal forward’s similar injury two years ago carried out last week’s surgery on Ramsey.

And Wenger hopes the youngster will eventually make a full recovery, saying: “The first signs are good.

“But of course, mentally, Aaron is very down. It is difficult to take, he was just coming into the team on a regular basis.”

Stoke manager Tony Pulis, meanwhile, revealed on Thursday that he and Shawcross had contacted Ramsey and would remain in touch throughout the midfielder’s rehabilitation.

“It was very, very important that we got hold of the lad as quickly as possible and spoke to him,” said Pulis. “We will continue to keep in contact with him through his recovery period.

“I don’t think it is an incident we want to bring up again.

“It was an awkward challenge, not a dirty challenge. I think we have to move on and that is what we’ll do.”

Arsene Wenger has backed forward Theo Walcott to become a “great football player” for Arsenal – and England.

Walcott has been hampered by injuries and a dip in form, and after the match against Egypt said he may struggle to make England’s World Cup squad.

However, the Gunners boss is convinced Walcott, 20, will progress: “I believe Theo will be a great player, he is young, he will have a great future.

“For a while people expected too much and now they are too hard with him.”

Wenger reiterated his belief in his young attacker after former England winger Chris Waddle questioned Walcott’s England credentials, claiming the Arsenal man “doesn’t understand the game”.

“Don’t worry for him,” added Wenger of the player who cost the Gunners 5m when they signed him from Southampton in 2006.

“I believe Theo has not only a football brain, but he has a brain – that means he will continue to develop at a very quick pace.

“I believe in him because he has a fantastic attitude, he’s an intelligent boy and highly motivated.”

The winger’s season has been hampered by injuries to his back, knee, hamstring and ribs, but Wenger has previously stated his belief that England boss Fabio Capello will include him in his squad for the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

After returning to fitness with Arsenal, Walcott started for England in Wednesday’s friendly against Egypt at Wembley before being replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips after 57 minutes.

Capello must pick an initial 35-man World Cup squad by 12 May, with a 1 June cut-off date set by Fifa for teams to name their final 23-man squads.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has revealed that both he and Ryan Shawcross have been in contact with Aaron Ramsey after the tackle which broke the player’s leg.

Shawcross was sent off for the challenge on the Arsenal midfielder and Pulis confirmed the club would not appeal against the three-match ban.

“It was very, very important that we got hold of the lad as quickly as possible and spoke to him,” said Pulis.

“We will continue to keep in contact with him through his recovery period.”

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger described the tackle as “unacceptable” but Shawcross has vowed not to change his style of play when he returns.

The defender received criticism following the challenge but several team-mates and fellow professionals have come to his defence.

“Whenever I play for Stoke I am 100% committed and that will be the same as ever when I next play,” said the 22-year-old, who left the field in tears after seeing Ramsey’s double fracture.

“Hopefully, when I am back from suspension, I can do well again. The fans and a lot of people around me have been fantastic in their support over the past few days.”

In an unfortunate twist for Shawcross the challenge and injury to Ramsey came on the same day as his first England call-up.

The centre-back has spent the week with the England squad and was an unused substitute in the 3-1 win over Egypt, something he admitted has helped take his mind off the issue.

“The other players have been fantastic. It has been about football really, nothing else,” he told The Sentinel newspaper.

“I have enjoyed it thoroughly with England. It has been a tough few days, but all I can do now is look forward and hopefully get back in this squad again.

“Hopefully I can do well over the next couple of months and get my chance.”

Pulis said both the player and club were keen to put an end to the matter and also moved to praise the way the England players have helped the highly-rated defender this week.

“I don’t think it is an incident we want to bring up again,” added Pulis.

“It was an awkward challenge, not a dirty challenge. But we’ll take our punishment as I think we have to move on and that is what we’ll do.

“Ryan’s been away and he’s had a fantastic couple of days with England.

“I’ve made sure I’ve spoken to him every day and he has been fine and the players have been fantastic.

“Steven Gerrard, apparently, has been exceptional and as the captain of the team has really looked after him.

“People like Wayne Rooney and David Beckham have been brilliant and I think Shawcross will be the first to say how much help he’s had from the players.

“Beckham has been very good with him, like they all have. It’s the first time he has been called up for England and I think they do it with most of the lads.

“They are human beings and they know he is new to the squad, irrespective of what happened on Saturday, and that he will need some help.”

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has said he is upbeat about the future of English football, despite the recent travails of some clubs.

The former deputy commissioner of Major League Soccer in the US took the helm at the Emirates in November 2008.

“I am optimistic,” he said. “This is an industry with extraordinary potential for growth, even in the current economic environment.”

But he did concede that there were certain issues that needed addressing.

“I don’t think football is in crisis – a crisis would have no way forward. We can see the way forward,” he said.

However, he pointed to differences in business values to those in the US – including the way money is shared out among clubs on a more equitable basis in US soccer.

‘Common goals’

“There are some interesting differences, because the game has grown organically in the UK through competition that has a history. As a result, we find clubs competing with each other on the field and also off it,” Mr Gazidis said.

“In the US, there is a recognition that the actions of one affect everyone else, and the pressures can be difficult to resist.

“Owners have come together and said ‘we need to protect ourselves’, so they are very collaborative off the field of play.

“I am hopeful we will see the spirit that football is coming together, that clubs can work together towards common goals. Partnership off the field is the only thing that can keep this sport stable.”

‘Stronger competition’

Working in partnerships rather than solely being driven to make money would help English football “attract sensible people who are currently on the sidelines, wondering why they should get involved”, he argued.

And Mr Gazidis backed the moves by Uefa and the European Clubs Association to draw up new financial guidelines for football clubs to prevent reckless spending and debt.

“I don’t think the purpose here is to prevent equity investment into the game, but? to create an environment where more strong investors can get involved in the game.”

He also said clubs should be encouraged to spend more on youth development and infrastructure, rather than on inflated player salaries and agents.

“That will ultimately create a stronger competition,” he stated.

And he remained upbeat on the future attraction of the Premier League globally.

“We are seeing international revenues growing year on year? for example broadcasting rights, but that revenue has to be used wisely.

“The Premier League is now able to drive a product that is exciting and vibrant to people around the world.

“But we have to go back to values, and none of these things can happen without all the stakeholders being involved.”

John Toshack has revealed his injured Wales star Aaron Ramsey is “comfortable and in good spirits” in hospital after his horrific double leg break.

The Arsenal teenager had surgery to fix fractures to the tibia and fibula in his right leg after a challenge by Ryan Shawcross in their 3-1 win at Stoke.

Wales boss Toshack said: “He is as comfortable as can be expected.

“He seemed in surprisingly decent spirits when I spoke to him. We hope he has a speedy and successful recovery.”

The Welsh midfielder’s double compound fracture at the Britannia Stadium had echoes of the injury sustained by Arsenal team-mate Eduardo at Birmingham two years ago.

And the surgeon who operated on Eduardo’s injury has offered hope by saying Ramsey should make a full recovery from the similar setback.

The 19-year-old was stretchered off and taken straight to hospital after the challenge by Shawcross on Saturday, an incident in which the Stoke defender was sent off.

“It is a horrific injury, it makes you want to vomit,” said Toshack. “It is a sad and unfortunate incident. I saw the aftermath of the injury and I thought ‘oh no.’

“I still haven’t seen the incident on TV, I have just seen the disturbing photographs in the newspapers and you can imagine how I felt.

“For anybody it is a sad, sad thing but for a young player like Aaron who has improved immensely over the last six or seven months.

“And the last couple of games we felt as though we are on the right lines with him, so this is a big blow for all of us involved with Wales – but the main thing is the player’s welfare at the moment.”

Dr Khalid Baloch, who operated on Eduardo, said: “If it’s a straightforward fracture that’s been dealt with appropriately with intensive physio then you stand a good chance of returning back to the previous level of activity.

“It is quite variable, the simplest fractures may heal up in two or three months and then there is a period of rehabilitation involved – especially with elite-level athletes.

“On the other hand, if it’s a very serious injury it may take many months for the area to heal up and return back to functional activities.

“You’ve got a time period of anywhere from two or three months to six months for recovery. If it’s a simple fracture then he is more likely to return to his previous level of activity.

“As the injury becomes more severe then obviously the rehabilitation is much harder and it’s harder to return back to activity.

“If you look at the way Ramsey was tackled, it looks a fairly similar mechanism of injury (to Eduardo).

“There are lots of bones around that area so it’s difficult to know whether it’s the same bone that has been injured or not, but the area that’s been injured is similar.

“With anyone who breaks the lower part of their leg, what you do is look to reduce the fragments, or the bone pieces, back to where they should be and then they are held by screws or plates.

“It varies on exactly where the fracture is but in principle that is what you would do for a fracture around that area.”

Turning to the rehabilitation process, Dr Baloch added: “Initially most people are trying to get a range of movement back and also try to build up the muscles around that limb and reduce swelling and discomfort, that is the early phase of the rehabilitation process.

“Beyond that phase there is an increase in the range of impact activities with gradual progression to running and then back to sporting activities over a minimum six to 12 months.”

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has condemned the tackle on Ramsey as “horrendous and unacceptable” while he also criticises Stoke’s overall approach.

While Arsenal great Bob Wilson has called on football authorities to act in the wake of Ramsey’s horrific injury.

He said: “The game has moved forward but the Football Association and the Premier League are content to have a brutal side to the game.

He added: “In my opinion this is born out of most managers and coaches facing Arsenal, plus media pundits and even ex-players, instructing their players to get in their faces.

“Arsenal are a relatively small team. Opposing players are told to shake them up, get in their faces, tackle hard, bully them. I would defy coaches and managers to deny that is the case.

“The tackle by Ryan Shawcross was at best mistimed, at worst reckless and desperate.”

Former Gunners keeper Wilson, who had a 40-year association with Arsenal, revealed he had contacted Ramsey after the incident at the Britannia Stadium.

“I was told that he was feeling very little pain following surgery,” said Wilson so I sent a text to Aaron and I received a little message back saying ‘I’m doing OK’.

“But it is a career-threatening injury, a double compound fracture.

“In the time I played, Don Howe had a similar injury, tibia and fibula through the skin, which is obviously horrific, and he didn’t play again.

“Clearly it’s a huge setback but I think Aaron will be back. Modern science will aid that recovery. He’s a very, very special talent.”

Stoke midfielder Glen Whelan had a first-hand view of the incident, helping comfort the Arsenal youngster as he lay in agony.

“I was just trying to do what I could to take the lad’s mind off it,” said Whelan.

“The lad held onto me with the pain he was going through, and I was telling him not to think about it. He was in a state of shock.

“The medical team came on as quickly as possible, and then you just let them take over.

“First and foremost, everyone hopes the young lad gets back as soon as possible, and at the standard he plays at, because he looks a terrific player.

“I was the next one in from the tackle, and saw what had gone on. I was just trying to take the lad’s mind off it.

“For Shawcross, he was disappointed what has happened to the boy.

“I have not seen the tackle again but when I first saw it, I do not think it was a dirty tackle – maybe a bit late but no more.

“I do not think anyone goes into a tackle looking to break a leg or injure a player, but there is fine line between being hard and being dirty.

“The two players could go in for that tackle 100 times again and nothing would happen. Hopefully this was just a one-off.”

Ramsey joined Arsenal in June, 2008, as a highly rated 17-year-old for 5m from Cardiff City.

He has made 29 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring four times.

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey has undergone surgery to fix fractures to his tibia and fibula in his right leg suffered during Saturday’s 3-1 win at Stoke.

The 19-year-old Wales international was stretchered off after a tackle by Ryan Shawcross, who was sent off for the challenge and left the field in tears.

A statement on the Arsenal website said Saturday’s operation was successful but no timescale has been set for recovery.

Midfielder Ramsey has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

After Saturday’s match Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger branded the tackle on Ramsey as “not acceptable”.

But Shawcross later expressed his sympathy for Ramsey and said in a statement: “There was absolutely no malice in the challenge.”

He added: “I would never go out to hurt a fellow professional. I am deeply upset that Aaron has suffered such a bad injury and my thoughts are with him.

“I would like to send him my best wishes too for a speedy recovery.”

Players from both sides were visibly shaken by the incident, which was not replayed on live television and the shocking injury had echoes of Ramsey’s team-mate Eduardo who broke his leg at Birmingham two years ago.

Wenger, who also lost Abou Diaby to a similar injury in 2006 at Sunderland, said: “To see a young boy of 19-years old be injured like that – it’s just not acceptable.”

“We will know how long he will be out later but he will be out for a long time.”

Stoke manager Tony Pulis also rejected there was any malice involved and stoutly defended Shawcross, who just hours later was named in Fabio Capello’s England squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Egypt.

“Ryan Shawcross is a young lad, he hasn’t got a bad bit of blood in him,” said Pulis. “He’s got changed and his mum has taken him home, I have not seen him. He’ll be devastated.

“It’s a poor challenge, and we’re absolutely devastated and disappointed for Aaron and everyone associated with Arsenal football club.”

Ramsey’s injury comes two years and four days after Eduardo’s leg-break, which resulted from a Martin Taylor tackle in a Premier League draw at St Andrew’s.

The Croatia international spent more than a year on the sidelines, and his absence during the final months of the 2007/8 season was considered a key factor in Arsenal’s failed title assault that year as they eventually finished third.

“It’s not our first player to get an horrendous injury,” Wenger said.

“I don’t believe in coincidences. We had Diaby, we had Eduardo and we now have Ramsey – it’s too difficult to take.”

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas also expressed his anguish but was adamant this fresh setback would not hamper this season’s run-in.

“We learned from when it happened to Eduardo, we lost a lead that day,” said the Spaniard.

Speaking about the result at the Britannia Stadium he added: “It’s very difficult to stand up but we showed character and knew if we won we still had a lot to say [in the title race].”

The home side had taken an eighth-minute lead when Danny Pugh headed in from Rory Delap’s long throw-in but Nicklas Bendtner levelled in the 32nd minute with a fine header before a Fabregas penalty gave Arsenal the lead as the game entered seven minutes of injury time.

Thomas Vermaelen then sealed the points three minutes later for Wenger’s men, who appeared galvanised by the shocking events earlier on and joined for a team huddle on the final whistle.

The win moves third-placed Arsenal to within two points of Manchester United and three of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

But while Wenger was understandably pleased with his side’s fightback, it was scant consolation to him because of Ramsey’s predicament.

“I’m very proud of my team,” he said. “I’m proud and sad – proud of the attitude and character of the players to come back and win 3-1 against this Stoke side you need to be special, but sad because of what happened to Aaron Ramsey.”

Ramsey joined Arsenal in June, 2008, as a highly-rated 17-year-old for 5m from Cardiff City.

He has made 29 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring four times.

On-loan Doncaster Rovers midfielder Jay Emmanuel-Thomas wants to stay at the Keepmoat until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old joined from Arsenal on Saturday on an initial one-month deal and made his debut the same day in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

The England Under-19 man told BBC Radio Sheffield: “If all goes well I’ll be here till the end of the season.

“Hopefully I’ll get a few games under my belt, score a few goals and the crowd will make me feel welcome.”

The former Arsenal youth captain came off the bench to make an impressive debut for Rovers.

“The team played very good football and obviously coming from Arsenal that’s what we do, so it was good to play here,” he added.

Emmanuel-Thomas joined Arsenal as a trainee in 2008 and has Championship experience from a loan spell at Blackpool at the start of the season.

Although the teenager is happy to stay at the Keepmoat for the remainder of the season, his long-term goal is to break into the Arsenal first team.

“After the main squad of 18, there’s a couple of players after them. All I’ve got to do is make sure I work hard and keep improving,” he said.

Arsenal midfielder Sanchez Watt has left Southend United after completing his one month loan spell at the club.

The England Under-19 international made four starts during his spell at Roots Hall which was hampered by head and ankle injuries.

Blues manager Steve Tilson told the club’s website: “He feels it is best for him to go back to Arsenal for the remainder of the season.

“He wanted to be around their first team in the hope he will be involved.”

Watt has played in three Carling Cup matches for Arsenal this season, scoring in a third round victory over West Bromwich Albion last September.

Arsenal came from behind to beat Stoke in a match marred by an horrific injury to Welsh teenager Aaron Ramsey.

The Gunners midfielder’s ankle buckled under a challenge by Ryan Shawcross, who was sent off and departed in tears.

Stoke had taken the lead when Danny Pugh headed in from Rory Delap’s long throw-in but Nicklas Bendtner levelled with a fine header back across goal.

Cesc Fabregas scored a penalty before Thomas Vermaelen tapped in, as Arsenal moved to only three points off Chelsea.

But the game will be remembered for the injury to Ramsey, which bore an eerie similarity to the broken leg suffered by Gunners striker Eduardo against Birmingham almost exactly two years ago, with television producers opting not to show replays of the incident.

Shawcross took a heavy touch and caught Ramsey just above the ankle as he stretched for the ball.

The Welshman collapsed on contact and he was left writhing on the floor, with his right foot appearing to hang at an unnatural angle.

Shawcross, who was later called up to the England squad, was shown a straight red card and while Ramsey received lengthy treatment, several Arsenal players looked visibly shaken.

Fabregas and Vermaelen appeared the most affected by the incident so it was to their immense credit that they recovered to score the goals which fired Arsenal right back into the title race.

Stoke came into the game full of confidence having strung together an unbeaten run of 11 games, which included dumping Arsenal and Manchester City out of the FA Cup.

The Gunners, dogged by inconsistency of late, were given added motivation by Chelsea’s shock 4-2 home defeat to Man City in the lunchtime kick-off.

Arsenal had won their previous two Premier League matches after damaging defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea.

With William Gallas still sidelined by a calf injury, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger called up Sol Campbell for his first Premier League start since rejoining the club.

Stoke were brimming with energy from the start and their opener came from a predictable source. Delap’s long throw was headed down by an unmarked Shawcross and Pugh nodded in at the far post.

It was the fourth time Arsenal have fallen foul of Delap’s missiles – he set up both goals in a 2-1 victory in November 2008 and teed up Ricardo Fuller for the first goal in Stoke’s 3-1 FA Cup victory in January.

Arsenal looked inhibited by the physicality of Stoke and took a while to gain a foothold in the game.

In their first real spell of pressure, a Fabregas volley from outside the box was tipped around the post by Sorensen.

Moments later, the Spaniard’s corner evaded the goalkeeper’s outstretched arm and almost floated into the far top corner.

Arsenal draw level just after the half hour mark when Fabregas was given the time to measure a pinpoint cross for Bendtner, who planted a fine header past Sorensen and just inside the post.

The Gunners made a strong start to the second half and were denied a penalty when Ramsey went down under a challenge from Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye.

Shortly afterwards, fans saw the best and worst of Emmanuel Eboue as the Ivory Coast winger blatantly dived in the area, before almost putting Arsenal ahead with a 25-yard pile-driver which Sorensen tipped over the bar.

The home side spent much of the second period keeping Arsenal at bay as the Gunners pressed for a second goal.

Then came the moment which both managers agreed had tarnished the match, with the play having to be stopped for some seven minutes as Ramsey was treated before being stretchered from the field.

Arsenal took a while to regain their composure but should have taken the lead through substitute Eduardo, who dragged his shot wide from eight yards after being played in by Alex Song.

But in the final minute of normal time Bentdner flicked a pass into the area and the ball struck Pugh’s hand.

Stoke protested that any contact was not deliberate but referee Peter Walton pointed to the spot and Fabregas rolled the ball into the corner.

Three minutes later, the three points were secured as Sorensen parried Tomas Rosicky’s shot into the path of Fabregas, who squared for Vermaelen to tap into the empty net.

It was Arsenal’s first league win over Stoke since 1982 and one that could have a major bearing on the destination of this season’s title.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis:
“It is a bad challenge but I know Shawcross, I signed him as a 19-year-old.

“He has got no bad blood in him whatsoever and there is no way in a million years he would ever go out to hurt anybody. I really mean that.

“Everyone else at this football club sends their condolences on the incident, we wish him well for a speedy recovery and as a fellow Welshman I am devastated.

“But Ryan has come off the pitch broken-hearted, met his mum straightaway and gone straight home.

“For me the game is insignificant, the incident has really spoiled it.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
“I didn’t see many bad tackles in the game but this one was horrendous.

“To lose a player of that quality at 19 years of age when he is just starting his career is just horrendous.

“I am just shocked because that is not football for me. It is not what I like in the game.”