Arsenal vs Stoke a feisty rivalry built on frustration and deep defensive lines
Arsenal versus Stoke City isn't among English football's most historically famous rivalries, but since the Potters' promotion to the Premier League eight years ago, it has become one of the feistiest. The hatred, however, goes back to before the Premier League era.
The rivalry essentially dates back to the early 1970s, when Arsenal and Stoke met in consecutive FA Cup semifinals. Arsenal triumphed in both, and it's become accepted to refer to the two matches as "controversial" wins -- although the truth is slightly more complex.
In 1971, their FA Cup semifinal took place at Hillsborough, with the Potters storming into a two-goal lead within half an hour. In his match report for The Observer, legendary football writer Arthur Hopcraft described Stoke's play as "uncommonly attractive." It was clear Stoke were not, in general, considered a good footballing side -- sound familiar?
But Arsenal got back into the game and eventually equalised with a stoppage-time penalty, although the award wasn't remotely controversial. Arsenal captain Frank McLintock had headed powerfully towards goal, and Stoke's Welsh international midfielder John Mahoney palmed the ball, Luis Suarez-style, from the goal line and into safety. It was a clear penalty, and from the reaction of Mahoney's himself, it was obvious he had cheated. Peter Storey converted the penalty, Arsenal won the replay four days later and eventually defeated Liverpool at Wembley to clinch the double.
The following season's FA Cup semifinal also went to a replay. After a 1-1 draw at Villa Park, Arsenal won 2-1 at Goodison Park. This result was genuinely controversial, with Stoke aggrieved at three incidents. First, they thought they'd scored when Denis Smith's header was cleared from seemingly just behind the line by Arsenal defender Bob McNab.