Fuller 2, 78    Denilson 42

                                                                                              Whitehead 86

Arsenal became the third of the EPL’s “big four” to depart this season’s FA Cup when they crashed to defeat at Stoke’s Britannia Stadium.

The Gunners never recovered their composure after falling behind on 70 seconds.

They equalised shortly before half-time and the late introduction of three rested first-team regulars suggested that they were anxious to avoid a replay.

This, they managed, although not in the desired manner, as Stoke finished stronger and ran out worthy winners.

Veteran defender Sol Campbell made his first start in an Arsenal shirt since he scored in the 2006 Champions League final.

But no Arsenal defender could cope with the first of Rory Delap’s famed long throws, which was headed straight into the net by Ricardo Fuller past a stranded keeper Lukasz Fabianski.

Denilson equalised on 42 minutes when his low shot from the edge of the box was deflected past a wrong-footed Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen.

Andrei Arshavin, Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo were brought on to force an Arsenal winner.

But Fuller headed his second goal from a terrific Mamady Sidibe cross on 78 minutes. And Dean Whitehead turned in Matthew Etherington’s low ball from close-range with four minutes left to seal victory.