The Arsenal and Stoke City rivalry is an association football rivalry in English football between the Premier League clubs, Arsenal F.C. and Stoke City F.C.. ^[1] The rivalry is comparatively recent, compared with other rivalries and local derbies in the United Kingdom having only originated in 2008 when Stoke City were promoted into the Premier League for the first time. ^[2] The rivalry is often defined as a result of a clash of styles between Arsenal's flowing attacking " Tiki-taka" style and Stoke City's long ball style. ^[3]

Prior to 2008, Arsenal and Stoke City often played each other in the FA Cup. During the 1971–72 FA Cup semi-final at Goodison Park an Arsenal goal was scored by John Radford despite being offside, which was attributed to the linesman mistaking an ice-cream seller for a Stoke City player. ^[4] In the 1984–85 First Division season, Arsenal won 4–0 at Highbury in their last top flight league match together before Stoke City were relegated. In 2008, Stoke City won promotion into the Premier League after finishing as runners-up to West Bromwich Albion F.C. in the 2007–08 Football League Championship. ^[5] This meant that Stoke City would compete in the Premier League for the first time after having last played in the top flight of English football in 1985. ^[6] The two clubs first played each other in the Premier League in November 2008 at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium. Stoke City won 2–1 with both of their goals coming from midfielder, Rory Delap's long throw ins. ^[7] Arsenal also had striker Robin Van Persie sent off after knocking down Stoke City goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen with a shoulder charge, which Sørensen later admitted he had provoked. ^[8] After the match, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger criticized Stoke City's tactics focusing on their tackling of Arsenal players stating "The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say." ^[2] Wenger also criticized Stoke City defender, Ryan Shawcross for a tackle on Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor which injured Adebayor for three weeks as well as separate injuries that happened to Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Bacary Sagna because of Stoke City's players. ^[9] Arsenal won the return fixture 4–1 at the Emirates Stadium. ^[10] The next season, they next played in the FA Cup at the Britannia Stadium, where Stoke City won 3–1 in a match where Arsenal played a number of youth players. ^[11]

In January 2010 Arsenal won 3–1 at the Britannia Stadium. However, the match was marred by a tackle by Shawcross on Aaron Ramsey which broke Ramsey's leg and Shawcross was sent off and left the pitch crying. Sky Sports, who were broadcasting the match, refused to show replays of the tackle. ^[12] BBC's Match of the Day programme, which broadcast highlights of the game, also initially refused to show pictures of it. ^[13] Also during the match, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas shushed Stoke City manager, Tony Pulis. ^[14] After the match, Wenger described the tackle as "horrendous". ^[15] Pulis, upon being told of Wenger's remarks, said "He (Wenger) can keep his opinions to himself". ^[13]

Reception to the incident was widely discussed in the media. Arsenal fan and television personality, Alan Davies said in his " It's Up For Grabs Now" podcast that it was the worst tackle he'd seen and mentioned that he had received threats from Stoke City fans for suggesting that Shawcross should be banned for eight months. ^[16] Pulis stated that he believed that the injury was an accident. ^[17] Shawcross later sent a text message apologizing to Ramsey but did not go to see Ramsey after the incident. ^[18] It has been stated by football commentators and writers that the Ramsey-Shawcross incident was the main reason for the rivalry escalating and starting in earnest. ^{[19] [2]}

Following the incident, Shawcross was booed by Arsenal fans at matches. ^[20] In response, Stoke City fans booed Ramsey at matches. ^[21] Wenger criticised this in 2012 stating that the abuse from fans stating "It's easy to sit in the stand and insult people. It's the easiest sport in the world." Pulis claimed that he didn't hear Stoke fans insulting Ramsey because he was more focused on Arsenal fans insulting Shawcross. ^[22]

In September 2010, Stoke City wrote to The Football Association after Wenger had compared Stoke City's tactics to rugby. However, The FA ruled that there was no case to answer. ^[23] After the same match, Pulis alledged that Wenger was attempting to influence referee, Chris Foy. ^[23] After this Stoke City fans started to sing " Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", the England national rugby union team supporters anthem and mocked Wenger's mannerisms at matches. ^[24] In 2013, during a match at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta lunged on Stoke's Michael Owen who responded by throwing a punch at Arteta. ^[25] Despite requests for an FA charge, Owen was not punished retrospectively as referee Chris Foy had seen it and both players apologised to each other after the match. ^[26] The next season, Ramsey scored against Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium and shushed the Stoke City fans. In response, the Stoke City fans printed a leaflet in The Oatcake fanzine directly warning Ramsey of hostility in the return match at the Britannia Stadium. ^[27] In 2014 after the return match which Stoke City won Steven N'Zonzi stated "when you start kicking them (Arsenal) a little bit, it gets harder for them ... They don't like it, we know that. We don't care. We'll keep on doing it." ^[28]