Peter Crouch says Stoke players and supporters spurred on by Arsenal clashes

The Potters extended their impressive home record against the Gunners, and Crouch thinks the two clubs' chequered history works in their favour

Stoke City vs Arsenal — Fired up: Crouch celebrates his first minute opener

Arsenal and Stoke have a love-hate relationship at the Britannia.
Stoke love the fact Arsenal hate going there.
This latest beating makes it just one win in eight visits for the Gunners and Arsene Wenger claimed, with more than just a whiff of sour grapes, he cannot fathom why Stoke are so motivated against his side.
Peter Crouch knows and alluded to Wenger’s attacks on the Potters down the years, such as accusing them of using rugby tactics.
These barbs fire up Stoke and the noisy Brit crowd better than any team-talk.
“Everything that surrounds this game, you can see why there are so many people here because it’s an important fixture,” said Crouch.
“The crowd help. There’s a bit of history, words have been exchanged.
In pictures: Stoke City vs Arsenal

“We are trying to evolve, to play in the right manner. But there are a few of the old people from before, who still have that determination and desire to win. It’s a nice blend.
“I’ve been an away player here with Spurs, and Liverpool and I know it’s not a nice place to come,” said the striker, who terrorised Arsenal.
Crouch scored the fastest Premier League goal this season inside 20 seconds as Stoke blew Arsenal away. The brilliant Bojan and Jonathan Walters also scored and Arsenal had no answer to Stoke’s desire and commitment.
Hughes saw Arsenal’s teamsheet and knew his players could expose their makeshift rookie defence.
Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and Kieran Gibbs were dreadful. Skipper Per Mertesacker was also poor, but unlike the other three, the German could not use inexperience as an excuse.
Their defending for Stoke’s goals was shambolic and the four of them managed to win just one tackle.
Wenger said he was furious at half-time, but defended his selection, saying he had no choice because Laurent Koscielny could only make the bench.

Inexperience: Wenger admitted Chambers 'has to learn' after avoidable sending off

“Of course, you are angry when you are 3-0 down at Stoke,” he said. “But anger doesn’t help you see what you can do to come back and honestly I feel the spirit of the team is great and they want to do well.”
Chambers has a strange way of showing it and he was dismissed with Arsenal pushing for an equaliser after Santi Cazorla’s penalty and Aaron Ramsey’s fine strike inside two minutes had given them hope.
The teenage England defender was sent off for two cautions to take his yellow card tally for the season to nine and Wenger added: “He is 19 and has to learn.
“We were a bit young at the back and defending is a job for older people.”
Too many other Arsenal players were also anonymous. Olivier Giroud fluffed a great chance at 1-0 and they posed more of a threat when Danny Welbeck came on at half-time.
Arsenal’s frailties were laid bare once again and afternoons like this show why they cannot win the Premier League.