Wenger's men were punished by the Premiership newcomers on Saturday, thanks to two trade-mark throw-ins from the Ireland midfielder.

"We had a plan to deal with the throw-ins; we had worked on it. I am not sure the first one was touched by anybody," Wenger said after the game.

"They fly into the box and it is difficult with 20 people in there. That sort of thing is not our greatest strength. We were punished and I believe we were unlucky as well."

Apart from losing ground in the league table, Arsenal were hit by more setbacks at the Britannia Stadium.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott were both stretchered off with injuries in the second half, whilst Robin Van Persie was shown a straight red card after a challenge on Thomas Sorensen.

"We have very bad injuries to Adebayor and Walcott, and there is Sagna. One or two have knocks as well," Wenger added.

“I think that the red card was very, very harsh. He shouldn’t have done it but I don’t think it was a red card."

Worked Again

On the other hand, Man of the Match winner Delap was delighted his extraordinary throw-in produced a goal for the seventh time in 11 games.

Delap is responsible for more than half the goals scored by the Potters so far this term, as he set up Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana against Arsenal.

"It has worked again but we need someone to get the final touch on, so credit to Ricardo and Ollie because they deserve their goals today," said the Stoke midfielder.

"I don't want to say how you should or shouldn't defend it but at the moment it is working for us and we will keep at it.

"As long as I can get a good grip on the ball it seems to cause everybody problems."

Watch Delap's latest three assists

Fuller vs. Arsenal

Olofinjana vs. Arsenal

Fuller vs. Sunderland