Rory Delap... Stoke dangerman
Wenger - Why Delap's throws are dangerous
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By Chris Harris
Arsène Wenger admits there is only so much you can do to prepare for Stoke's not-so-secret weapon - especially if you're a goalkeeper.
Arsenal's next Premier League opponents are unbeaten in 2010 and, as Wenger pointed out at his pre-match press conference, they are capable of craft as well as graft.
But in Rory Delap's long throw-ins, Stoke boast a unique threat which has undone some of the best clubs in the land. Arsenal have fallen foul of Delap's deliveries on their last two visits to Britannia Stadium and Manchester City came a cropper there in the FA Cup in midweek.
Long throws are nothing new but, in Wenger's opinion, the velocity and trajectory of Delap's make them very hard to repel.
"You can try [to practice defending them] but it’s difficult because the ball is so flat," said the Frenchman.
"As well, there are so many people in the box that sometimes for the keeper [it’s difficult].
"You see Shay Given on Wednesday night [when Stoke beat Man City] – his own defenders became a problem for him, because when the strikers pushed the defenders a little bit back, he doesn’t come out.
"He doesn’t reach the ball because of his own defenders in his way. You get your hand out and he didn’t get to the ball."
[Friday, February 26, 2010]
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