Pulis: 'We couldn't hold on against Arsenal'

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis was left to rue the strength of Arsenal's substitutes' bench after their 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium

The Potters frustrated the home side for long periods of the game before substitute Robin van Persie's brace earned the Gunners the three points.

"We thought we did really well until they got the second goal," Pulis told Sky Sports News. "But the second and third goals were poor goals to give away.

"They had a top team with some excellent players so to have people like Van Persie and Arshavin on the bench is fine.

"That's what you need and that's why they are where they are."

The defeat has seen Stoke drop to ninth place in the Premier League table, while Arsenal have leapfrogged them into seventh.