City succumbed to a goal in each half as the Gunners showed their true class to send the Potters packing at the Emirates Stadium.
The hosts started brightly and should have ahead after 2 minutes but a fantastic save from in form Thomas Sorenson denied Arshavin in a one on one situation. Nasri was next to test the stopper but he was again upto the task and denied the Frenchman.
Stoke's first attack came after six minutes when Tuncay sprinted half the length of the field before laying into the path of Etherington. The pacey wide man put ina cross but Vermaelan was there to nod the ball away.
The pressure didn't stop there though as the visitors saw several corners and long throws come to nothing with the Arsenal back line defending resolutely. With City getting into their stride they were dealt a blow when Delap fouled mini maestro Arshavin in the box. Captain Cesc Fabregas stepped up but keeper Sorenson refused to be beaten and expertly pushed away a powerful spot kick to keep the scores level.
The miss seemed to galvanise the Gunners and they bombarded the Potters defence before eventually they broke the deadlock. Arshavin played a one two with Fabregas before picking his spot and firing the ball into the corner of the net.
Barely sixty seconds passed before the Gunners should have doubled their advantage. Faye, regaining the armband, sliced his clearance onto the post before the rebound fell to Fabregas. The Spaniard was 8 yards out and with an open goal at his mercy. Well I say open goal, there was just team mate Eboue on the line but he couldn't get of out the way and the shot struck him and flew to safety.
Almunia's first save as such came on the half hour mark as Wilkinson sent in a header from 15 yards but the Spanish stopper easily held.
City were clinging on as the first half finished Nasri and Eboue wasting good opportunities whilst a penalty shout against Faye was waved away. The second half started with the Gunners controlling the game, knocking the ball about at will, but City still looked dangerous with Tuncay flagged offside numerous times just a whisker away from being through one on one.
The one time the Turkish star did get through on goal he was held up by Vermaelen before Gallas took the ball off the £5m striker. The Gunners seemed to be happy with their one goal lead as they made the Potters chase the ball for long periods without threatening the goal and were made to sweat as Delap slung in a few missiles as the game wore on.
The second, and decisive, goal did arrive ten minutes from time as the visitors pushed out and left room for Aaron Ramsey to smash the ball low and hard into the corner from 18 yards.
The remaining ten minutes passed without incident as both sides accepted the result and played out the remainder with that mindset