Arsenal boss insists that he had only little choice but to field a weakened side after the Gunners were dumped out of the FA Cup by Stoke

Arsenal lost the game by 3-1 in the fourth-round tie at the Britannia Stadium and Arsene Wenger conceded that his squad of youth players could not cope with the physical style of the hosts.

Wenger is now concentrating the forthcoming matches of Premier League against the Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Stoke did also beat the Gunners last season in the league at the Britannia.

Arsene Wenger said, “The game was more physical than technical, and physically they were stronger than us in a very simple game.”

He also added, “We were exposed to a fight, and some of our players were a bit young and could not cope with it.”