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London - Arsenal slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Stoke on Sunday, all but extinguishing the Gunners' faint Premier League title hopes.
First-half goals from Kenwyne Jones and Jermaine Pennant followed by a late Jonathan Walters strike secured a deserved win for the Potters at the Britannia Stadium.
The defeat means Arsenal are effectively out of the title race, and they will be eliminated from contention later if Manchester United avoid defeat against Chelsea.
Arsenal, who had scored a 1-0 victory over United last Sunday, were always struggling to impose themselves as Stoke warmed up for next weekend's FA Cup final against Manchester City in style.
Stoke took the lead on 28 minutes, when Pennant swung in a free-kick from the right which fell to Jones who deflected the ball in off his torso from close range.
The goal was especially sweet for Stoke, who had lodged an official complaint earlier this season when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accused Tony Pulis's team of using "rugby" tactics against goalkeepers.
Stoke's fans greeted Jones' opener with gleeful chants of "1-0 to the rugby team" and a chorus of the Twickenham rugby anthem "Swing Low Sweet Chariot."
It got better for Stoke five minutes before halftime, when a long-range effort from Pennant took a deflection off Johan Djourou and looped beyond Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny for 2-0.
Robin van Persie pulled a goal back to give Arsenal hope on 81 minutes but Stoke hit back almost immediately through Walters after another defensive lapse from the Gunners.
