Wenger: I would copy Stoke's long-throw tactic... if Rory Delap played for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger admits he is deeply jealous of Rory Delap’s long throw-ins.

Wenger is renowned as a football purist but says he would definitely use the tactic if Stoke midfielder Delap played for Arsenal.

Gunners boss Wenger even jokingly said that a cleaning firm should make Delap the star of a TV advert because of the way he uses a towel to wipe the ball down before launching his famous long throws.

Wenger says that he fully expects to be in for a difficult afternoon at Stoke as Delap’s throws have already helped knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup at the Britannia this season.

But Wenger says he admires Stoke boss Tony Pulis and their approach, claiming that they are not just a long ball outfit. Wenger did say that referee Peter Walton should add on time when Delap uses his towel tactic.

Wenger said: “The real question is do you deduct the time it takes to clean the ball or not? It could be a good advert for a cleaning company!

“Delap is dangerous through his throw-ins because they are horizontal, you have no time to get to the ball, it comes like an arrow, it comes flat and it’s so difficult to defend against.

“Of course I would use it, why not? I can understand completely why Stoke use the throw in. But unfortunately Delap is the only one who has a throw like that.

“Stoke are good on set pieces in general but the problem with Delap is that any throw inside our half is as good as a corner.”

Wenger also paid tribute to rival boss Pulis who he says has done well to develop Stoke as a football team and ensure they do not suffer from second season syndrome.

“They have technically improved a lot,” said Wenger. “They are well organised, they defend well and in an intelligent way and they don’t concede many chances or many goals.”

Wenger’s unlikely praise for Pulis - known as a manager who uses long balls - and Delap may be designed to butter up Stoke before Arsenal go to the Britannia desperate for a victory to stay in the title race.

It has been an up-and-down season for Arsenal and also their left back Gael Clichy who admits he has struggled at times this season - even earning severe criticism from Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen.

Hansen called Clichy’s defending against Manchester United last month “the worst he’d seen in 30 years.” That defeat nearly put Arsenal out of the title race but Clichy insists he will come back stronger and they are still in with a shout.

Clichy said: “It doesn’t hurt you but, of course, if people question your ability or your playing, of course you have to ask yourself the question. But personally I feel the team is doing well defensively.

“Of course you can always do better, but what we did was to make individual mistakes. I was part of this against Manchester United.

“I was proud because it’s never easy to come back from three months’ injury and I think I did well.

“I think I’m getting there and I hope I can go on and do the best for the team and we can go on and win the title and go as far as possible in the Champions League.”

*Arsenal celebrated 25 years of Arsenal in the Community this week.  Over a quarter-century, Arsenal has invested 5.5 million hours in one million participants in its sport, charity, regeneration, education and social inclusion initiatives in London and overseas.