Peter Crouch shares what his Stoke City team always used to say before they played against Arsenal

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Arsenal are a different outfit under Mikel Arteta heading into the new Premier League campaign.

Arteta has built an Arsenal side full of strength and stature – a team that rarely loses the physical battle on the pitch.

Disciplinary issues cost Arsenal last season and they will need to improve in that area, however, they are a far cry from some Arsene Wenger sides that used to get bullied off the pitch.

The Gunners used to dread going to places like Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers. Former Stoke striker Peter Crouch has just revealed what he and his teammates used to say before facing Arsenal.

READ MORE: Tim Cahill says Arsenal would easily win the title if they had £52m player in their squad

Peter Crouch says Stoke City saw Arsenal as a ‘banker’ in the Premier League

Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Obi One’ podcast alongside former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, Crouch has revealed that Stoke City saw Arsenal as a ‘banker’ during their time in the Premier League.

When discussing his side’s journey in the top-flight, Crouch stated: “So no one liked coming. And then, you know, we made things difficult for them. And yes, certainly Arsenal in general, really.

“It felt like we were, it was like when we were going through the teams at the start of the season, it was like, you know, you’d think, where are you going to get your points? Arsenal, banker.

“That’s Arsenal, do you know what I mean? Because we made it so hard for them. You could tell they didn’t enjoy coming.”

The Gunners haven’t faced Stoke since their relegation to the Championship in the 2017-18 season, but Arteta’s side would certainly relish the prospect now.

The likes of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes would not be intimidated by the long throws and set-piece bombardment, whilst Arteta’s attack would still have the superior quality going forward.

Arsenal’s Premier League record at Stoke City makes for sorry reading

Travelling away to Stoke City really did used to be one of the biggest tests of the campaign for Wenger’s sides and was often a barometer as to whether they were up for a title challenge that season.

Upon Stoke’s return to the top flight in 2008, the Gunners won just twice in ten games held at the Britannia Stadium – one of those marred by a horrific injury to Aaron Ramsey in 2010.

The Potters even recorded a victory in the 2010 FA Cup by securing a 3-1 win and dumping Arsenal out of yet another trophy.

Arsenal haven’t had to worry about the physical threat of Stoke in seven seasons, however, some fans may be wishing for revenge in a cup draw over the next few campaigns.