TONY Pulis has won a major vote of confidence in his row with Arsene Wenger after the League Managers' Association declared Stoke's victory over Arsenal as their Premier League performance of the week.

The award appears to vindicate Stoke's stance against Wenger after the Arsenal boss accused Ryan Shawcross and Rory Delap of deliberately trying to injure his players.

Stoke's 2-1 victory over the Gunners caught the eye of a five-man judging panel consisting of LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson and executive members Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry.

Pulis, ironically one of the few working managers not enrolled with the LMA, was due to be presented with an engraved crystal football today to mark his side's achievement.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted. For this football club to win a performance-of-the-week award as a Premier League club is a terrific honour in any week of the season.

"I am the one picking up the award – and I thank the LMA for that – but it was obviously won by a great performance and result from our players.

"They deserve all the plaudits for the efforts they've put into their game so far this season.

"There is an awful long way to go, but we give ourselves a chance with results like the one against Arsenal."

In making the award, the LMA revealed: "Stoke recorded a well-deserved victory over Arsenal at the Britannia to take them a little further away from the drop zone.

"Ricardo Fuller and Seyi Olofinjana scored the goals for Stoke, with Rory Delap assisting on each with a throw to the far post for Fuller to glance the opener before Olofinjana chested in Stoke's second."

Manchester United boss Ferguson, who faces Stoke at Old Trafford next Saturday, added his own support of Stoke's competitive style of play yesterday.

He said: "When you play against Stoke, if you concede a throw or a corner you need your tin helmets on. You know the ball will be in the air and you have to head it. It is something you have to expect.

"They know their strengths. They are committed and honest, but I certainly do not think they are a dirty team."

Pulis, pictured, will regard the award as vindication for the way in which Stoke achieved their shock win – in stark contrast to Wenger's subsequent interpretation of the game.

Pulis will also consider it a slap on the back for himself and Stoke City after this week's dignified response to Wenger's much-publicised assault on his team's reputation.

He declined to reopen this week's clash with Wenger over the nature of Stoke's win, but did say: "I do hope it is now at an end and I do hope people will see the whole thing as no bad reflection on this football club.

"I will only add one thing. We've played countless top teams this season – Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City, Aston Villa and Tottenham – but not one of those teams have complained about us being over-physical. That says it all when it comes to putting this week's events into a true context."

Another manager backing Pulis is his opposing number at Wigan today, Steve Bruce.

He said: "The debate will go on and on, but if you're Stoke City and you've beaten Arsenal 2-1 – however you've done it – the manager deserves a pat on the back."