It's a very tight fit. You can rend on them for hours, break pullers, even put yourself in hospital with little drama.
Whatever you want to do, but they won't want to come off. The good news is, one short sharp hit in the right place, in the right way does it like it was meant to come out instead of being welded in as they had been for hours beforehand.
Bill R has a neat way of taking the strut bottom off arms included and sitting it on sockets of varying sizes so it sits straight- cos you need to be a good aim with your hammer on the control arm bolts.
(search for it- the pics are great)
You won't believe it till you look twice and see it off after a single hit with a 4lb hammer.
It is never worth trying to pop 'em on the car, esp. if rusted/old....
ps oh yes, don't forget to put lots of good penetrating oil in there the night before

Nick