Arsenal, last year's beaten finalists in the FA Cup, have exacted revenge over champions Liverpool by dumping them out of this year's competition in a dramatic 1-0 win at Highbury this afternoon. Dutch striker Dennis Bergkamp headed home Thierry Henry's cross after 27 minutes but the game exploded into life in the second half as Bergkamp, team-mate Martin Keown and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher all headed for an early bath.
The first real scoring chance of the game came Liverpool's way as early as the 13th minute when former Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka set up Michael Owen who ran clear of the home defence. Although your money would have been on Owen to score in a one-on-one with Richard Wright, the Arsenal keeper made a fine save with his legs to deny the visitors the lead.
However, it was Arsenal who made the breakthrough in the 27th minute when Henry sent over a beautiful cross from the left and Bergkamp was on hand to nip in ahead of Carragher and head in at the far post. Liverpool almost equalised two minutes later when Anelka sent a crashing drive against the bar but Arsenal kept up the pressure as they searched for a second goal before the break, no doubt remembering how Liverpool came from behind in last year's final at Cardiff to win the game.
After the break, Liverpool caretaker boss Phil Thompson made some changes, introducing Jari Litmanen for Anelka, but it was Arsenal who continued to dominate and create the better scoring chances, with Thierry Henry in particular looking dangerous on the break. However, Liverpool were gifted a lifeline back into this tie in the 66th minute when referee Mike Riley produced the first of three red cards after Keown pulled back Owen as the England striker raced on to an over-the-top ball.
However, less than five minutes later, Riely was called into action again when Bergkamp turned from hero to villain after a dangerous two-footed tackle on Carragher and the Gunners found themselves down to nine men. But before play could resume, Carragher was following the Dutchman down the tunnel after a moment of madness. A fan had thrown an object at the Liverpool defender and he immediately picked it up and threw it back into the crowd, which Riley took exception to and the red card was out of the pocket again.
Despite having only nine men left on the pitch, Arsenal held on for a deserved victory that will surely go some way towards lessening the heartbreak they suffered in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium last May but no doubt the headlines will be more concerned with the fact that the North London club have now had ten players sent off this season so far. Although they have booked their place in the fifth round of the Cup, their growing suspension list could yet affect their title aspirations.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
