- Today's Transfer News !!
- report on the first match of this tie, at Highbury on 4th January
- ArseWeb FA Cup page
Sunderland (0) 0 - 2 (0) Arsenal
Roker Park, Wednesday 15th January 1997
FA Cup 3rd round (replay)
Full report to follow
Arsenal:
Seaman Parlour Adams Keown Bould Winterburn
Vieira Platt Hughes
Bergkamp Merson
Goals:
Bergkamp 46, Hughes 65
Sunderland were kept to very few attempts in the first half thanks largely to a
whole-hearted and dominating performance from Tony Adams. Perez made a few saves,
and did well to get to a loose ball before Nigel Winterburn after Vieira's cross
was badly dealt with. Keown was booked for running into someone off the ball.
A particularly good second half for Arsenal, creating many good opportunities. Bergkamp and Merson were playing up front in the absence of the suspended Wright and Hartson and being supported well by Platt Parlour and Hughes.
Bergkamp scored "an absolute belter" with a shot that curled beyond Perez in the first minute of the second half, finally silencing the Sunderland crowd. Merson had fed Bergkamp, who nearly lost the ball. Surrounded by Sunderland players and with his back to goal a few yards outside the area, he came up with what Alan Hansen tonight called a "double dragback", then took the ball forward and, when in no position to shoot, somehow dug the ball out from under his feet and placed it in the far corner.
Peter Reid said later, "I started clapping myself until I realized that i was sunderland's manager".
Then Parlour had a good run and shot, one of several saved well by Perez in the Sunderland goal. He then followed this almost immediately by setting up Merson whose cross was met by a stooping Winterburn header which hit the post. Merson also had a shot or two saved, as well as putting one or two over - apparently shooting on sight at times, and having another great game
The second goal was a delightful Merson chipped cross converted by the head of Stephen Hughes - a brave diving effort under pressure from a defender. Perez had come to Merson and been left stranded by the cross. It was Hughes's first first-team goal, and his general performance was excellent. "A great prospect" they say, but we've been hearing that for a few years now! Let's hope he can make his mark this time.
Merson was superb again. Bursting through a cluster of Sunderland players just inside their own area, his pass was perfect for the onrushing Platt (doing what he's supposed to do best) but once again Perez came out well to save.
The latter stages were very comfortable for Arsenal, having men over, all over the pitch. In the closing minutes Perez once again pulled off an outstanding save from a Merson shot - a great victory for the French goalie in that individual contest throughout three consecutive matches. At the other end, Seaman had less to do, but did it commandingly. Maybe it'll take finishers of Tony Adams' class to beat England's No.1 this year!
In round 4, Arsenal will be at home to Leeds or Crystal Palace, probably on February 4th or 5th (according to the Radio, that is: I thought Sat 25th January was the designated 4th round date). Update - leaving time for Palace and Leeds to decide their 3rd round tie appears to be the reason for this. We now have (unconfirmed) reports that the 4th round match will be on Tuesday 4th Feb.
Transfer News
According to Teletext services, Arsenal have beaten "Europe's top clubs" to complete the signing of 17 year-old French striker Nikola Anelka from Paris St Germain. He will join us on a 2 year contract for an undisclosed fee, but only from the start of next season.
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