By Myles Palmer
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ARSENAL 3 BLACKBURN 0
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
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ROBIN van Persie came on as a sub for Bergkamp in 83 minutes.
And scored two great goals.
His mouth was smacked by Andy Todd as he turned away from scoring his second goal.
With Mark Hughes going for 4-5-1 and kicking, it was a dull first half. Arsenal were obliged to pass the ball across the field and back again.
Reyes had a nightmare, his touch having deserted him.
It’s very sad to see a player of his gifts performing at 25% of his potential.
Playing like this, Reyes would not command a place at Palace, Norwich. Middlesbrough.
IN 37, the first slick-quick Arsenal move ended with Reyes jabbing a useful shot low to Friedel’s left, the keeper making a useful save.
On 42. Kolo Toure joined the attack on the left and cut back onto his right foot to send a low pass across the six- yard box.
Freddie missed it but Pires knocked in for 1-0 at half-time.
On 49, Fabregas came on for Ljungberg, who had pulled something.
By 69, when Robbie Savage came on, it was the dullest Arsenal semi-final of all time.
Senderos flicked on, Gilberto had a volley, then another, both saved. He was offside anyway.
On 83, enter the gladiator from Rotterdam.
Vieira slipped the ball forward to van Persie in a central position and he spun Lucas Neill and waltzed past Andy Todd and ambled into the D and sent hit a left-foot shot
Todd, still on one knee, humiliated, had a good view as the ball flew sweetly into the bottom corner for 2-0.
GAME OVER.
Aliadiere came on for Reyes in 90 and then Pires cut the ball back from the left side and it bounced neatly in front of van Persie and he whacked his shot into the same corner for 3-0.
As he turned away, van Persie was hit in the mouth by Andy Todd’s elbow.
He did not see Todd, but Todd saw him.
On the replays, Todd did not move his elbow much.
But the momentum of his body took his upper forearm into van Persie’s mouth.
At first I thought the elbow had caught van Persie on the point of the chin. As he lay on the turf he looked spark-out.
The incident was no accident.
It was a spiteful forearm smash in the gob. Footballers always know where their feet are and they know exactly where their elbows are as well.
It was disguised to look accidental, but it was a calculated assault.
Todd’s reaction was not a spontaneous expression of innocence. He looked guilty.
Referee Steve Dunn was watching the ball to see if it went in the net, so he did not see Todd’s thuggery.
The FA must look at it.
Brian Barwick, do you have any balls?
Todd should be banned for two games.
If the FA don’t ban Todd then they are condoning thuggery.
Elbows are dangerous.
Arsenal had 63.9% possession.
It’s their 4th FA Cup Final in the last five years.
The timing of the goals vindicated Arsene’s philosophy as a physiological manager.
As soon as Blackburn tired, Pires scored. As soon as they tired again, van Persie scored twice.
And I fancy them to beat Manchester United in the final. And I fancy United to finish third again.
Can Arsene turn RVP into a £25 million striker? Maybe.
The kid has a style all his own. If he can fit in at Arsenal he can be a big star.
Can Robin play with Thierry?
Reyes can’t because he keeps running into Thierry’s favoured spaces.
April 17th 2005