Arsenal 1 - 0 Liverpool
Bergkamp 28

A stinking wet day at Highbury, but all the sort of drama which makes the FA Cup the greatest competition in the world.

Arsenal were deserved 1-0 winners, thanks to a bullet header from Dennis Bergkamp. But there's no getting away from the fact that the disciplinary problems at the game - both on the field, and in the East Lower - will be making tomorrow's headlines.

Referee Mike Riley had a relatively quiet first half, but went card-crazy in the second - with Martin Keown and Dennis Bergkamp both getting straight reds, and hence lengthy bans.

Keown was dismissed for a professional foul on 66 mins - a decision which seemed harsh. A bit of tussling is surely the norm on these occasions... and besides, Richard Wright had come well out of his box and made a successful (although rather sliced) clearance. Yellow would surely have been enough.

Five minutes later, and it was the turn of Dennis Bergkamp - perhaps angry at a definite handball which slipped through moments earlier - to see red. We in the West Stand didn't have a great view of things, but the TV pictures seemed (just about) to back up Riley's verdict that he had launched a rather dangerous two-footed challenge at Carragher.

With play halted, and incredulity sweeping Highbury, some idiot in the Lower East Stand took it upon themselves to throw a coin at Carragher, who - it must be said - had been working up quite a head of steam anyway. But he had no excuse for picking up said coin and throwing it back, equally venomously. Another red from Mr Riley, and we're down to 10 v 9.

From there on, it was a masterclass in timewasting. Arseweb was especially proud to see Richard Wright give a ballboy a telling off for returning the ball a little too quickly (with 15 mins to go?!). Arsenal could have had a third, Liverpool should have had a second... but perhaps thankfully, the game fizzled out.

Statements began flying from all sides within minutes of the game finishing. Carragher has apologised for letting down his club, the fans, himself, and everyone else who knows him. Arsenal have promised to ban the coin-tosser for life. And that's before Monday morning's papers have their say.

For what it's worth: the draw - now looking distinctly lacking in scary Big Names - has given us a home tie against Gillingham or Bristol Rovers.