Arsenal started well. The closest we came was when Thierry Henry got put clear on the right, it looked like he might go for goal but instead he took it to the goal line before cutting back for Bergkamp, but a couple of defenders converged on the ball with him and cleared it.

We went behind in the 6th minute through the nemesis that is Robbie Fowler, a free header after good wing play from Wilcox.

Great wing play from Campbell and Cole created a half-chance for Henry after Pires laid the ball off to him from Ashley's cut-back, but Thierry mis-hit his shot and sliced it well high and wide.

Henry wasted a good opportunity a bit later. With time, on the right, he hit a wild shot over when for once there were options in the box.

Cole, just back from a 5 yellow card ban, got himself booked after 25 minutes for sliding in 2-footed. Later on Pires saw yellow for a silly little kick at Batty. Then it looked like Cole was going to get a second as the ref took a long time thinking about a (fairly innocuous) challenge on Bowyer, but in the end he just had a chat with the 2 of them.

Keown and Viduka (who have some history) tussled off the ball on the half-hour, and Martin went down. The ref pulled play back but didn't penalise anyone. It did look like Viduka swung an arm at him. They had another tussle later, when Keown did win the free-kick. And in the second half Martin got the upper hand again when he had to use all his pace to get across the box and launch himself to block the Aussie's shot.

Fowler had shot from just outside the penalty box after a fluffed Keown clearance, but Campbell closed him down well, and may even have got a touch which sent it wide.

We equalised just before the break with a beautiful move. Pires picked the ball up a few yards inside our half on the left. He played 1-2 with Bergkamp, the Dutchman delaying the return pass so as to find Bob's run on the edge of the box. Henry let the ball through his legs which just puleed the defender away from Pires's path enough. The ball arrived not quite in front of him but Bob took the ball in his stride with teh outside of his near foot, and took it forward level with the left hand upright before hitting a sweet shot into the small gap between Nigel Martyn and his near post.

Vieira had a half chance 10 minutes into the second half when he got a free header from a corner. But he was backing away from goal and so couldn't quite jump high enough to get behind it.

Ashley Cole went for goal when he should had laid it off for Vieira who was clear to his right. To be fair to Cole, the move was his. Good battling and a one-two with Henry on the wing saw him racing towards goal. He played it forward to Pires who laid it back to him, and despite good support Cole only had the net in his sights as he lashed it wide. Shortly after, Fowler and Viduka combined well at the other end but the former Liverpool man shot wide of the far post.

Freddie Ljungberg had to go off with 25 minutes to go after a nasty-looking knock. Someone fell onto his leg while it was stretched out and tense. On came Bronco van Geoffhurst, with Parlour moving to the right.

Gio had a shot fromn the D soon after coming on, which may have been going wide of the left hand post but was deflected and had Martyn beat, but just trickled wide of the other post.

Wiltord came on with 20 mins to go, for Bergkamp who had been quiet in the second half.

Arsenal:
Wright; Moose (Dix 81) Keown Sol Ash;
Freddie (Gio 66) Paddy Ray Bob; Thierry Dennis (Wiltord)

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