Arsenal:
         Stack
Lauren Keown Tavlaridis Clichy
Wiltord Parlour Edu Bentley (Thomas 82)
  Kanu Aliadiere (Cesc 73)

Kanu scored the first after 25 minutes. Former Man Utd delinquent Ronnie Wallwork gave the ball away and it came to Lauren on the right wing. His cross took a bit of a deflection which helped it find Kanu's criminally unmarked run at goal. He directed the header straight at the keeper who could only palm it back at the big Nigerian and, with no-one having followed him in, it was an easy task to tap it in for 1-0.

We'd already had at least 2 big let-offs. First Bentley had given a soft free-kick away near the halfway line which was lofted into the box where Keown could have been penalised for holding. He wasn't, and the ball bounced on to another striker who shot wide. Then they had a cross headed in but the goal was wrongly disallowed for offside. Stack (who had a great game overall) spilled an early free kick and was lucky to see Kanu on hand to clear from the 6 yard line.

In the middle of defence Keown and Tavlaridis were both pulling off some big tackles, but both walking a bit close to the disciplinary line as well. It was pretty astonishing (and the home side might feel justifiably aggrieved) that the pair of Arsenal centre-backs only ended up with the 1 yellow card (for Tavlaridis) between them.

Not long after the opening goal, Keown was lucky again when he clearly fouled in the box as another cross came in. This time the ball was scrambled clear.

Clement hit the post from a narrow angle from open play, then it a long-range free-kick just wide (Stack was scarmbling over and may have had it covered).

They had another excellent penalty claim when Tavlaridis had his arm round Gregan's neck from behind as a cross came over. He managed to head it on anyway (perhaps saving us from a penalty) and it sat up for an overhead kick which Stack had to dive sharply to his right to push round the post.

There was a strange delay at half-time due to an injury to a linesman. Now that they have a 4th official there's always someone on call to step in, but the kick-off was delayed for 10 minutes while they looked for someone to take over as 4th official, the point apparently being that as 4th official they too had to be qualified to take over as linesman. As it happened, they found Premiership ref Dermot Gallagher in the stands and he did it, borrowing a tracksuit so he looked the part. The ref did end up going off for treatment in the second half but unfortunately he was able to carry on, so we weren't treated to the sight of Gallagher running up and down the line in his suit.

The second half was more of the same. Arsenal did have some attacks but most of them broke down near the edge of the box. Stack was much more active than his opposite number, but played very well indeed and one has to feel a bit sorry for Stuart Taylor whose injury this season may have given Stack the space to establish himself ahead in the pecking order. He had rave reviews on loan at Beveren last year and you can see why.

Some of their best chances were just wasted, though. Lee Hughes in particular blasted a superb chance high, soon after the break.

Aliadiere got very lucky when he tangled with Gaardse off the pitch. The defender had been trying to shepherd the ball out and Aliadiere had done brilliantly to get his foot around and knock it out off of Gaardse. As it happens, the ref didn't see that and wrongly awarded them a goal-kick, but I doubt if either of the players were aware of that as they lay in a heap. Gaardse had made contact as they went over but nothing nasty, and Aliadiere clearly lashed out with his boot - something he'll have to cut out if he's going to have the future people are predicting for him.

Soon after though it was Aliadiere who doubled the lead and it was largely down to Gaardse. He passed back towards the keeper Russell Hoult, who can't have been wanting it with Wiltord and Aliadiere hovering on the edge of the box. Hoult had to stretch to get to it and only managed to poke it towards Aliadiere, and the youngster was only to happy to accept the gift.

The rest of the game was more of the same. Aliaidiere had a chance from a Wiltord cross, lovely technique as he met the low ball with a first-time shot in the D, but straight at Hoult.

West Brom hit the woodwork twice in the last 10 minutes and deserved a goal at the very least. They should take some comfort at least from the fact that Wolves did deserve their 5-1 thrashing in the previous round. Wolves might appeal to the fact that they had to face Vieira so the chances of them dominating midfield through numbers like the Baggies did were always going to be pretty slim.

Semi-final draw coming soon. Wenger may well strengthen the side, especially if we get Tottenham or Chelsea!