FA Cup: Arsenal comfortable at the break

Arsenal 2, Newcastle 0 (half-time)

Arsenal had to concentrate on a double rather than a treble after their midweek Champions League exit, and upped their tempo considerably against Newcastle in their FA Cup quarter-final replay.

The game was only 62 seconds old when Robert Pires continued his excellent form by opening the scoring.

Dennis Bergkamp was the creative genius behind the move. The Dutchman had bamboozled Nikos Dabizas in scoring a quite brilliant goal at St James’ Park earlier this month, and this time his exquisite touch fooled Andy O’Brien, he released Pires on the left and the Frenchman bent a shot from the edge of the area past Shay Given.

Minutes later, it could have been two after Bergkamp waved his magic wand again. The striker was close to the spot where Pires had scored from, but his curling shot cannoned against the angle of bar and post.

In the ninth minute, however, Bergkamp did get on the scoresheet as Arsenal scythed through the Newcastle defence once more.

This was very much a team goal. Edu, the Brazilian midfielder, kept possession cleverly and fed Sylvain Wiltord on the left. He picked out Pires’ run, the winger saw Bergkamp unmarked in front of goal, fired in a low cross and the Dutchman glided the ball home.

The start, as far as Arsenal were concerned, could hardly have been more different to Wednesday’s drab affair against Juventus.

Newcastle were in desperate need of inspiration, and it almost arrived from O’Brien.

Arsenal failed to clear a free-kick, Sylvain Distin hammered the ball across the six-yard box for Nolberto Solano to return it into the danger area where O’Brien flicked a header wide.

Bergkamp and Solano then tangled near the touchline, and the Arsenal striker appeared to aim a petulant kick at the Peruvian while sitting on the floor, but referee Uriah Rennie contented himself with waving an angry finger when he should really have wielded a yellow card.