The whole world, Bobby Robson insisted, wanted Newcastle to surge into the
semi-finals of the FA Cup.
And no-one on Planet Football could have denied them their right to a fourth
semi in five years after they dominated a typically fraught and rumbustious
encounter at St James' Park.
As it is Robson's side, who defended stoutly and surged forward relentlessly,
will have to replay at Highbury.
The smart money says their chance may well have gone, especially as the
phenomenal momentum which Arsene Wenger reckons could take Arsenal to an
historic treble shows no sign of abating.
Brazilian Edu scored the first-half goal for the Gunners while Laurent Robert
replied with a spectacular right-foot rocket in the second-half.
But, unlike the FA Barclaycard Premiership clash so comprehensively won by
Arsenal a week ago on Tyneside, this match was a tribute to the courage and
resolution of Robson and the determination of his side to reap their reward from
a season of such promise and potential.
Revenge was in the Tyneside air this chilly March evening and Arsenal owe much
to the heroics of goalkeeper Richard Wright, the solidity of Sol Campbell and
the St James' woodwork for their second chance.
Whether they deserved it is a matter for debate. For all Wenger's insistence
that his side were going for all three available competitions his disappointing
teamsheet gave a pretty good clue as to his priorities.
David Seaman, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires all started on the bench with
Tuesday's Champions League encounter against Deportivo La Coruna in mind and
once more the FA Cup shamefully was deemed a poor relation in the eyes of one of
English soccer's top clubs.
The same could hardly be said of Newcastle - a club whose supporters approach
each game as if was a cup final and whose manager was out on the pitch an hour
before kick-off, milking the growing atmosphere as his team warmed up.
Robson wrote in his programme notes: "If in August I'd been offered fourth
place in the league and a sixth round cup place by March, I'd have done
somersaults on the pitch."
His team never quite provided the opportunity for the 69-year-old to indulge
in such acrobatics but if soccer was boxing then the Geordies would have won
this encounter comfortably on points.
They could easily have taken the lead as early as the 10th minute, Shearer's
free-kick from the edge of the area after Robert had been fouled bringing a
flying fingertip save from Wright.
It was the spark which brought the game to life and the next 10 minutes could
have seen either side score a brace of goals.
As it was it was the pace of Sylvain Wiltord which stretched the static
Newcastle defence wide on the right in the 14th minute, his precision cross
allowing Brazilian Edu to arrive late to slide the ball under Shay Given's
body.
It was another example of the penetration so typical of the Arsenal surge
which had seen the Londoners go 17 games unbeaten since they last tasted defeat
against Newcastle at Highbury.
Robson sides, however, are not renowned for waving white flags and their
riposte was swift and sharp - Nolberto Solano's cross met by Robert whose mishit
shot slammed into the ground and ricocheted past Wright but against the bar.
Was it to be that sort of day?
It seemed so when Sylvain Distin's header was scrambled off the line by Lee
Dixon, a week away from his 38th birthday but as solid as ever on Arsenal's
defensive right flank.
Nikos Dabizas and Carl Cort also went close with powerful headers as Newcastle
surged forward with lashings of gung-ho enthusiasm and a good deal more cerebral
endeavour than they produced in last weekend's 2-0 home defeat against the
Gunners.
But you couldn't help feeling that the Newcastle cause in both cup and league
was stalled the moment Craig Bellamy tore his knee tendon.
Too often for all their head of steam they struggled to get behind the
defensive shield of the imperious Campbell, allowing Arsenal to soak up pressure
and then launch the lightning breaks which have become their trademark.
A more direct approach, however, worked for Newcastle six minutes after the
interval.
Goalkeeper Given launched a huge punt upfield and Alan Shearer, as always a
strong and feisty presence, used his muscle and evergreen spring to flick the
ball forward.
It landed invitingly in Robert's path and Newcastle's utility man took three
strides before launching a zipping right-foot shot which flew past Wright.
It was no more than Newcastle deserved and Wenger's concern was obvious as he
introduced first Pires for Fredrik Ljungberg and then Bergkamp for Edu.
Still, however, it was Newcastle who dominated, Cort failing by inches to
connect with Distain's swirling cross with the goal gaping.
It was that sort of match, Newcastle just failing to capitalise on their
superior endeavour.
Still, Bellamy and Kieron Dyer could be fit for the replay to lend pace to
Newcastle's assault.
But then again Wenger might also decide to play his best side. It's the least
a competition which can produce such a passionate and frenetic encounter
deserves.
Teams
Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Dabizas, O'Brien, Distin, Solano,
Acuna, McClen, Robert, Cort (Ameobi 70), Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper, Lua-Lua, Bernard.
Booked: Hughes.
Goals: Robert 52.
Arsenal: Wright, Dixon, Campbell, Stepanovs, Lauren,
Ljungberg (Pires 58), Vieira, Grimandi, Edu (Bergkamp 61),
Kanu, Wiltord.
Subs Not Used: Seaman, Tavlaridis, Kolo Toure.
Booked: Dixon, Pires.
Goals: Edu 14.
Att: 51,027
Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).
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