Arsenal's £3million Nigerian substitute Nwankwo Kanu scored a dramatic last
minute winner to send the FA cup holders through to the semi-finals and leave
battling Derby deep in dejection as striker Dean Sturridge was sent off just
seconds later.
Kanu, the 6ft 5ins former Ajax and Inter Milan star who was embroiled in
controversy on his debut last month when Arsenal agreed to replay their Fifth
Round clash with Sheffield United after the winning "goal" he set up for Marc
Overmars was deemed "unsporting", stretched a long leg to hook the ball home
after Martin Keown's shot was blocked in a packed goalmouth following a
last-gasp corner.
Sturridge, one of five Derby players booked earlier in a spiky, sometimes
spiteful encounter, followed a linesman all the way back to the half-way mark,
insisting the effort should have been ruled out for either offside or handball.
Referee Steve Dunn promptly sent him off for his complaints - and, this time,
there seems little chance of the Gunners offering another re-run through any
perceived injustice.
In fact, Arsene Wenger's team fully deserved their win for a tireless display
of grit, determination and patience against a Derby side which had only spoiling
tactics and intimidation to offer.
They detailed rugged Irish international Lee Carsley to man-mark Dennis
Bergkamp skin-tight and the Dutchman's co-striker Nicolas Anelka was battered
continually by Derby's uncompromising skipper Igor Stimac.
French ace Anelka, the Carling Premiership Player of the Month, was finally
booked for dissent and Arsenal's Nigel Winterburn, Ray Parlour and Nelson Vivas
were also shown the yellow card by inconsistent referee Steve Dunn.
And Derby, who had kept the Premiership champions at an arm's length for more
than an hour, with Marc Overmars twice shooting inches wide and Fredrik
Ljungberg lifting Parlour's cross just over, looked to have escaped with a
replay when Anelka's shot came back off a post in the 74th minute.
Bergkamp, who went through his full repertoire of tricks to try to shake off
the shirt-tugging Carsley, finally managed it to steer Vivas' cross into
Anelka's path, but the teenage marksman's instant stab only knocked on wood.
Rams goalkeeper Russell Hoult made fine saves from the industrious Parlour and
full-back Lee Dixon, who also skied a good chance high over the top.
But Kanu's entry into an increasingly hectic fray in the 65th minute was
instantly productive and ultimately decisive.
He set up Bergkamp for a delightful chip which Anelka headed straight at Hoult
and then freed Parlour down the right to feed Overmars, who was again off target
by a whisker.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, going into battle with his French midfield
musketeers, Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Vieira, went for broke in the end,
finishing the game with four strikers as Kaba Diawara replaced Overmars - but it
was Kanu who had the final say.
The 22-year-old giant, whose career looked over three years ago when he had to
have heart surgery, swooped on the loose ball in a crowded six-yard box and was
swamped by his relieved and delighted team-mates after his shot bulged the net.
Teams:
Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Keown, Adams, Winterburn, Parlour,
Ljungberg (Kanu 66), Hughes (Vivas 46), Overmars (Diawara 77),Bergkamp, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Manninger, Upson.
Booked: Winterburn, Anelka, Parlour, Vivas.
Goals: Kanu 89.
Derby: Hoult, Laursen, Stimac, Prior, Schnoor (Hunt 86), Powell, Carsley, Burton, Eranio, Wanchope, Sturridge.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Poom, Kozluk, Baiano.Sent Off: Sturridge (89).
Booked: Powell, Eranio, Laursen, Sturridge, Schnoor.
Att: 38,046
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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