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Match Report: Arsenal V Cardiff City FA Cup Fourth Round Replay

The Bluebirds 13 match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at the Emirates last night as Arsenal sailed through to the FA Cup fifth round with a 4-0 win.

City's defence left in tatters after a hard night at the Emirates

A poor Cardiff side failed to provide any test for the rampant Gunners who welcomed back Croatian international Eduardo, promptly announcing his return from injury with two goals and a man of the match performance.

Nicklas Bendtner and Robin Van Persie scored the other two goals the latter replacing Eduardo with half an hour to go. Van Persie the last name Cardiff wanted to see coming off the bench.

Dave Jones told the BBC after the game: “The players know that we didn’t perform anywhere near what we’re capable of. So we now have to forget this one, let it eat away at us and then get concentrating on the job in hand.

“It wasn’t the Cardiff we’ve seen all season… I know we’re playing Arsenal and everything else – full credit to them – but we didn’t do ourselves any justice.”

Another poor performance against Arsenal

In truth Arsenal should have boasted a bigger margin of victory but Cardiff’s Tom Heaton made sure it was not a worse score for City, producing a fine display on his return to the first team.

The England Under 21 international replaced the injured Peter Enckelman in goal and produced a performance that suggests City may not miss the Finnish keeper as much as first thought.

The first of Heaton’s saves came as early as the third minute of the match as he palmed away a Carlos Vela 30 yard screamer and Bendtners rebound before thwarting a William Gallas haeder only a minute later.

It was a sign of things to come for Cardiff who were penned into their own half from the off, long balls up front their only outlet to relieve some pressure.

It was all to easy for the Gunners

The first goal predictably came after a constant spell of Arsenal pressure, Eduardo heading in to score on his return to the first team after previously just missing with an audacious attempt to lob Heaton from the half way line.

Arsenal’s second goal came quickly afterwards as an in swinging Samir Nasri cross was met by the head of Bendtner home to put the Gunners firmly in cruise control.

Cardiff were lucky not to be three behind going into half time as Bendtner missed what only be described as an open goal, twice, as he looked to slot home a saved Carlos Vela shot.

Cardiff returned for the second half looking to restore some pride but it took until the 61st minute for City to work Lukasz Fabianski for the first time – the Arsenal keeper comfortably saving a 30 yard blast from former Arsenal trainee Jay Bothroyd.

It was Eduardo’s night

Minutes later Arsenal were celebrating a third as Eduardo scored from the spot to claim his second of the night and confirm his return to first team action, capping a night he described as “the best of his life” following his horrific injury a year ago.

His replacement with half an hour to go was Robin Van Persie who looked determined to bag a goal to firmly shoot the Bluebirds down.

He promptly completed Cardiff’s misery at the Emirates with two minutes to go as he slotted home from the edge of the box.

For Cardiff it is some sort of relief that they can now concentrate on the Championship and with league leaders Wolves next up for the Bluebirds they will need to get over this defeat quickly to maintain their promotion push.

That was always the aim after all, promotion. It was a nice trip to the Emirates but City will be thankful that it is now over.

Arsenal Team: Fabianski, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Gibbs, Nasri (Ramsey 67), Denilson, Song Billong, Vela (Bischoff 74), Eduardo (Van Persie 67), Bendtner.       Subs Not Used: Almunia, Wilshere, Clichy.

Booked: Gallas, Bendtner.

Goals: Eduardo 20, Bendtner 34, Eduardo 60 pen, Van Persie 89.

Cardiff City Team: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse (Blake 68), Roger Johnson, Kennedy, Burke, Rae (Scimeca 74), Ledley, Parry (Whittingham 68), Bothroyd, McCormack.    Subs Not Used: Sak, Capaldi, Eddie Johnson, Comminges.

Bookings: none

Att: 57,237  (Emirates Stadium, London)

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).