Wenger will pay price

Cardiff 0 Arsenal 0

RESIGNED T0 A REPLAY Wenger is just glad to still be in the FA Cup RESIGNED T0 A REPLAY: Wenger is just glad to still be in the FA Cup

ARSENAL now have another game to contend with as a potential fixture backlog starts to rear its unruly head, but Arsene Wenger is not unduly bothered. His team are still in the FA Cup.

That is something that the ex-holders, Portsmouth, and another Arsenal icon in the shape of boss Tony Adams, would be delighted to say.

It could have been much worse for the Gunners if Ross McCormack’s thunderbolt of an 87th-minute free-kick had not thudded against the visitors’ bar and away to safety.

A goal then would have surely added the names of the 10-time FA Cup winners – four times under Wenger – to the list of the Premier League clubs already mightily embarrassed.

But a definitive breakthrough for either side would have been out of context in a match which had a lot of endeavour and some resolute defending, but not much in the way of original creativity.

Now the two teams have to do it all again tomorrow week at the Emirates.

But, Wenger, whose priority remains the Premier League, continuing at Everton on Wednesday, is maintaining an FA Cup record of never having lost to lower-league opposition in 24 encounters now.

Wenger said about this replay: “We could do without it, 100 per cent.

“But let’s not complain. If that’s the price we have to pay to stay in the hat, we’re happy to do it.

“We are very short at the moment and cannot rotate very much. I could rest a few players for this game, but not as many as I’d wanted.

“I’d planned to take Robin van Persie off, but it didn’t work out that way. You can try to play, but it doesn’t work out that way necessarily.

“In the first half Cardiff started very well. They put in a very good, committed performance and created some chances.

“The second half we were on top and just the quality of their defending and their commitment stopped us from scoring.

“The pitch wasn’t great as well. They played a good cup game: commitment, support, 100 per cent behind the team. The hardest part of the job is still to do, but we’re confident we’ll do it at home.”

It was not an auspicious return for Arsenal teenage midfield prodigy Aaron Ramsey, part of Cardiff’s FA Cup final side last May, and booed at the start by the same fans who used to sing his name.

It seemed the occasion got to him somewhat – as Wenger admitted – although Ramsey did have the consolation of warm applause from the home faithful when he was substituted on the hour.

McCormack missed an inviting 10th-minute header from Joe Ledley’s left-wing cross and then shot just wide soon after.

But at least Cardiff were making chances. Paul Parry’s delightful cross was volleyed just over the bar by skipper Ledley after 19 minutes and then Parry curled one over 30 seconds later.

Arsenal could have taken a 21st-minute lead, against the run of play, but keeper Peter Enckelman crucially blocked Samir Nasri’s fiercely-struck drive from Van Persie’s pass.

Two minutes from the break referee Martin Atkinson booked Emmanuel Eboue for diving following Roger Johnson’s challenge in the box.

And just before half-time Cardiff were convinced they should have had a penalty when winger Chris Burke headed against Gibbs’ hand, but Atkinson waved away their appeals.

Lukasz Fabianski punched out a 25-yard right-foot shot from McCormack on the hour before Enckelman denied Van Persie with his feet after 63 minutes.

Emmanuel Adebayor went on midway through the second period to try to break the deadlock, but he mis-hit an inviting chance from Van Persie’s lofted centre with 15 minutes remaining.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones said: “We gave it a go and it shows how far we’ve come as a club. We know we can create chances. With a bit more composure or luck, it might have gone for us.

“But everyone at this club is aspiring to play in that division. And the replay is a massive pay-day for this club.”

• After the final whistle, as rival sets of fans squared up to each other, police moved into the Arsenal section to bundle the visiting supporters out of the ground. Two arrests were made.

Cardiff (4-4-2): Enckelman; McNaughton, R Johnson, Gyepes, Kennedy; Burke (Capaldi 79), Ledley, Rae, Parry; McCormack, Bothroyd, (E Johnson 90).

Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Fabianski; Sagna, Toure, Djourou, Gibbs; Eboue (Adebayor 66), Song, Ramsey (Diaby 59), Nasri; Van Persie; Bendtner (Wilshere 87). Booked: Eboue.

Referee: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

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