Arsenal

3-0

Blackburn Rovers

Pires 42
van Persie 86,90

 

 


The FA Cup Semi-Final
The Millennium Stadium
16 April 2005

Robin van Persie scored two stunning late goals for Arsenal as they proved they really are kings of The FA Cup by reaching their fifth Final in eight years thanks to a 3-0 victory over Blackburn.

Van Persie, who only came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, added twice to Robert Pires' 42nd minute opener to beat Rovers 3-0 at Cardiff and set off wild scenes of celebration.

Arsene Wenger’s record in this famous old competition is truly remarkable and now his team have a chance to write another chapter in the Highbury history books.

They beat a hard-tackling and determined Rovers side in a Semi-Final that won’t go down as one of the classics but which came to life in spectacular fashion late on.

There’s no doubt that the Gunners, nine-time winners of The FA Cup, love this competition - and the statistics prove it.

Arsenal were appearing in a record 25th FA Cup Semi-Final today having become only the second club in history to reach the last four an incredible five times in a row.

It was also manager Wenger’s seventh Semi-Final since he arrived at the club in 1997, and there is something about this competition that stirs Highbury’s heroes into action.

That was the case when defender Toure side-stepped his marker in the box to set up Pires after 42 minutes - and from then on Arsenal never looked back.

They wrapped it up with a wonderfully-taken goal from substitute van Persie four minutes from time. And then the Dutchman curled home an even better effort on the break after 90 minutes - taking a blow in the face as he did so.

Rovers, who haven’t won The FA Cup since 1928, actually started the stronger in Cardiff, forcing the first save of the match from Jens Lehmann after 10 minutes when Steven Reid fired in a low effort from 30 yards.

Morten Gamst Pedersen also sent a free-kick over the bar, while Paul Dickov - a former Arsenal striker of course - was denied a real goalscoring chance by an offside flag that on first viewing looked an extremely tight decision.

Arsenal only really began to play their football after 20 minutes, with one surging run from captain Vieira setting up Dennis Bergkamp for a cross that had to be smartly dealt with by the Rovers defence.

With extra men in midfield and an excellent work ethic, though, Rovers restricted Arsenal to just one shot in the first half hour– a left-foot effort from Reyes after Vieira had make a trademark break through the middle.

Blackburn’s club motto is ‘arte et labore’ and there was a little bit more of the latter than the former about their play, but it worked for them until Arsenal eventually broke loose.

Bergkamp’s clever ball inside the box allowed Reyes a free shot in the 38th minute - but his left-foot strike was superbly stopped by Friedel, who also blocked Pires’ follow-up.

The writing was on the wall for Rovers, however, and a few minutes later they could do nothing to prevent Arsenal going ahead in the 42nd minute.

This time Vieira’s angled ball was flicked on for defender Toure to cleverly beat his marker inside the box - and slide a low pass across the face of goal for Pires to side-foot his 14th goal of the season. Simplicity itself, and pure Arsenal.

The Gunners were denied a second in the 52nd minute when substitute Cesc Fabregas, who had only just arrived on the pitch, fed Lauren - and the Cameroon international swept an instant pass into the box towards Gilberto.

The Brazilian looked certain to score but Friedel denied him with a stunning left-handed save.

At this stage of the tie Blackburn looked weary, struggling to keep up with Arsenal’s fast-moving game as the Gunners fans cheered every pass. But a long-range shot from substitute Emerton revived them – and so did the arrival of Robbie Savage after 63 minutes in place of David Thompson.

Arsenal again went close when Gilberto was denied by a remarkable double save from Friedel at close range - although an offside flag could have seen his effort ruled out anyway.

But van Persie, only on as a sub for Bergkamp for five minutes, wrapped it up with a real beauty.

With his back to goal he turned defender Lucas Neill raced towards goal and produced a low left-foot finish of absolute class to seal Arsenal’s place in The Final.

He also added icing on the cake in the very last seconds of the match, when Pires raced up the left wing in a quick-fire breakaway.

The Frenchman found van Persie to his right - and the Dutch star curled home a stunning effort high into the opposite corner of the net.

All in all a wonderful afternoon for Arsenal - whose players celebrated by throwing their shirts into the crowd and celebrating with their jubilant fans.

When it comes to The FA Cup, Arsenal just seem to love it.

Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Senderos, Toure, Cole, Pires, Gilberto, Vieira, Reyes (Aliadiere, 90), Ljungberg (Fabregas, 50), Bergkamp (van Persie, 83)
Sub not used: Almunia, Cygan.

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Nelsen, Matteo (Stead, 83), Pedersen, Flitcroft (Emerton, 52), Reid, Thompson (Savage, 63), Dickov.
Subs not used: Enckelman, Tugay.

Booked: Toure 45, Fabregas 53, Cole 66; Flitcroft 22, Thompson 32, Mokoena 45, Neill 58

Referee: Steve Dunn

Attendance: 52,077