Arsenal 3 (3) Ipswich 0 (1)
The Gunners booked their place at Wembley for the League Cup final after coming from a goal down from the first leg to defeat Paul Jewell’s tractor boys thanks to three second half goals. Nicklas Bendtner, Laurent Koscielny and Cesc Fabregas all netted in a fifteen minute spell just after the hour to set up an encounter on 27 February with either London rivals West Ham or Birmingham who will conclude the other semi-final tonight.
Very few clear cut openings were created in a nervy opening forty-five which is so often the case in such a fixture. After a clash fifteen minutes in with his own keeper Bacary Sagna could no longer continue and was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue. The Ipswich defence was almost undone moments later when the in-form Robin Van Persie headed a Bendtner cross against the woodwork. Marton Fulop came off his line superbly on the half hour to deny the Dutchman again, this time with him racing through on goal.
After the break the pressure was cranked up on the visitors and their resistance broke. An inspired long ball over the top from Jack Wilshere was taken down wonderfully by Bendtner, who then cut inside and placed it beyond the Ipswich goalkeeper. Three minutes later the Gunners took the lead in the tie in uncharacteristic fashion from a set piece. Koscielny headed in Andrey Arshavin’s corner at the near post, but Fulop will feel he should have done better as the Hungarian failed to get there off his line and claim the ball. Darren O’Dea, on loan at Portman Road from Celtic, did not exactly cover himself in glory either, losing his man and Ipswich paid the penalty.
Thirteen minutes from time Fabregas put the tie to bed after exchanging passes with Arshavin and slotted home from the edge of the six-yard box. The quality of the home side's movement and passing told as it so often does in the end. Arsene Wenger’s side are now firm favourites to lift their first silverwear since the 2005 FA Cup.
Jewell’s men gave a good account of themselves, but some of the tactics he employed during this game may be brought into question. Mark Kennedy never has and never will be a holding midfielder; the Irishman occupying that berth did not prevent Fabregas from influencing the game. This was not helped by the middle of the park for the visitors lacking an attacking thrust. Moreover Carlos Edwards has played his best football in attacking position, being used at full back will now ultimately seem like an unnecessary risk.
Arshavin has been getting a lot of criticism recently for being absent in games and showing little presence or looking ineffective. The facts however are that he notched two assists in this match, bringing his number of contributions for setting up goals to nearly twenty for the season. Surely this is more than satisfactory from the Russian who after all is playing on the flanks.
Ipswich now must focus on moving away from the relegation places in the Championship, whilst the Gunners are still in the Premier League title race, the FA Cup and the Champions League. You still can’t help but feel the League Cup is where their best opportunity of adding something to the trophy cabinet lies, but McLeish’s blues or the Hammers will not be a pushover in the final.
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