FA CUP MEMORY: ARSENAL VS LIVERPOOL Eight months after the two had faced off in the final, tensions reached breaking point at Highbury during an FA Cup fourth round match in 2002.
In January 2002, Arsenal got their chance to exact FA Cup payback when the draw for the fourth round was held.
Eight months after the Reds’ incredible comeback victory over the Gunners in the Cardiff final—which included a brace from Michael Owen and a handball from Stephane Henchoz—they were returning to Highbury, and the venue was ready for another encounter.
Two weeks prior, Arsenal and Liverpool had engaged in a pretty dull 1-1 draw in the Premier League. Neither team held back in the cup, with both starting with three forwards—a practice that wasn’t as frequent back then as it is today.
The game began with a strong early 50-50 tackle that neither Patrick Vieira nor Steven Gerrard wanted to pull out. Although Liverpool had the best of the early exchanges, Dennis Bergkamp headed home Thierry Henry’s cross to give Arsenal the lead.
As Liverpool attempted to equalise, former Arsenal attacker Nicolas Anelka, on loan to the Reds, struck the crossbar. Midway through the second half, Martin Keown’s dismissal for bringing down Owen while he was last man gave them further hope. That turned out to be the moment that ignited the blue touch paper, far from benefiting Liverpool.
“I regret what happened at Highbury because I let the club, the fans, my team-mates and myself down,” he stated in a statement following the event. I want to apologies for any offence caused; regardless of the physical or verbal provocation, I shouldn’t have reacted in that way.
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