Arsenal were simply rampant from start to finish and tore into Cardiff with regularity especially in the first half. In fact they would have been two up within this first ten minutes were it not for a pair of great stops from recalled 'keeper Tom Heaton. In both instances it was Heaton's feet that came to the rescue, firstly stopping Nicklas Bendtner who was the first to react to Carlos Vela's initial shot and then keeping Gunners captain William Gallas at bay as he found himself unmarked at the back post.
It was marking that proved to be Cardiff's downfall on the twenty minute mark when returning hero Eduardo ghosted into a clutch of City jersey's and managed to nod home with worrying ease considering there were actually five Bluebirds players in the box to Arsenal's two. Every Eduardo touch before then had been received rapturously by the Arsenal faithful and so when his goal arrived, his first Arsenal goal on his first appearance for over a year, it was greeted as a moment of sheer delirium for player and fans alike.
In truth the Croatian-Brazilian could have found the back of the net on two occasions previously, with the Gunners carving open Cardiff seemingly at will. In the thirty-third minute Cardiff's marking again broke down, this time from a corner which allowed Nicklas Bendtner to glance home the home sides second.
With Arsenal in complete control, it was again only Tom Heaton who prevented the score-line escalating before half-time with a truly incredible double-save. Carlos Vela swivelled well inside the area and got off a weak shot which Heaton stopped low, the rebound fell at the feet of Bendtner who with the goal at his mercy found the post and at the second attempt only found Heaton who somehow had managed to haul himself up off the floor to keep the Gunners out.
The match was put to bed in rather disappointing fashion on the hour mark as Eduardo earned a penalty and his second goal with what appeared to be a dive. Feeling the presence of Gavin Rae at his back the striker simply threw himself to the floor to set up the chance for his second which he converted from twelve-yards out past a desperately unlucky Heaton who had impressed all night. By the time Robin Van Perise added a fourth in the closing minutes the damage was already well and truly done and Arsenal were free to face Burnley in the 5th Round.
Chronological Report
Arsenal came out at the Emirates with all guns blazing, stringing together neat passing moves early on and threatening the Bluebirds down both flanks. The first chance of the game fell to Nicklas Bendtner, the tall Dane heading just wise from a Sagna cross down the right.
The Gunners continued to attack Tom Heaton's goal and was it not for a fine double save from the returning keeper from Vela and then Bendtner, Arsenal would surely have taken an early lead inside the first five minutes. From the next attack, William Gallas found himself free inside the City area, again to be denied by Heaton in the City goal.
Following the initial onslaught by the home side, City began to play their way in to the game somewhat, particularly through Chris Burke down the right hand flank. The hope would not last however as on twelve minutes, the returning Eduardo had two opportunities following consistently good play from right back Sagna.
A touch of fortune almost gifted Ross McCormack on sixteen minutes before Gallas blocked the Scot's low shot inside the area. Darren Purse was soon on hand inside the City area to perform an equally impressive sliding block when Bendtner found himself with a free shot following sublime build up play.
Arsenal eventually took the lead on twenty minutes with a simple goal that was well taken by Eduardo. Following a neat one-two with Carlos Vela, the Croatian international found himself with a free-header inside the area, which he despatched past the flailing Heaton with aplomb.
GOAL: Arsenal 1-0 Cardiff City (Eduardo, 20).
Arsenal appeared to take their foot of the gas somewhat following the goal as the Bluebirds began to string together some good possession football. Gavin Rae impressed in the centre of midfield against Song and Denilson, though the Bluebirds ultimately couldn't find away behind a resilient Arsenal defence.
Ten minutes before the interval, Arsenal doubled their lead from a similar position to the first goal. From a Samir Nasri corner, Bendtner lost his marker Purse to double the Gunners lead and seemingly put the game out of reach.
GOAL: Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City (Bendtner, 35).
Arsenal saw out the remainder of the half with ease and should have made it 3-0 on the stroke of half time. The superb Tom Heaton was again on hand however to make another superb string of saves, initially from Carlos Vela before two follow-ups from Bendtner.
HALF TIME: Arsenal 2-0 Cardiff City
Arsenal began the second half with much of the same intensity that they began the first, though it was the Bluebirds who had the first chance of the half with a free kick on the edge of the box following a trip on Bothroyd. Ross McCormack opted not to shoot though, rather whip in a superb cross that Arsenal did well to clear.
Carlos Vela was a constant threat in the early part of the half, neat trickery and sharp passing being negated only by his inability to find the final touch. Whilst City had stemmed much of Arsenal's first half threat, the game was still very open with the Gunners having most of the possession.
Jay Bothroyd tested Lukasz Fabianski for the first time on fifty-seven minutes with a stinging shot that the goalkeeper did well to get down low to and parry. It was not long before the Gunners would be attacking the Bluebirds goal again though and after a game of ping-pong and an initial penalty request turned down, Eduardo's fall inside the area following a hint of contact by Gavin Rae was enough for referee Halsey to point to the spot. The Croatian stepped up to put the ball past Heaton and end put the game out of reach.
GOAL: Arsenal 3-0 Cardiff City (Eduardo, Pen. 60).
City ventured in to the Arsenal half in determined fashion following the disappointment of conceding. A foul on Joe Ledley led to a free kick on the edge of the box that McCormack struck well, though just wide of the goal. Despite Arsenal's sublime football on Tuesday, City continued to try and play their own brand of football for which pundits and fans alike would appreciate.
With twenty minutes remaining, Dave Jones responded to the introduction of Aaron Ramsey and Robin Van Persie by replacing Darren Purse and Paul Parry with Darcy Blake and the returning Peter Whittingham. Riccy Scimeca also replaced Gavin Rae.
Arsenal looked to increase their lead but found themselves denied by a stubborn City defence. Van Persie and Kieran Gibbs had the best chances for the home team whilst Riccy Scimeca had Cardiff's best chance with five minutes to go. The Bluebirds conceded a fourth goal that was arguably undeserved in the closing stages when a previously frustrated van Persie found himself clear through on goal to slot past the unlucky Heaton.
GOAL: Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff City (Van Persie, 89).
Despite Arsenal's class shining through on Monday evening, the performance by Cardiff was commendable and the nine thousand or so City fans were superb. There will be no repeat F.A. Cup dream this year for Cardiff City but there are more important objectives for 2009. City's Championship promotion continues on Sunday at Wolves where three points will banish tonight's disappointment to the history books.
FULL TIME: Arsenal 4-0 Cardiff City
