Semi-final Draw: Perhaps the occasion had been over-hyped. Arsenal's players were not wearing balaclavas when they took to the field at Old Trafford last night and, apart from one flashpoint early in the second half, hostilities were placed on hold.
To the English Football Association this must have been an evening of aesthetic beauty, no matter how much Robin van Persie seemed intent on prolonging the spite.
Van Persie was fortunate not to become the 57th player to be sent off in Arsene Wenger's tenure for his tangle with Kieran Richardson. Yet that was the only time the referee Mark Halsey had to delve into his pocket for his yellow card. The disciplinary department at Soho Square will not be required to sift through the video this morning and there was no pizza, soup or sandwiches flying in the tunnel afterwards.
The FA will be delighted with that but, even if it is not the done thing to admit as much, others will be disappointed. It was no coincidence that Sky were anticipating their largest ever viewing figures for a quarter-final of this competition.
The prospect of a good old-fashioned scrap has always been a box-office hit. Yet this was never going to be an ordinary United-Arsenal match. What grievance could Eric Djemba-Djemba possibly harbour against Sebastian Larsson, his 19-year-old opponent in midfield? Ditto Kleberson against Johan Djourou, one of two 17-year-olds in the visiting team?
Grudges need time to fester and without the sideshow of Roy Keane versus Vieira, Gary Neville versus Jose Antonio Reyes and Cristiano Ronaldo versus Ashley Cole the night passed without the usual baiting, bullying and general harassment.
The night was not totally free of irritations. Van Persie has yet to live up to his controversial image from his time in the Dutch league but he came close here. Halsey would have been justified in showing the 21-year-old a red card for the elbow he flung in Richardson's direction early in the second half. Richardson was not blame-free and was booked for his troubles but there was no doubt about where the bulk of the blame should be apportioned.
All in all, however, the mutual antipathy was saved for another day. The home side deserved their place in the semi-finals and Alex Ferguson will feel he can take the moral high ground after van Persie's antics. The question is whether they will be so reserved when they next meet in the Premiership.
Chelsea v Man Utd
Liverpool v Watford
(Ties to be played over two legs on January 10th and 24th)
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