Bergkamp seizes his moment

ARSENAL gave peace a chance at Roker Park last night more of a chance, in fact, than they gave Sunderland. A goal of typical audacity by Dennis Bergkamp, who had left his clogs at home this time, and another from Stephen Hughes set up the possibility of a home tie with George Graham's Leeds United, who must yet overcome Crystal Palace, in the fourth round.

The most comforting aspect of this game was that, since the Cup no longer allows for second replays, these teams would not be meeting again this season Unless of course, they decided to a friendly, which is about as likely as Punch buying flowers for Judy.

This was their third clash in 12 days in Cup or FA Premiership, and again the atmosphere threatened to be soured by memories of the game at Highbury in September. Arsenal won it 2-0 after two Sunderland players had been sent off and their manager Peter Reid dismissed from the dug out.

In last Saturday's return league fixture at Roker, Bergkamp became the fifth Arsenal player to be sent off in 10 matches. He was shown the red card for a bad foul on Paul Bracewell which kept the Sunderland midfielder out of the replay. So with Ian Wright and John Hart son suspended, Arsene Wenger's team returned to Wearside not so much in form as carrying it.

The neatness of Sunderland's early passing recalled the fright they had given Manchester United at a similar stage of last season's competition, but Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Steve Bould defended calmly and competently. Had Patrik Vieira opted to shoot rather than pass after Bergkamp had sent him clear, Arsenal might well have been ahead on the quarter hour.

Sunderland's first chance came after 21 minutes when, with Bould vainly appealing for offside. Michael Bridges sent Craig Russell through to force David Seaman's first save of the night.

Bergkamp, faking dangerous positions, was always capable of turning the game Arsenal's way. Midway through the first half Lionel Perez did well to deny him shooting space, then Sunderland were indebted to Mullin for hustling him out of his stride.

By half time Arsenal appeared to have established the foundations for victory, but the game still, awaited a goal. Not its first booking, however. That went to Keown after 41 minutes for clattering into Russell off the ball. Earlier Vieira had caught Williams in the face with a wayward arm but escaped punishment.

No sooner had the second half begun than a goal duly arrived from the most predictable quarter. Bergkamp appeared to have been let down by his first touch after Paul Merson had slipped the ball through to him on the left, but the Sunderland defenders failed to react and allowed the striker to turn exquisitely.

The rest was pure Bergkamp. With the defence still playing statues he coolly established a shooting angle and chipped the ball beyond the reach of Perez and into the top right hand corner of the net.

In the 55th minute, Nigel Winterburn all but put the tie beyond Sunderland's reach. A late run took him past the defence to meet Merson's centre from the right. The left back's header beat Perez but rebounded off the post.

Four minutes past the hour a typical run by David Platt took him clear of the last defender as Merson played the ball through. Perez made a good save, feet first.

A second Arsenal goal was not far away. Richard Ord's failure to deal with a high ball on the right allowed Bergkamp to nod Merson through for a cross which 20 year old Stephen Hughes headed in at the far post.