Everton - 0 Arsenal - 1: After the traumas and tantrums of the last week, a win last night came as some relief to Arsene Wenger. His youthful second string left it late to forge beyond the 10 men of Everton though, forcing passage into the quarter-finals with a goal plucked six minutes from time just as this tie appeared to be heading into extra-time.
Emmanuel Adebayor was responsible for the contest's defining moment, rising unchallenged to nod in Mathieu Flamini's corner, though his contribution will hardly be remembered today.
Instead, and not for the first time, it will be Graham Poll whose personality has been stamped indelibly on a high-profile occasion such as this.
This contest had descended into acrimony from the moment Poll had dismissed James McFadden for abusive language. Poll is already a pantomime villain and his apparent penchant for the theatrical is in danger of stripping him of all credibility. The referee signed autographs pitchside prior to kick-off and would no doubt argue that controversy pursues him unremittingly. He would certainly argue, with some justification, that it was McFadden's folly that prompted the third red card he has waved this term. Too often, however, it appears that he courts the attention such notoriety affords him.
This match had been developing intriguingly when, some 19 minutes in, Andrew Johnson charged into the area and tumbled in a tangle of legs with Philippe Senderos. The striker did not appeal for a penalty though his team-mates erupted in protest at the non-award, the crowd bellowing their outrage as Poll merely locked his attentions on the loose ball. The home side were still in open revolt when McFadden spat abuse at the official as he chased back into his own half and was subsequently shown the red card.
England's premier referee endured fierce barracking for the rest of the game, the locals conveniently overlooking the fact that the Scotland international arguably warranted such sanction for foul and abusive language. Yet the problem remains that Poll, already under investigation by the Football Association after allegations made against him by Chelsea's disgruntled players in defeat on Sunday, is infamous these days.
Everton struggled to contain the visitors in their forward's absence, though they might have struggled even with a full complement. There is an exuberance to Arsenal's second string born out of youthful freshness, with none of the side which started here having begun Sunday's defeat at West Ham. Tim Howard had struggled to contain their shoot-at-sight approach, Mathieu Flamini and the gliding Brazilian Denilson each twice forcing the goalkeeper to parry before claiming. The American's point-blank denial from Adebayor, fed by Theo Walcott's centre, as the interval approached defied belief.
Not that the hosts were being swept aside. They had eked out early chances for Joseph Yobo and Johnson before the England striker was flung into a familiar lone striking brief, Everton's approach is reliant upon his darts to unsettle his markers.
It is a selfless role he appears to relish, Cahill galloping up-field in support when possible, with the pair combining well for the Australian to scuff goalwards on the half-hour and Manuel Almunia to claim.
The Spaniard did not return after the break, a legacy of a kick from Armand Traore, only for his replacement Mart Poom to leap gloriously and tip over Johnson's thrashed drive from distance. Yet such moments of jaw-dropping quality rather punctured Arsenal possession, the Londoners' bright young things revelling in the advantage granted them by the extra man even if their slick approach play, much like the senior side, occasionally lacked punch when it came to applying a finish.
Guardian Service
EVERTON: Howard; Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Valente; Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Arteta; Johnson, McFadden. Subs not used: Weir, Davies, Turner, Stubbs, Anichebe
ARSENAL: Almunia (Poom 45); Eboue, Djourou, Senderos, Traore; Flamini, Song, Denilson (Randall, 70), Walcott; Adebayor , Aliadiere. Subs not used: Connolly, Garry, Perez.
Referee: G Poll.
