Eduardo showed his class a minute later with a superb outside of the foot half volley pass into Vela’s path on the left wing. Vela ran in towards the Cardiff goal and fired in a low drive that was saved by Heaton in the Cardiff goal

Match Review – Arsenal 4 Cardiff City 0 – FA Cup

Arsenal are back, it has been a while but the boys are well and truly back. Since the injury to Cesc Fabregas in December we have had to adopt a slightly different way of playing. Our creative players who make us play have all pretty much been sitting on the treatment table and the rest of the squad were given the job of trying to gain as many points as possible. We have remained unbeaten during Cesc’s knee injury and have tightened up defensively, and slowly the squad were gaining in self belief and confidence.

We were slightly fortunate to be here after the first half an hour in Cardiff but the team more than held their own in the second half of that game. A scoreless draw resulted in a replay at the Emirates.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the line up before the game. He was starting Vela on the left wing for the first time this season with Nasri on the right wing. Even more interesting was the inclusion of Eduardo da Silva alongside Bendtner up front. Eduardo’s return to first team action was always going to be a special occasion and so it turned out.

The first thing that struck me was the fluidity of the passing. Nasri, Eduardo, Vela and Bendtner were popping quick passes around and our football instantly looked more probing.

The first chance fell our way in the 5th minute, Sagna put in his best cross in a while, Bendtner leapt above everyone and headed just wide of the far post.

Eduardo showed his class a minute later with a superb outside of the foot half volley pass into Vela’s path on the left wing. Vela ran in towards the Cardiff goal and fired in a low drive that was saved by Heaton in the Cardiff goal.

William Gallas could have opened the scoring with a far post header which was blocked by the legs of Heaton.

I was wondering if it could have been one of those days but I was just happy that we looked bright and creative again. It was a joy to watch the front players all switching positions and interchanging with each other. Nasri cut in from the right and Bendtner pulled to the right, Vela switched to the right and Eduardo or Nasri trotted across to the left. Cardiff could not cope with movement of the players.

As much as a form Adebayor is important to this Arsenal team, the side looked a lot more flexible and less predictable without him in it.

There was a flash to the Arsenal bench during the first half and the sight of Arshavin and Cesc sitting side by side gave me a nice warm feeling. There is so much to come from this team and we are definitely on the way up now. Unbeaten in 12 games and the side could well be starting to click into gear.

Eduardo showing great self belief in himself tried to lob Heaton from around the half way line with an ambitious effort that sailed wide.

I was surprised by the quality of Eduardo’s game. When he first came to the Premier League he looked lost, couldn’t get into games and struggled to adapt to the pace. I thought that being out for so long would have put him back to that level but it looks as if he has book marked his last performances in an Arsenal shirt which will be a massive benefit to our short term football.

The interplay between Vela and Eduardo looked very natural and smooth. Both taking turns to play the center forward role with the other left footer switching to wide left.

I mentioned yesterday that Bendtner would show his best form with better movement ahead of him and he was very involved in much of the attacking football.

Bendtner found Kolo Toure in an advanced position, the Ivory Coast international cut inside a defender and side footed straight at the keeper.

The great moment came on 20 minutes. Eduardo driving forward in the left channel, Vela overlapped him and took the pass from Eduardo who continued to drive into the box, Vela picked his head up and dinked a perfect chip onto the head of Eduardo who firmly planted a header into the corner of the net. EDUARDOOOO!!!!
What a return for the Crozilian, and what fantastic desire to get into the box which this team has missed in a long time. Many times we have seen Adebayor lurking outside the penalty area when he should be busting a gut to get into the danger area. Eduardo was surrounded by most of the Arsenal team who were hugging him and congratulating him. It just showed how much he is appreciated by his colleagues.

Cardiff struggled to get into the game, they were being closed down and cut off by this hungry and up for it Arsenal team.

Samir Nasri with his new blonde highlights was causing problems to Cardiff driving at them from every position on the pitch, when he has that sort of freedom he can cause any sides problems with his dribbling and goal threat.

Arsenal won a corner in the 34th minute, Bendtner rose highest after not being picked up by the Cardiff team and his glancing header flew past Heaton. Game set and match. Cardiff couldn’t get into the game and now they had to come out and try and find a way back into the game.

I would be happy to eat humble pie if Carlos Vela continues to give us performances like he showed from a wide position last night. he was direct, penetrating and clever in his football. He certainly gives the team some width. Kieron Gibbs was another player drafted in and looked right at home at left back. His overall game isn’t quite as Gael Clichy’s level but he could certainly give his older team mate some lessons in delivery. If he continues to progress at the rate that he is then Clichy will have a battle on his hands soon.

Just before half time Bendtner had a great chance to make it three. Carlos Vela amazingly pulled down a hard cross into the box, the Mexican turned and shot at Heaton, the ball spilled out to Bendtner who was unmarked on his weaker left side sliced his shot from close range against the post. The rebound fell to him but his stabbed effort was blocked by the Cardiff keeper.

On 54 Vela showed his brilliance with a Ryan Giggs style slalom run from left to center, his eventual shot was blocked by Roger Johnson.

It took Cardiff almost an hour to have a proper effort on goal, former Arsenal striker Jay Bothroyd had long range drive saved by Fabianski. Cardiff wanted to play a counter attacking game against us trouble is they could not get past the half way line, the rest of the time they chased after Arsenal.

Alex Song showed yet another very good defensive display in front of the back four.

On the hour mark Eduardo won a penalty, it looked a little dubious to me but nevertheless he dusted himself down and tucked the penalty away for his second of the game.

When was the last time we were so comfortable during a game I said to my mate. It has been quite a while.

It would have been the perfect story had Eduardo claimed a hat-trick and he could have got just that but his shot was blocked. Van Persie replaced him on 67 minutes, Ramsey also replaced Nasri to get some more minutes against his former team.

A few minutes later Vela came off for the forgotten man Amaury Bishoff. I had mixed feelings about that change. I was happy to see Bishoff get some first team experience but I also wanted to see Jack Wilshere get some minutes in the FA Cup.

You could see Van Persie class as soon as he came onto the pitch. He had a hard low drive saved from a difficult angle. Bischoff looked neat and tidy when he came on and could have scored when he dragged an effort wide of the far post in the 81st minute.

Robin Van Persie continued his impressed goal scoring run of late with a right footed drilled finish following a Bendtner pass. I have said that those two are not natural partners but they do have a good understanding together. 4-0.

The two combined again minutes later and almost added another to the tally. Bendtner’s wonderfully flighted cross found the head of Van Persie but his header rebounded off the post.

And so it finished, Arsenal comfortable and stylish in their work. The spark seems to have found its way back into this young side, and this is without the talent such as Cesc, Arshavin, Walcott, Rosicky and Diaby to come back into the squad.

Burnley await in the next round and would have gulped at the display from the boys from North London.

Top gun has to go to Eduardo for his brace and fine display but the likes of Vela, Gibbs, Nasri, and Bendtner could question my choice.

I haven’t stopped smiling since the final whistle and I am just chuffed to have my Arsenal back.