"I WAS THERE"

Following the media hype surrounding the Gunners marginal victory over the struggling Cumbrians, the misinformed public would be lead to believe that this third round FA Cup encounter had only one moment of note.
The fact that the home side's Richard Prokas was very close to wrecking Patrick Vierra's career with a reckless over the top challenge will be remembered for years to come.
What is lost in the hype is the fact that Carlisle had their moments for glory as well as defending as well as anyone has done this season against the men from Highbury.
The home supporters will be greatly encouraged by a rearguard performance that will surely be a turning point in the Cumbrians so far dismal season.
Sylvain Witord's match winner apart, the Cumbrian defence was impossible to breach with home keeper Matty Glennon in inspired form.
Second half saves from Wiltord, Ljungberg and Bergkamp were world class and no more than his impeccable performance deserved.
Carlisle manager Ian Atkins faces a worrying weekend with considerable uncertainty about his future following the take over of the club by a consortium shrouded in secrecy over the makeup of their numbers.
He said after the game: "I'm disappointed to lose because I don't like losing. We had three good chances in the first 15 minutes and, with more composure, we might have scored.
If that had happened, who knows what the outcome might have been. The chances fell to Ian Stevens, who has been out for three weeks. He's only got four days training behind him, but he usually scores if he only gets one chance.''
Commenting on the 27th-minute flashpoint between Richard Prokas and Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, in which the Carlisle midfielder's two-footed lunge at the Frenchman went unnoticed by referee Stephen Lodge, he said: ''The tackle was two wholly committed players going for the ball, and when that happens someone sometimes gets hurt.
The referee did not think it was a foul or take any action.''
Atkins admitted that he remained in the dark about what future, if any, he has at Brunton Park following last week's takeover by a consortium headed by Scottish businessman Stephen Brown.
He said: ''I'm none the wiser about what my position is. I'll be meeting the new people on Monday. I've 18 months on my contract but it's their club and they do what they want. If they want me to stay I'll be seeking assurances that resources will be available to get this club away from the bottom of the league.''
From the start, the home side were content to hoist the ball from the back utilising wind assisted punts to the opposing area, from keeper Matty Glennon, in an attempt to beat the offside trap of Arsenal's back four, which centralised on the defensive duo of Nelson Vivas and Igors Stepanovs.
The pair looked less than comfortable and within the opening quarter-of-an-hour, three excellent chances fell to Carlisle top scorer Ian Stevens, who had banged in four goals against Woking in the First Round. After nine minutes he found himself unmarked in the penalty area but couldn't control the high bouncing ball. Three minutes later a flick-on from tough-tackling midfielder Richard Prokas saw Stevens again unmarked and through in the centre of the box, but he failed to make contact.
The best of the trio of opportunities came on 15 minutes when the highly-rated Scott Dobie beat Vivas on the left touchline, cut in and found the on-rushing Stevens with a clever angled pass. But the striker shot wide from close range after beating a hesitant Alex Manninger to the ball.
The importance of that miss was illustrated by Arsenal on 22 minutes, when Patrick Vieira threaded a ball through from central midfield to Sylvain Wiltord on the edge of the area. He took the ball into his stride and smoothly stroked it into the bottom corner beyond Glennon.
Fighting to retrieve the situation, Prokas was fortunate to remain on the pitch as he lunged into Vieira with a two-footed tackle which smashed the Frenchman's right shinpad and left him writhing in agony.
Incredibly, referee Stephen Lodge missed the challenge, which resulted in an eight-man fracas and had Wenger up and howling in protest.
Nelson Vivas was booked in the ensuing touchline melée.
When play restarted Dennis Bergkamp sought retribution with a chop on Steve Soley's achilles from behind and was booked. Minutes later we saw the other side of the Dutchman as, in a sublime manouevre, he flicked the ball up in the air on his heel for a volley which was held by Glennon.
As Arsenal got on top after the interval Glennon made a double save, one with his legs from Ljungberg when the Swede was clean through on goal, then picking himself up to save again with his feet from Wiltord. As Arsenal pressed for their second goal the mood continued to simmer away in midfield, with Parlour booked for a late challenge on Prokas, and Carlisle substitute Carl Heggs for a similar offence against Ashley Cole.
A late flurry by Carlisle saw most of their attacks caught in Arsenal's, by now, well-functioning offside trap, as the home support cheered themselves by chanting "There's only one Ian Atkins".
Let's hope for the sake of the future of this outpost of football the new owners take heed of the supporters.