CARLISLE UNITED 0 ARSENAL 1

The 1-0 scoreline was far easier than it suggests for The Gunners who were in control throughout the match, with Alex Manninger a virtual spectator in the second half.

Sylvain Wiltord was The Gunners' hero as he bagged the only goal of the game after 22 minutes.

Carlisle boss Ian Atkins said before the game The Cumbrians would never have a better chance of beating Arsene Wenger's multi-million pound squad, and it was the Football league's bottom club who created the better chances early on.

They both fell to former Wrexham striker Ian Stevens, but unfortunately for him, he failed to hit the target with either.

Firstly, he failed to connect at all as the ball dropped over his shoulder with the Arsenal defence appealing in vain for offside 12 yards from goal, and moments later, he prodded Dobie's excellent pass wide when in acres of space inside The Gunners` penalty box.

Dobie certainly caught the eye after a bustling first half showing and proved he can live with the best after muscling his way past Stepanovs with relative ease which led to Stevens' second chance.

The Cumbrians were made to pay for their misses as Wiltord opened the scoring with a clinical finish soon afterwards. He latched on to Patrick Viera's beautifully weighted throughball and from just inside the 'D', he picked out the bottom corner with unnerving accuracy.

To be fair to Atkins' side, it was the only clear cut chance Arsenal created in the first half despite being in virtual total control of the ball. The Cumbrians defended as if their lives depended on it blocking everything and anything thrown at them by Wenger's troops.

By the time Arsenal had taken the lead, Carlisle had already made Arsenal aware of their intentions with some crunching challenges, mostly on the temperamental Frenchman Viera.

But when Richard Prokas caught the Frenchman with a shocking late challenge, he was very fortunate to avoid punishment from referee Steve Lodge with Viera lying in agony on the impressive Brunton Park playing surface.

The Arsenal players were fuming and swarmed around Lodge who dished out a yellow card to Nelson Vivas for his incessant arguing.

After a disappointing first half it was hoped Carlisle would throw everything at The Gunners in a pulsating second. Not so. Arsenal, to their credit, acquitted themselves well and simply kept The Cumbrians at bay with the home side failing to register an attempt on goal in a poor second period.

Ray Parlour had numerous attempts to double the visitors lead but the England international will be disappointed that only hit the target once, that being his final attempt in the 87th minute. The less said about the others the better.

Freddie Ljungberg almost made it 2-0 within two minutes of the second half, but Mathew Glennon, on-loan from Bolton, denied him with an excellent save. Parlour's follow up was then bravely blocked on The Cumbrians goal line before Wiltord was denied by Glennon once more with another excellent stop.

What is it with Carlisle and goalkeepers? A couple of years ago it was Jimmy Glass making a name for himself by keeping The Cumbrians in the Football League with a sensational injury-time winner against Plymouth to preserve their league status.

This time, it was Glennon who donned the 'heroic keeper' jersey after turning in an inspired performance to keep The Gunners at bay.

Ten minutes into the second half, he denied Bergkamp with a stunning stop. The Dutchmen picked up the rebound and rounded the stranded glovesman, but as he shot at goal, he was denied by more frantic defending on the goal line by Carlisle's whole-hearted backline.

Wiltord was then presented with a chance to double his tally for the afternoon as he turned well inside the box, but found the side-netting as he tried to beat Glennon on his near post.

The game gradually fizzled out with Arsenal keen to avoid any embarrassment and an unnecessary replay at Highbury next week. A flurry of substitutions interrupted proceedings although Carlisle, to their credit, battled on, but were no match for an Arsenal team which weren't firing on all cylinders by all means.

Arsenal were worthy winners, but the credit certainly belongs to Atkins and his side for a defiant performance. Carlisle were by no means overrun, outplayed or outclassed and if they can show the same guts, commitment and passion in their league matches, Atkins will have no worries about his side's fight for survival.