Match Report
Steven Gerrard's hat-trick sank Luton and lifted the spirits of embattled Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez.
Ryan Babel's powerful finish broke the deadlock in first-half injury time, with Gerrard heading home from close range after 51 minutes.
Sami Hyypia turned in Gerrard's corner six minutes later before the captain slid in his second from 14 yards.
Gerrard's third came via a swerving shot to seal an FA Cup fourth round tie with Swansea or Havant & Waterlooville.
Both sides formed a guard of honour before kick-off as Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher celebrated his 500th appearance for the club.
The Kop also cheered Benitez after revelations that American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett had held secret talks with Jurgen Klinsmann to line him up as a potential successor to the Spaniard.
Luton fans were in good heart after administrator Brendan Guilfoyle revealed a deal has been agreed with a consortium, fronted by television presenter Nick Owen, to buy the club.
Liverpool, fielding a strong side including Gerrard and Torres, exerted total domination in the first 45 minutes.
But Luton, marshalled by former Anfield veteran Don Hutchison, defended heroically, putting their bodies on the line for a succession of brave blocks.
Peter Crouch should have done better than direct a fifth-minute header wide, and Babel curled a fine right-foot effort against an upright three minutes later.
Babel also had a shot deflected wide before he broke Luton's brave resistance in first-half injury time.
Gerrard's flick released Torres, and he set up the unmarked Babel for a drilled finish into the bottom corner past Dean Brill.
And Liverpool were home and dry after 51 minutes as Luton's lack of height at the back was ruthlessly exposed.
Jermaine Pennant's cross found Crouch at the far post and he knocked the ball into the path of the onrushing Gerrard, who headed beyond Brill.
Liverpool added a third six minutes later when Hyypia headed in Gerrard's near post corner, via a deflection from Matthew Spring.
Gerrard added his second after 64 minutes, steering home a precise finish from 14 yards after Torres' shot had been partially cleared into his path.
And a swerving long-range drive deceived Brill to complete Gerrard's hat-trick after 71 minutes, leaving the captain to depart to a standing ovation from Anfield.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
An own goal from Liverpool's John Arne Riise helped much-troubled Luton secure this money-spinning replay at Anfield, after Peter Crouch had put the Reds ahead.
This is one of two League One against Premier League replays in the third round.
Liverpool are keen to add to the six Premier League clubs who definitely know they in round four; Luton would like to join Huddersfield, Oldham and Southend, as League One representatives in the last 32.
In The League
Liverpool are 62 places higher than Luton in the league standings.
The Merseysiders are chasing a Champions League spot in the Premier League's top four; the Hatters are fighting against relegation from League One, having been deducted 10 points for going into financial administration.
HEAD to HEAD
All competitions
Luton's only victory in their last nine meetings with Liverpool was a 3-1 top-flight triumph on 23 February 1991 at Kenilworth Road.
FA Cup
The Hatters have been drawn with Liverpool four times previously in the competition, and have only knocked them out once; it took three games to complete the task with a 3-0 victory in the third round on 28 January 1987 with goals from Brian Stein, Mick Harford (penalty) and Mike Newell.
Watch the highlights of Carling Cup and FA cup here. Carling cup Live Streaming. FA Cup live streaming.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham, 09/01/2008 Carling Cup
Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham
Theo Walcott scored a lucky equaliser as Arsenal held Tottenham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
The ball rebounded off Walcott's body following Young-Pyo Lee's tackle and looped over Spurs keeper Radek Cerny.
Jermaine Jenas had put Tottenham in front, slotting home into virtually an empty net after Robbie Keane selflessly played him in with a square ball.
Spurs were the better side and Lukasz Fabianski made several good saves while Steed Malbranque missed from 14 yards.
It was a tough break for Spurs when Walcott equalised after the visiting team had created most of the decent openings.
Even so, Spurs might still have won the tie but substitute Jermain Defoe smashed the ball wide after Aaron Lennon played him in.
The result means that Tottenham's long wait for a victory over their north London rivals continues - their last came in November 1999 - but it leaves them well placed in the tie with the next leg at White Hart Lane.
In truth, it was a below-par performance by an Arsenal team comprised of a sprinkling of first-team regulars and talented youngsters.
The smooth, incisive football for which Arsene Wenger's team are so often heralded was largely absent on an evening when Tottenham seemed more fluid and dangerous in possession.
But the Gunners demonstrated the resilience that has ensured they have remained unbeaten at home all season by finding what appeared to be an unlikely equaliser.
Arsenal had fashioned the first real opening, with Radek Cerny, preferred in goal to Paul Robinson, making an athletic save to parry a header from Nicklas Bendtner.
But Tottenham had shown early signs that they could unlock the Arsenal defence and created several good chances before taking the lead.
Jamie O'Hara struck a free-kick narrowly wide, Malbranque shot wide from 14 yards and then missed the target with a header while the sublime Dimitar Berbatov, at the heart of so many impressive moves, forced Fabianski into a decent stop with a low-range strike.
Malbranque's first chance in particular was an excellent opportunity from which he should have scored.
The ball broke to him after Keane was dispossessed and the French midfielder had time to pick his spot but instead drilled the ball wide.
Tottenham scored the goal that their superiority deserved after 37 minutes when Berbatov played Keane through down the left and the striker passed for Jenas to tap home.
Jenas had another strike on target before a half-time break that must have been more welcome for the home team than Tottenham.
The visitors continued to hold a good shape after the interval and might have been gifted a second goal when Fabianski spilled a corner but thankfully for him the ball fell to one of his team-mates.
Keane drilled a shot wide as Tottenham pushed for a second.
The midfield became increasingly congested as Arsenal came back into the match and, after a relatively open first hour, decent openings were at a premium.
But Walcott scored his team's goal in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello after collecting Eduardo's though ball.
Replays suggested the ball hit Walcott on the hand but it all happened so quickly it would have been harsh to penalise the Arsenal forward.
Theo Walcott scored a lucky equaliser as Arsenal held Tottenham in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
The ball rebounded off Walcott's body following Young-Pyo Lee's tackle and looped over Spurs keeper Radek Cerny.
Jermaine Jenas had put Tottenham in front, slotting home into virtually an empty net after Robbie Keane selflessly played him in with a square ball.
Spurs were the better side and Lukasz Fabianski made several good saves while Steed Malbranque missed from 14 yards.
It was a tough break for Spurs when Walcott equalised after the visiting team had created most of the decent openings.
Even so, Spurs might still have won the tie but substitute Jermain Defoe smashed the ball wide after Aaron Lennon played him in.
The result means that Tottenham's long wait for a victory over their north London rivals continues - their last came in November 1999 - but it leaves them well placed in the tie with the next leg at White Hart Lane.
In truth, it was a below-par performance by an Arsenal team comprised of a sprinkling of first-team regulars and talented youngsters.
The smooth, incisive football for which Arsene Wenger's team are so often heralded was largely absent on an evening when Tottenham seemed more fluid and dangerous in possession.
But the Gunners demonstrated the resilience that has ensured they have remained unbeaten at home all season by finding what appeared to be an unlikely equaliser.
Arsenal had fashioned the first real opening, with Radek Cerny, preferred in goal to Paul Robinson, making an athletic save to parry a header from Nicklas Bendtner.
But Tottenham had shown early signs that they could unlock the Arsenal defence and created several good chances before taking the lead.
Jamie O'Hara struck a free-kick narrowly wide, Malbranque shot wide from 14 yards and then missed the target with a header while the sublime Dimitar Berbatov, at the heart of so many impressive moves, forced Fabianski into a decent stop with a low-range strike.
Malbranque's first chance in particular was an excellent opportunity from which he should have scored.
The ball broke to him after Keane was dispossessed and the French midfielder had time to pick his spot but instead drilled the ball wide.
Tottenham scored the goal that their superiority deserved after 37 minutes when Berbatov played Keane through down the left and the striker passed for Jenas to tap home.
Jenas had another strike on target before a half-time break that must have been more welcome for the home team than Tottenham.
The visitors continued to hold a good shape after the interval and might have been gifted a second goal when Fabianski spilled a corner but thankfully for him the ball fell to one of his team-mates.
Keane drilled a shot wide as Tottenham pushed for a second.
The midfield became increasingly congested as Arsenal came back into the match and, after a relatively open first hour, decent openings were at a premium.
But Walcott scored his team's goal in front of watching England coach Fabio Capello after collecting Eduardo's though ball.
Replays suggested the ball hit Walcott on the hand but it all happened so quickly it would have been harsh to penalise the Arsenal forward.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Chelsea 2-1 Everton, Carling Cup 08/01/2008
Chelsea 2-1 Everton
Everton defender Joleon Lescott scored an injury-time own goal to hand Chelsea the advantage after the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
Lescott headed the ball into his own net as Shaun Wright-Phillips closed in.
The Chelsea winger had opened the scoring with a curling strike before Jon Mikel Obi was dismissed following a sliding tackle on Phil Neville.
Yakubu then equalised with a brilliant shot on the turn while James McFadden hit the post for Everton.
Chelsea were the better team for large phases of the match but, once Yakubu equalised shortly after Mikel's 64th-minute dismissal, Everton looked the team most likely to win a pulsating tie.
And even after Lescott, under pressure from the impressive Wright-Phillips, had put the ball into his own net Everton might have grabbed a second equaliser.
Lescott found himself through on goal and with a chance to almost immediately atone for his error but a heavy touch at a crucial moment saw the ball run away from him and Hilario was able to gather.
It was a far cry from the opening half, which Chelsea went on to dominate after Wright-Phillips struck with 25 minutes played.
Lee Carsley allowed Wright-Phillips to drift into the Everton area and the Chelsea winger turned sharply before finishing brilliantly after collecting a pass from Florent Malouda.
Everton all too often gave Chelsea too much time and space and Joe Cole almost scored after eluding Phil Jagielka before bursting through on goal.
Cole saw his shot smothered by Tim Howard but referee Peter Walton, having initially played an advantage, awarded Chelsea a free-kick for Jagielka's challenge and Michael Ballack missed by inches with a fizzing strike.
Everton looked relieved to reach the break without conceding again but Wright-Phillips was once more gifted far too much space a minute into the second half and forced another save from Howard.
Chelsea seemed intent on trying to establish a decisive first-leg advantage but their attacking ambitions were undermined when Mikel was dismissed for his tackle on Neville.
The Nigerian appeared intent on trying to win the ball but his studs were showing and Walton had no hesitation in dismissing the player.
Despite the sending-off Chelsea still managed to fashion a great opening but Claudio Pizarro, after collecting Wright-Phillips's superb through ball, failed to connect cleanly and within minutes Everton were level.
Yakubu, mostly absent for the first 64 minutes of the tie, brilliantly equalised after Joseph Yobo had hooked McFadden's free-kick back into the danger zone.
McFadden then hit the post from the tightest of angles after a mazy run down the left as Everton suddenly started to dominate.
But Lescott put the ball in his own net after he was caught stationary by Wright-Phillips at the far post.
Everton defender Joleon Lescott scored an injury-time own goal to hand Chelsea the advantage after the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
Lescott headed the ball into his own net as Shaun Wright-Phillips closed in.
The Chelsea winger had opened the scoring with a curling strike before Jon Mikel Obi was dismissed following a sliding tackle on Phil Neville.
Yakubu then equalised with a brilliant shot on the turn while James McFadden hit the post for Everton.
Chelsea were the better team for large phases of the match but, once Yakubu equalised shortly after Mikel's 64th-minute dismissal, Everton looked the team most likely to win a pulsating tie.
And even after Lescott, under pressure from the impressive Wright-Phillips, had put the ball into his own net Everton might have grabbed a second equaliser.
Lescott found himself through on goal and with a chance to almost immediately atone for his error but a heavy touch at a crucial moment saw the ball run away from him and Hilario was able to gather.
It was a far cry from the opening half, which Chelsea went on to dominate after Wright-Phillips struck with 25 minutes played.
Lee Carsley allowed Wright-Phillips to drift into the Everton area and the Chelsea winger turned sharply before finishing brilliantly after collecting a pass from Florent Malouda.
Everton all too often gave Chelsea too much time and space and Joe Cole almost scored after eluding Phil Jagielka before bursting through on goal.
Cole saw his shot smothered by Tim Howard but referee Peter Walton, having initially played an advantage, awarded Chelsea a free-kick for Jagielka's challenge and Michael Ballack missed by inches with a fizzing strike.
Everton looked relieved to reach the break without conceding again but Wright-Phillips was once more gifted far too much space a minute into the second half and forced another save from Howard.
Chelsea seemed intent on trying to establish a decisive first-leg advantage but their attacking ambitions were undermined when Mikel was dismissed for his tackle on Neville.
The Nigerian appeared intent on trying to win the ball but his studs were showing and Walton had no hesitation in dismissing the player.
Despite the sending-off Chelsea still managed to fashion a great opening but Claudio Pizarro, after collecting Wright-Phillips's superb through ball, failed to connect cleanly and within minutes Everton were level.
Yakubu, mostly absent for the first 64 minutes of the tie, brilliantly equalised after Joseph Yobo had hooked McFadden's free-kick back into the danger zone.
McFadden then hit the post from the tightest of angles after a mazy run down the left as Everton suddenly started to dominate.
But Lescott put the ball in his own net after he was caught stationary by Wright-Phillips at the far post.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Stoke 0-0 Newcastle 06/01/2008
Stoke 0-0 Newcastle
Highlights: Click Here
Stoke City forced an FA Cup third-round replay against Premiership Newcastle after an absorbing draw.
The game lacked quality and only came to life in the second period with the Potters unlucky not to have taken the lead through substitute Jon Parkin.
But for Steven Taylor's heroic block on the goal-line, the lofty striker would have scored with his first touch.
Stoke survived a goal scramble after Taylor had hit the post and now travel to St James' Park a week on Wednesday.
A voracious home support, the presence of the BBC television cameras and facing a side packed with strapping six-footers would have had Sam Allardyce and his players fearing another Cup upset.
But the Magpies, beaten in their last three matches, hung on with some heroic defending and denied the hosts a deserved victory.
The visitors enjoyed the best of the first-half chances with Mark Viduka firing straight at Steve Simonsen from the edge of the box and Charles N'Zogbia stinging the hands of the Geordie-born keeper with a rasping drive from 20 yards.
Michael Owen, making his first FA Cup appearance in a black and white shirt, failed to take advantage of Ryan Shawcross' error, fluffing his lifted shot from close range.
Abdoulaye Faye and Taylor coped admirably with the sizeable threats of Mamady Sidibe and Ricardo Fuller.
But despite controlling possession, they seldom pressed home their superiority and were again short of invention and creativity.
Stoke, too, squandered possession and took until the 44th minute to muster a decent chance.
Liam Lawrence placed a 25-yard free-kick a yard wide of the post with Shay Given scrambling to his left.
The Potters, full of running and passion, pressed in the second half with the inspired introduction of Parkin almost reaping immediate rewards.
With his first touch, the centre forward almost broke the deadlock with a low placed effort after fine work from Fuller.
From the resulting corner Parkin again made a nuisance of himself, presenting a half chance for Richard Cresswell who should have made better contact with his acrobatic flick.
Taylor then blocked Fuller's long-range drive as the home side sensed a winner in the lashing rain.
Newcastle could have stolen a win at the death but Andrew Carroll's stretched shot deflected into the side netting.
Highlights: Click Here
Stoke City forced an FA Cup third-round replay against Premiership Newcastle after an absorbing draw.
The game lacked quality and only came to life in the second period with the Potters unlucky not to have taken the lead through substitute Jon Parkin.
But for Steven Taylor's heroic block on the goal-line, the lofty striker would have scored with his first touch.
Stoke survived a goal scramble after Taylor had hit the post and now travel to St James' Park a week on Wednesday.
A voracious home support, the presence of the BBC television cameras and facing a side packed with strapping six-footers would have had Sam Allardyce and his players fearing another Cup upset.
But the Magpies, beaten in their last three matches, hung on with some heroic defending and denied the hosts a deserved victory.
The visitors enjoyed the best of the first-half chances with Mark Viduka firing straight at Steve Simonsen from the edge of the box and Charles N'Zogbia stinging the hands of the Geordie-born keeper with a rasping drive from 20 yards.
Michael Owen, making his first FA Cup appearance in a black and white shirt, failed to take advantage of Ryan Shawcross' error, fluffing his lifted shot from close range.
Abdoulaye Faye and Taylor coped admirably with the sizeable threats of Mamady Sidibe and Ricardo Fuller.
But despite controlling possession, they seldom pressed home their superiority and were again short of invention and creativity.
Stoke, too, squandered possession and took until the 44th minute to muster a decent chance.
Liam Lawrence placed a 25-yard free-kick a yard wide of the post with Shay Given scrambling to his left.
The Potters, full of running and passion, pressed in the second half with the inspired introduction of Parkin almost reaping immediate rewards.
With his first touch, the centre forward almost broke the deadlock with a low placed effort after fine work from Fuller.
From the resulting corner Parkin again made a nuisance of himself, presenting a half chance for Richard Cresswell who should have made better contact with his acrobatic flick.
Taylor then blocked Fuller's long-range drive as the home side sensed a winner in the lashing rain.
Newcastle could have stolen a win at the death but Andrew Carroll's stretched shot deflected into the side netting.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Luton 1-1 Liverpool 06/01/2208
Luton 1-1 Liverpool
Embattled Luton put in a superb performance against a weakened Liverpool team to earn a third-round replay at Anfield on Tuesday week.
The League One side were the better team in the first-half but could not convert their pressure into goals.
But Peter Crouch's simple finish gave Liverpool a second-half lead under the gaze of England manager Fabio Capello.
Yet Luton fought on and were rewarded when John Arne Riise bundled into his own goal from Drew Talbot's cross.
With the debt-laden Hatters in administration and looking for a buyer, and with many players unpaid in recent months, this FA Cup tie was a chance to briefly forget their woes.
Yet within 30 seconds Ryan Babel jinked into the penalty area to shoot low and hard, forcing a superb stop from Luton keeper Dean Brill.
Luton quickly regrouped and rarely looked like a team languishing in the League One relegation zone as they took the game to Liverpool.
Their first chance game when Steve Finnan played David Edwards onside but, one-on-one, Liverpool keeper Charles Itandje made an impressive stop from the Luton forward.
The Reds, not looking their forceful best without Steven Gerrard, did create chances and Dirk Kuyt should have done better than sky the ball over the bar after a neat one-two with Peter Crouch.
As the first-half wore on, Crouch got little chance to impress new England boss Fabio Capello with Luton stretching Liverpool all over the pitch and having the better of possession.
The energetic Drew Talbot was at the heart of their pressure but, finding himself in an inviting shooting position on 37 minutes after Steve Finnan's error, he screwed the ball lamely wide.
At half-time Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez tweaked his formation to a 4-3-3, pushing Babel closer to the front two and freeing Yossi Benayoun in midfield.
This change had an immediate impact as Xabi Alonso found Kuyt out on the right and his drilled cross shot
Luton survived another scare moments later with Brill making a good reaction stop after John Arne Riise's drive was deflected across the path of his dive.
The Hatters had a glorious chance to make a breakthrough on 54 minutes with Darren Currie chipping a cross in only for the unmarked Talbot to head over from three yards.
But calamitous Luton defending high up the pitch on 72 minutes let substitute Andriy Voronin break free and, though his shot was saved by Brill, Peter Crouch fired home the rebound.
Minutes later Luton deservedly got their goal as the unremitting Talbot whipped in a cross from the left by-line for John Arne Riise, under pressure from David Edwards, to bundle into his own goal.
Riise should have scored the winner soon after but flashed a left-foot shot narrowly wide of Brill's post and Edwards went close for Luton with a dipping volley.
Embattled Luton put in a superb performance against a weakened Liverpool team to earn a third-round replay at Anfield on Tuesday week.
The League One side were the better team in the first-half but could not convert their pressure into goals.
But Peter Crouch's simple finish gave Liverpool a second-half lead under the gaze of England manager Fabio Capello.
Yet Luton fought on and were rewarded when John Arne Riise bundled into his own goal from Drew Talbot's cross.
With the debt-laden Hatters in administration and looking for a buyer, and with many players unpaid in recent months, this FA Cup tie was a chance to briefly forget their woes.
Yet within 30 seconds Ryan Babel jinked into the penalty area to shoot low and hard, forcing a superb stop from Luton keeper Dean Brill.
Luton quickly regrouped and rarely looked like a team languishing in the League One relegation zone as they took the game to Liverpool.
Their first chance game when Steve Finnan played David Edwards onside but, one-on-one, Liverpool keeper Charles Itandje made an impressive stop from the Luton forward.
The Reds, not looking their forceful best without Steven Gerrard, did create chances and Dirk Kuyt should have done better than sky the ball over the bar after a neat one-two with Peter Crouch.
As the first-half wore on, Crouch got little chance to impress new England boss Fabio Capello with Luton stretching Liverpool all over the pitch and having the better of possession.
The energetic Drew Talbot was at the heart of their pressure but, finding himself in an inviting shooting position on 37 minutes after Steve Finnan's error, he screwed the ball lamely wide.
At half-time Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez tweaked his formation to a 4-3-3, pushing Babel closer to the front two and freeing Yossi Benayoun in midfield.
This change had an immediate impact as Xabi Alonso found Kuyt out on the right and his drilled cross shot
Luton survived another scare moments later with Brill making a good reaction stop after John Arne Riise's drive was deflected across the path of his dive.
The Hatters had a glorious chance to make a breakthrough on 54 minutes with Darren Currie chipping a cross in only for the unmarked Talbot to head over from three yards.
But calamitous Luton defending high up the pitch on 72 minutes let substitute Andriy Voronin break free and, though his shot was saved by Brill, Peter Crouch fired home the rebound.
Minutes later Luton deservedly got their goal as the unremitting Talbot whipped in a cross from the left by-line for John Arne Riise, under pressure from David Edwards, to bundle into his own goal.
Riise should have scored the winner soon after but flashed a left-foot shot narrowly wide of Brill's post and Edwards went close for Luton with a dipping volley.
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal FA CUP 06/08/2008
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup but they were given a tough time by a brave Burnley side.
Kyle Lafferty's header hit the bar for the hosts before Eduardo slotted home.
Robbie Blake and Chris McCann fired over as Burnley rallied but James O'Connor had to hack off the line to clear Gilberto's deflected header.
Lafferty saw red for a foul on Gilberto on the hour and though the Clarets battled away, Nicklas Bendtner sealed the win after Eduardo played him in.
Burnley will now turn their thoughts towards improving their recent poor form in the Championship.
But they will wonder what might have been after giving the Premier League readers more than a run for their money with a performance that evoked memories of their shock third-round win over Liverpool in 2005.
They could have been in front as early as the sixth minute, when Lafferty's firm header from Andy Gray's cross beat the recalled Jens Lehmann before bouncing back down off the woodwork.
Eduardo made the Clarets pay by tapping past Gabor Kiraly for his sixth goal in four games after Kolo Toure's excellent defence-splitting chipped pass.
The home side showed tremendous spirit, and no shortage of style, as they took the game to their more illustrious opponents.
Blake was at the heart of most of their crisp passing movements and gave the Gunners another scare when he fired just over.
The danger of a swift Arsenal counter-attack was always present, however, and it needed a desperate clearance from O'Connor when Gilberto's header from Denilson's corner was deflected goalwards by the outstanding Jon Harley.
Burnley could have gone in level had McCann been more accurate from inside the box when Armand Traore could not control a deep cross from the impressive Lafferty.
Arsenal, while never on the rack, could have had some breathing space in the 50th minute when Bendtner's flicked pass put Eduardo clear but, by his own high standards, the prolific Croatia star shot surprisingly wide.
That actually came in the middle of another spell of Burnley pressure, in which Blake, Lafferty and Wade Elliott were regularly finding space to trouble the visitors' back four.
McCann lost his marker to head Blake's free-kick over from six yards and the warning signs were there for the Gunners.
But Lafferty's afternoon was over on the hour when he raised his studs while sliding in for a tackle on Gilberto and referee Alan Wiley pulled out the red card without hesitation.
Somehow, it seemed to inspire Burnley and, if anything, they poured forward with even more purpose, with O'Connor, Blake and Elliott buzzing all over the place.
Philippe Senderos had to be at his best to prevent Gray from getting to Elliott's teasing cross.
It proved crucial as soon after Eduardo's simple yet devastating pass was weighted perfectly for Bendtner to take the ball wide of Kiraly and finish the game as a contest with 15 minutes left.
Eduardo could have added some gloss to the scoreline moments later but Kiraly thwarted him.
A third goal would have been desperately harsh on a Burnley side that acquitted itself admirably.
Arsenal progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup but they were given a tough time by a brave Burnley side.
Kyle Lafferty's header hit the bar for the hosts before Eduardo slotted home.
Robbie Blake and Chris McCann fired over as Burnley rallied but James O'Connor had to hack off the line to clear Gilberto's deflected header.
Lafferty saw red for a foul on Gilberto on the hour and though the Clarets battled away, Nicklas Bendtner sealed the win after Eduardo played him in.
Burnley will now turn their thoughts towards improving their recent poor form in the Championship.
But they will wonder what might have been after giving the Premier League readers more than a run for their money with a performance that evoked memories of their shock third-round win over Liverpool in 2005.
They could have been in front as early as the sixth minute, when Lafferty's firm header from Andy Gray's cross beat the recalled Jens Lehmann before bouncing back down off the woodwork.
Eduardo made the Clarets pay by tapping past Gabor Kiraly for his sixth goal in four games after Kolo Toure's excellent defence-splitting chipped pass.
The home side showed tremendous spirit, and no shortage of style, as they took the game to their more illustrious opponents.
Blake was at the heart of most of their crisp passing movements and gave the Gunners another scare when he fired just over.
The danger of a swift Arsenal counter-attack was always present, however, and it needed a desperate clearance from O'Connor when Gilberto's header from Denilson's corner was deflected goalwards by the outstanding Jon Harley.
Burnley could have gone in level had McCann been more accurate from inside the box when Armand Traore could not control a deep cross from the impressive Lafferty.
Arsenal, while never on the rack, could have had some breathing space in the 50th minute when Bendtner's flicked pass put Eduardo clear but, by his own high standards, the prolific Croatia star shot surprisingly wide.
That actually came in the middle of another spell of Burnley pressure, in which Blake, Lafferty and Wade Elliott were regularly finding space to trouble the visitors' back four.
McCann lost his marker to head Blake's free-kick over from six yards and the warning signs were there for the Gunners.
But Lafferty's afternoon was over on the hour when he raised his studs while sliding in for a tackle on Gilberto and referee Alan Wiley pulled out the red card without hesitation.
Somehow, it seemed to inspire Burnley and, if anything, they poured forward with even more purpose, with O'Connor, Blake and Elliott buzzing all over the place.
Philippe Senderos had to be at his best to prevent Gray from getting to Elliott's teasing cross.
It proved crucial as soon after Eduardo's simple yet devastating pass was weighted perfectly for Bendtner to take the ball wide of Kiraly and finish the game as a contest with 15 minutes left.
Eduardo could have added some gloss to the scoreline moments later but Kiraly thwarted him.
A third goal would have been desperately harsh on a Burnley side that acquitted itself admirably.
Fulham 2-2 Bristol Rovers
Fulham 2-2 Bristol Rovers
[video]
Fulham twice had to come from behind to force a replay with League One strugglers Bristol Rovers.
Danny Coles' right foot drive gave the visitors a shock lead inside three minutes, but David Healey headed Fulham level five minutes before half-time.
Against the run of play, Rovers regained the lead after the interval thanks to Craig Hinton's header.
But Danny Murphy spared the Premiership side's blushes with a rasping effort to force a replay on Tuesday week.
Both sides searched for a winner in a pulsating finish to this cup tie, but Rovers will be happiest with the result after defending for large parts of the game.
The 7,000 travelling fans greeted the final whistle with a huge roar as Fulham's supporters, who have not seen their team win in 10 games, booed their team from the pitch.
The visitors stunned their Premiership hosts inside three minutes as Danny Coles beat Antti Niemi with a right foot drive.
Fulham, who currently sit 19th in the Premiership, looked nervy and struggled to break down a resilient Rovers side, who seemed buoyed by their early breakthrough.
Clint Dempsey did put the ball in the back of the net with a header on 10 minutes, but it was ruled out for a foul on Rovers defender Steve Elliot by Dejan Stefanovic.
Fulham's American striker then headed straight at Steve Phillips and saw his shot deflected into the arms of the opposing goalkeeper as the home side searched for an equaliser.
Hameur Bouazza, returning from a one-match ban, lasted just 25 minutes as he was replaced by Chris Baird after sustaining an arm injury, before David Healey saw his appeals for a penalty turned down after tumbling on the edge of the area
Both Healey and Paul Konchesky shot wide but, five minutes before half-time, the Northern Ireland international levelled the scores.
A poor clearance by Aaron Lescott was helped back in by Moritz Volz and Healey, unmarked, scored from inside the six yard box.
The goal seemed to fill Fulham with more confidence and Phillips saved well from Healey, before making a good save from Alexey Smertin's 25-yard curler.
The Cottagers were far more confident in the second-half and after a slick move Dempsey's shot was saved low by Phillips, before a great tackle from Hinton denied the American a shot on goal after he turned well in the box.
But midway through the second period Rovers retook the lead against the run of play to once again stun Fulham and silence the home fans.
Chris lines' cross was met well by Hinton who rose unmarked eight yards out to head in his side's second goal of the afternoon.
However, their lead lasted just 10 minutes as Danny Murphy fired the home side level.
Steven Davis, with his first touch after replacing Alexey Smertin, played ball forward and Healey's knock down was hammered home emphatically by Murphy from 20 yards.
Fulham piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but it was Rovers who finished the strongest as they earned a replay at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday 15 January.
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Fulham twice had to come from behind to force a replay with League One strugglers Bristol Rovers.
Danny Coles' right foot drive gave the visitors a shock lead inside three minutes, but David Healey headed Fulham level five minutes before half-time.
Against the run of play, Rovers regained the lead after the interval thanks to Craig Hinton's header.
But Danny Murphy spared the Premiership side's blushes with a rasping effort to force a replay on Tuesday week.
Both sides searched for a winner in a pulsating finish to this cup tie, but Rovers will be happiest with the result after defending for large parts of the game.
The 7,000 travelling fans greeted the final whistle with a huge roar as Fulham's supporters, who have not seen their team win in 10 games, booed their team from the pitch.
The visitors stunned their Premiership hosts inside three minutes as Danny Coles beat Antti Niemi with a right foot drive.
Fulham, who currently sit 19th in the Premiership, looked nervy and struggled to break down a resilient Rovers side, who seemed buoyed by their early breakthrough.
Clint Dempsey did put the ball in the back of the net with a header on 10 minutes, but it was ruled out for a foul on Rovers defender Steve Elliot by Dejan Stefanovic.
Fulham's American striker then headed straight at Steve Phillips and saw his shot deflected into the arms of the opposing goalkeeper as the home side searched for an equaliser.
Hameur Bouazza, returning from a one-match ban, lasted just 25 minutes as he was replaced by Chris Baird after sustaining an arm injury, before David Healey saw his appeals for a penalty turned down after tumbling on the edge of the area
Both Healey and Paul Konchesky shot wide but, five minutes before half-time, the Northern Ireland international levelled the scores.
A poor clearance by Aaron Lescott was helped back in by Moritz Volz and Healey, unmarked, scored from inside the six yard box.
The goal seemed to fill Fulham with more confidence and Phillips saved well from Healey, before making a good save from Alexey Smertin's 25-yard curler.
The Cottagers were far more confident in the second-half and after a slick move Dempsey's shot was saved low by Phillips, before a great tackle from Hinton denied the American a shot on goal after he turned well in the box.
But midway through the second period Rovers retook the lead against the run of play to once again stun Fulham and silence the home fans.
Chris lines' cross was met well by Hinton who rose unmarked eight yards out to head in his side's second goal of the afternoon.
However, their lead lasted just 10 minutes as Danny Murphy fired the home side level.
Steven Davis, with his first touch after replacing Alexey Smertin, played ball forward and Healey's knock down was hammered home emphatically by Murphy from 20 yards.
Fulham piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser but it was Rovers who finished the strongest as they earned a replay at the Memorial Ground on Tuesday 15 January.
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