Gunners youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored one and created another on either side of the break before Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard pulled one back from the spot, but despite a late barrage from the visitors, Arsene Wenger’s side were able to hang on to their slim advantage and earn himself not only progression to the quarter-finals, but a slight measure of revenge for the 5-1 pasting the North London side was handed the weekend prior on Merseyside.
By the numbers, and on the pitch, Liverpool dominated the match with Arsenal pegged back for long portions of either half – something that Allen takes heart in. “We created some great chances, which was a positive to take from the game “said the Welshman. “I don’t think there are many teams who will go to the Emirates and give them a game like we did.”
Enjoying both the bulk of possession and chances, the Reds felt hard done by not to progress with a controversial decision by referee Howard Webb denying them a clear second spot kick after Oxlade-Chamberlain clattered Suarez in the area. “That’s the positive we take from the tie – the performance. We were bitterly disappointed to be knocked out of the cup and I’m sure the fans travelled home very disappointed” continued Allen. “It’s one of those defeats where you can’t really analyse what went wrong from our point of view. We were very unfortunate to get knocked out of the cup like that but now we have to move on from that.”
Liverpool now have a solitary focus after being knocked out of the FA Cup and will look to consolidate their top four position when Allen’s former side Swansea City visit Anfield this weekend.
