(Bergkamp '4, Manicone '50)
The Bergkamp derby. A side that massively underachieved in the domestic season but won a European trophy against a side that tumbled out of Europe at the first hurdle but won a domestic double. I had expected it to be quite a close contest but in the event Inter dominated from start to finish.
The Bianconeri took the lead with their first attack. Bianchi crossed and Bergkamp headed past Seaman (note: Bergkamp never scored a headed goal for Inter in his brief time there and only 3 in his entire Arsenal career).
Arsenal could not get out of their own half and with fifteen minutes gone should have been further behind. Their offside trap failed and a chipped ball over the top was chested down by Bergkamp but a brilliant diving save by Seaman spared his back four's blushes.
Inter continued to press. Arsenal began to get more possession but found no way through Bergomi and the Inter defenders. It took more than half an hour before Zenga needed to pay even passing attention when Ray Parlour at last found some room and put a cross through the box. Shortly after, Arsenal's Bergkamp sent a long range shot over the crossbar but that was as close as they came in the first half.
Inter meanwhile continued to trouble Seaman. Right on half time Nicola Berti picked off a poor pass out from the back. Seaman came rushing out and the Inter midfielder coolly chipped him but saw the ball pass just over the bar.
Things hardly changed in the second half. Jonk sprayed a long pass to Berti who shot from the edge of the box had Seaman at full stretch. The Arsenal defence failed to clear the resulting corner and in the pinball chaos of the penalty area, the ice-cool Bergkamp was able to trap the ball, swivel and slide a pass through the tangle of legs to Manicone at the far post to tap in. Seaman, who was closing down the angle for the Bergkamp shot that never came had no prayer.
Arsenal flung everything forward in the hope of reducing the deficit. Wright put Bergkamp through but his shot from a wide angle was blocked out by Zenga. Overmars found more space but over hit his cross and Wenger brought on Platt for Parlour and Anelka for Wright. Platt was largely ineffective and drifted inside too much, causing the Arsenal midfield to lose its shape. Shalimov, who had replaced Jonk, exploited the space on a number of occasions, although Inter's forward ambition had effectively ended with the second away goal and the final half hour was a classic Italian exercise in closing shop. In this they were successful, although Anelka perhaps came closest to salvaging something for Arsenal with a close range diving header on 70 minutes but Zenga, at full stretch was up to the challenge.
The tie already looks well beyond the Gunners, who will have to hope that Inter's domestic form haunts the San Siro.
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