Cardiff City 0 Arsenal 0:THERE WAS a moment three minutes from time when this arena held its breath in hope and the tie hinted tantalisingly at an upset. Ross McCormack's free-kick arced over the Arsenal defensive wall to prompt a panicked Lukasz Fabianski, feet all a blur, to scamper across his goal-line. Yet, rather than preluding a furious finale, the effect of the ball kissing the woodwork rather than billowing the net served merely to temper Cardiff City's ambition. Thereafter the real frustration began.

For a few crammed on to the terracing, the sight of one of the local champions, Joe Ledley, subsequently shielding the ball near the corner flag as added time ticked away was too much to take. There were boos – not a chorus but clear and dissonant voices nevertheless – with the exasperation fuelled by the reality that Cardiff had given themselves an opportunity to test the visitors one last time with a cross from wide. Even a side as fluent and menacing on the break as Arsenal did not have the time to pour downfield with the game almost up. Surely here was a final chance to expose any chink of weakness in the Premier League ranks. Safety first did not appear an obvious option.

There was nothing to suppose, of course, that the 93rd minute would yield the accurate cross the hosts had long craved but some still departed numbed by a sense of what might have been. By seeking out the corner flag and extending their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions City’s reward will be a lucrative replay on February 3rd, an occasion they will relish as a “payday”, as the manager Dave Jones admitted, and a chance to take on loftier opponents in more grandiose surroundings. But Cardiff’s best chance has most likely gone.

Last year’s beaten finalists were organised and impressive here. The whirlwind they whipped up in the early stages when McCormack was at his most pesky and Jay Bothroyd so energetic had briefly threatened to whisk the visitors from the tie. The stubborn defence marshalled superbly by Roger Johnson and Gabor Gyepes once Arsene Wenger’s side had found their feet, particularly after the interval, was just as admirable. They will take their replay. But so, too, will Arsenal.

Wenger cited this match as an occasion for his side to prove their new-found consistency. Certainly back in the autumn, when this team was too easily startled into defeat, they might have wilted. Arsenal were caught too square at times, McCormack first nodding then shooting wide with Ledley’s delivery accurate and potent. Aaron Ramsey, who flew the nest after Wembley last term, was overawed and becalmed. Yet Arsenal, even with a weakened side, did not crumble.

Wenger will take heart from that. Other aspects of their performance were less pleasing. Rhythm had returned to their play as half-time approached but Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie were unable to cap sweeping moves with the finishes they deserved. Peter Enckelman may wince at the memory of his critical error in the FA Cup final in May but he excelled here. The blocks he mustered before the break were repeated late on when Van Persie, the architect of virtually everything Arsenal have created in the last month, was twice denied from close range.

There was Welsh relief to be had, too, in Emmanuel Adebayor’s profligacy, the substitute mistiming and fluffing his finish 15 minutes from time, but Cardiff did not deserve to be pierced.

Arsenal will be encouraged by the fact that they are now eight games unbeaten in all competitions, though they now face four matches in 10 days, beginning with Wednesday’s trip to Everton. The absence of Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky is still being keenly felt.

Wenger admitted that he could have done without another fixture but, at a club that has not claimed silverware since 2005, any route to success will do.

The last time this trophy was won, it was a draw in Cardiff – admittedly after a goalless stalemate and penalties against Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium – which yielded the Cup. The optimists will spy similarities and cling to hope.