Ethically it is difficult not to applaud Arsene Wenger's gesture to offer this replay following the moral cock-up of 10 days ago. Nwankwo Kanu was just being dozy in chasing a ball played back to Sheffield United after an injury, and Overmars plain daft in popping Kanu's cross into the net to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory.
However, Wenger's insistence that the spirit of the game is as important as the laws saw to it that justice was done even if it is difficult to fathom FIFA's thinking in casting doubt on the game so close to it being played.
Not only would late cancellation of last night's tie have held football up to ridicule, but also cost United's supporters about £250,000 in travel, tickets and time off work.
As for the allegation that a dangerous precedent was being set by the replay, that completely overlooks the fact that it took both teams to agree to it, and that is hardly ever, perhaps never, going to happen again.
Of course this being football, Arsenal's generous offer of February 13th did not stop the visiting fans booing the names of Kanu, a substitute last night, and Overmars when the teams were announced or singing "Stand up if you hate Arsenal" once the side had gone ahead.
That took just 14 minutes and, with delicious irony, the scorer was Overmars who picked up Stephen Hughes' through pass behind the United defence and slotted the ball home from about 12 yards.
However, United really should have been ahead themselves by then, but their lone striker Marcelo lifted an inviting 12-yard shot over the bar after Shaun Derry's pass had bisected the Arsenal defence.
The first division side, also disadvantaged by losing their experienced midfielder Graham Stuart to injury after just five minutes, went further behind on 37 minutes.
Dennis Bergkamp, the destroyer of Leicester in Arsenal's 5-0 victory on Saturday, who had already forced a smart save from Alan Kelly scored the sort of exquisite goal that only comes from a great player in sublime form. It combined confidence with touch and the genius of simplicity.
Picking up Ray Parlour's cutback from the byline, the Dutchman swivelled and struck a first time chip from 16 yards which looped perfectly over the advanced Kelly and into the net. United began the second half with much greater fight, just as they had 10 days ago and soon Arsenal were having to deal with the sort of pressure that had been absent in the first half.
Marcelo unleashed an 18-yard shot which unfortunately for him found the ample body of David Seaman in the Arsenal goal. Shortly afterwards Tony Adams, who was back in the side having missed the original tie, was forced to foul the troublesome Brazilian to stop his progress, a misdemeanour for which the England defender was handed a yellow card.
However, as the half wore on, Arsenal began to reassert their domination and Ray Parlour, who had popped up with two rare goals on Saturday, nearly scored another when he uncorked a 25-yard drive which Kelly did well to push away as he dived to his left.
It was then left for the United fans to have another old jeer when Kanu came on as a substitute to replace the ineffective Nicholas Anelka.
That looked like being the last of the meaningful action - until Morris popped up to give the drama a final twist. Marcelo's close-range shot was beaten away by Seaman, and Morris was on hand to crash home the rebound from a couple of yards.
It meant a couple of anxious minutes for the Arsenal defence, but in truth their victory was clinical.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was full of praise for Overmars afterwards: "Everybody knows Overmars is not an unfair player. The first half he was outstanding and that was the best answer to the critics and the booing.
"He has been upset. At one stage the club got credit and he didn't. But it was a strong answer from him tonight and I'm pleased for him."
Wenger dismissed comments from Sheffield United players in the papers that suggested Overmars had cheated. "I don't know if that motivated him," said Wenger with a laugh. "But I hope the next team does the same."
Arsenal: Seaman, Vivas, Bould, Adams, Winterburn, Parlour, Vieira, Hughes, Overmars (Garde 74), Bergkamp (Diawara 79), Anelka (Kanu 70). Subs Not Used: Manninger, Grimandi. Booked: Adams. Goals: Overmars 14, Bergkamp 37.
Sheff Utd: Kelly, Derry, Holdsworth, Sandford, Quinn, Devlin (Twiss 66), Stuart (Ford 5), Woodhouse, Hamilton, Morris, Marcelo. Subs Not Used: Tracey, Henry, Jacobsen. Booked: Devlin, Derry, Sandford. Goals: Morris 86.
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough).
