Arsenal 4 - 1 Everton

	Vieira: Still revered by his fans (GrahamChadwick/Allsport)

They revere Vieira's readiness to revolt against the established order. They identify with his industry. No wonder the money men in the directors' box shuffled uneasily on their red leather seats.

Vieira sensed their discomfort. He insisted: 'The board know my respect for the club and the fans. I have never said I want to leave Arsenal.'

However, they cannot ignore indications that Vieira has a willing audience for his impatience with a regime that is reluctant to pay the exorbitant price of matching Manchester United.

His was the loudest - almost the only - name chanted during an anti-climactic victory over an Everton side under lingering threat of relegation.

Arsene Wenger stressed he has no intention of selling Vieira to Italian suitors, led by Inter Milan. He confirmed he would be active in the transfer market during the summer.

No-one listened to his rider that 'first we have to finish the season well. We still have huge challenges ahead of us.'

Highbury was in library mode, a place of contemplation and quiet desperation. Respectful applause replaced raucous encouragement.

The only hint of passion was provided by Alex Nyarko, who set some form of precedent by demanding to be substituted. The only controversy was the dismissal of Abel Xavier, for a lunge at Ashley Cole 10 minutes from time.

Wenger trumpets the virtues of stability, the importance of his younger players finding 'togetherness through the years'. But, as a realist, he under-stands unconditional loyalty is for scout troops, not modern football teams.

The rules of the managerial game are clear. Speculate to accumulate. Pay the price, however extravagant. Pander to the power of celebrity. Do not alienate influential players, who can afford to protest because disillusion carries the compensation of a signing-on fee at another club.

Though couched in more cautious terms than Vieira's plea for investment, Tony Adams' admission that winning the European Cup is his final, unful-filled, ambition had a telling authenticity.

Facts have to be faced. The Premiership is the fiefdom of the prawn munchers in Manchester. The FA Cup is a bauble, a crown made of paste instead of platinum.

Tradition dictates that the football world will get excited by a final featuring Arsenal and Liverpool, but in reality they will be playing for nothing more than the title of being the best of the rest in Cardiff on May 12.

Everton's response to the loss of four key players was suitably pragmatic. Walter Smith utilised Kevin Campbell as a solitary striker.

Arsenal's opener after 21 minutes was the type of avoidable setback managers loathe. Vieira spotted Thierry Henry in an inordinate amount of room, which the striker exploited by setting up Freddie Ljung-berg with an artful, angled pass.

The Swede's low left-foot shot was accurate, but hardly potent. Unfortunately for Everton, it squirmed beneath goalkeeper Paul Gerrard.

The Noise Abatement Society were never in danger of being summoned to quell the celebrations, but the level of encouragement exceeded a murmur.

For three minutes, that is. Everton's equaliser arrived with indecent haste, and deadened the atmosphere again. A pity, since Campbell's goal had a variety of virtues. Its foundations were laid by David Weir and Nyarko, who found Thomas Gravesen just out-side the penalty area.

Aware Adams and Cole were closing him down, Gravesen fashioned an instinctive flick over the Arsenal defenders, and into Campbell's path. David Seaman blocked the first shot but not the follow-up effort.

The balance of power was redressed in the second half as Everton succumbed to their manifold weaknesses.

Gilles Grimandi shifted the momentum of the match 10 minutes after the interval by meeting Robert Pires' left-wing corner with a powerful header.

Vieira then strode imperiously from his own half before releasing Sylvain Wiltord, who turned and unleashed a drive that flew in off the bar.

By the time Henry added his 22nd goal of the season, a calm finish following a Vieira flick in the 87th minute, honour had been satisfied.

They were hardly ready to dance in the streets, though.