That was one hell of a game between Arsenal and Liverpool on Wednesday night, and one that re-instilled a little bit of faith in the present custodians of the great game.

It was a game played at a fast, but controlled, pace with very little let-up – particularly in an engaging second half.

But what struck me most about the game was how it was played with a true Corinthian spirit, which is highly commendable given the average age of both these young teams.

It was a joyous aside from a Premier League that has thus far this season brought us whingeing and whining and diving and moaning.

But enough about Sir Alex Ferguson’s personal crusade to bring the game into disrepute…I’d rather talk about the joyous fair-mindedness of Eduardo, and the entire Liverpool team in a chaotic injury time.

Eduardo, a bete noire in the league and in Europe this season for avoiding having his reconstructed legs taken away from him against Celtic.

On Wednesday night, the uber-talented, er, Croatian performed one of the most skilful acts of camaraderie seen this side of the glorious 70s.

Attempting some trickery down the Liverpool right with a one-goal advantage and a rapidly receding clock, Eduardo ran the ball out of play.

But instead of tapping the ball away from the hands of the onrushing Liverpool player, as it seems in this modern game he has every right to do, he flicked the ball up with his heel deliberately into the opposition player’s hands – leaving himself well out of position, but saving the perfect tempo of this museum piece of a game.

This goodwill was contagious.

Moments later Liverpool had a surefire handball shout in the Arsenal penalty area refused by an arrogant shake of the referee’s head.

And that was the game. And then to shaking hands. And applauding fans. And not a peep out of anyone once the ref had blown.

God, I miss fair play.

It is probably because it was the Carling Cup that such nonchalance was displayed.

If that’s the case: roll on the quarter-finals, the first all top last eight in a long while.