Shay Given makes his peace with Thierry Henry but only after more disappointment

Irish and French stars embrace after FA Cup drama

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Shay Given did shake hands with World Cup bad boy Thierry Henry on Sunday – but only after suffering more Cup heartache at the hands of the Frenchman.

The Irish goalkeeper and the Arsenal striker were bosom buddies again after the Gunners had knocked Given’s Aston Villa team out of the FA Cup at the Emirates.

Given was beaten from the spot not once but twice by Robin Van Persie as Arsenal overhauled a two goal half-time deficit to beat Villa 3-2.

A dejected Given was man enough to shake hands with substitute Henry after his latest FA Cup letdown.

Over two years after the pain of Paris, Given lived up to his pre-match promise to kiss and make up with Henry after Arsenal booked a fifth round date away to Sunderland or Middlesbrough.

“I am so disappointed with the result,” said Given on Twitter as he left the Emirates empty handed.

Irish team-mate Richard Dunne had opened the scoring for Villa - off a Robbie Keane cross - before he conceded the first of those two second half penalties.

Dunne was lucky to escape a second yellow card for his foul on Aaron Ramsey as Arsenal turned the screw.

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“Once they had got the first the tails were up and they were hungry for more,” Dunne told the Irish Sun newspaper.

“They just overpowered us at the start of the second-half -  we have given everything but we have been beaten by a better team. We fight to the end and we showed that

“We’ve given a good account of ourselves. We battled well and played well in the first-half. Hopefully next time we are in a situation like this we can see it through.”

Dubliner Dunne believes Arsenal could go all the way to Wembley and win the FA Cup this season.
He said: “They are obviously going through a few changes but they are still one of the top teams.
“We deserved to be winning at half-time but the second-half was a different story.

“Maybe it is Arsenal's name on the cup this year. Henry scored in the last round and maybe it is working out for them.”

Darren Bent was also penalised by referee Mike Jones and again Van Persie scored from the spot.
“I've slid in to try and block the shot from Ramsey,” added Dunne. “The shot has gone over me and it is as if it shouldn't have done but you have to try and block it.

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