25/03/2003  Chelsea 1 Arsenal 3
 
Arsenal dug deep into their copious reserves of energy, 
character and squad strength as they kept their Double 
campaign firmly on track by powering past Chelsea into the FA 
Cup semi-finals.

The Gunners' stubborn refusal to let their grasp on the FA 
Cup trophy slip was epitomised by their captain, Patrick 
Vieira, who was playing through a knee injury but still led by 
shining example.

Reduced to 10 men for the final 24 minutes in their second 
game in just over 48 hours and with as many as six first-team 
regulars missing from the starting line-up, Arsene Wenger's 
side still prevailed away from home in their quarter-final 
replay.

John Terry, who has just been called up into the England 
squad, gave them the lead with an own goal before the visitors 
struck again before half-time on the counter-attack through 
Sylvain Wiltord.

Arsenal, who had also beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup in the 
two previous seasons, were reduced to 10 men with the 
66th-minute dismissal of Pascal Cygan.

Despite a header by Terry with 11 minutes left, they 
nevertheless survived to set up a semi-final meeting with 
Sheffield United at Old Trafford as Lauren rounded off their 
hard-earned victory.

However, there was still a note of controversy as Thierry 
Henry, who was struck by a missile in the original tie, showed 
another bloody wound to the fourth official after celebrating 
Arsenal's third goal.

All in all, Arsenal had passed with flying colours a severe 
test of their fitness and strength in depth as Francis 
Jeffers, Sylvain Wiltord, Edu, Ray Parlour and Kolo Toure all 
came into the side.

Even though the replay began as the original tie had ended 
- at a frantic pace and with Chelsea on the attack - it was 
Arsenal who bided their time before striking with clinical 
efficiency.

They still received a measure of assistance, with Terry, 
who had ironically put his own side ahead at Highbury 10 days 
earlier, this time unwittingly giving the advantage to the 
opposition.

Wiltord sent Vieira clear down the right flank and Terry 
side-footed the ensuing cross past Carlo Cudicini even though 
he was not under immense pressure from the French striker 
lurking behind him.

The home side's more laboured pressure continued, with 
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's dipping free-kick being tipped over 
the crossbar.

However, they were picked off once again with almost 
alarming ease by another Arsenal break on 34 minutes, with 
Wiltord and Vieira again linking up to clinical effect.

This time, Vieira powered unopposed through the central 
midfield channel before slipping the ball into Wiltord's path 
for his compatriot to finish coolly past Cudicini.

Ranieri's immediate response was to bring on Jesper 
Gronkjaer for Mario Stanic, moving to a 4-4-2 formation, but 
his side were facing a considerable battle to claw their way 
back into contention.

Referee David Elleray was lenient with Francis Jeffers and 
Robert Pires, as well as Emmanuel Petit, amid a handful of 
angry tussles.

But however hard Chelsea attempted to strike back, with 
Boudwijn Zenden replacing Morris to give them a dual wing 
threat, the half-chances continued to come and go.

Petit's overhead kick was scrambled around the post by 
Taylor, while Hasselbaink was off target with an ambitious 
long-range drive.

Ranieri did not waste time before acting again, bringing on 
Eidur Gudjohnsen to give himself three strikers and two 
wingers, although he curiously took off Petit, his most 
influential midfielder.

However, Gudjohnsen soon had the ball in the net after the 
offside flag had been raised, Chelsea did get a possible 
lifeline with 24 minutes left.

Cygan, who had earlier been booked for a late tackle on 
Hasselbaink, pulled the Dutchman's shirt as he looked to 
recover from a mis-kick and was dismissed.

Arsenal reshuffled by introducing Giovanni van Bronckhorst 
for Jeffers, allowing Toure to move to centre-back, but Zenden 
placed the ensuing 20-yard free-kick harmlessly over the 
crossbar.

Gudjohnsen and Hasselbaink contrived to waste a chance that 
Toure cleared off the line but Terry was on hand to redeem 
himself by stooping to head home a cross by Hasselbaink 
shortly after the ensuing corner on 79 minutes.

Their hopes of a comeback lasted all of two minutes, 
however, before Lauren cut inside from the right flank and, 
with Zenden backing off, clipped a shot just inside the near 
post.

Chelsea continued to press in the final stages, but William 
Gallas headed wide, while Taylor pulled off a double save from 
Hasselbaink and, from point-blank range, Gudjohnsen, as 
Arsenal held on.

They are now just one step away from a return to the final 
in Cardiff. The hardest step of all, however, may just have 
been negotiated.