Henry struck by coin as Arsenal turn on power

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 3

History, this time, did not forsake Arsenal. Having exhorted his players to take their place among the greats of European football, only to see that ambition quickly unravel, Arsène Wenger last night continued to maintain his astonishing record in the FA Cup.

In doing so, Arsenal earned a return to Old Trafford this season, after all. It will not be for the denouement of the Champions' League, hosted in Manchester this May, but a semi-final in this competition against Sheffield United. It also means that they can still become the first team to win back-to-back domestic doubles. History does still beckon for the Frenchman.

For Chelsea there was the knowledge that their London rivals have beaten them for three successive years in the Cup. A bitter pill itself on a night in which Claudio Ranieri had to swallow hard after another dose of tactical tinkering.

Wenger now boasts a record of reaching the last four five times in six seasons. But history, statistics, records only present a partial picture. Not even the sending-off of Pascal Cygan, for pulling Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, after an appalling mis-kick by the defender, broke Arsenal's resilience. It also continued another record, this time unwanted. It was the 48th dismissal under Wenger's reign and leaves the holders depleted for the semi-final.

The evening was also marred when, as in the first game, an Arsenal player was struck by an object thrown from the crowd. Blood was visible above Thierry Henry's eye and Chelsea will face some form of inquiry by the Football Association. The referee David Elleray said he would be reporting that "plastic lighters" had been thrown. However, Wenger said: "Henry was hit by something. He said it was a coin and he told the official. Maybe they can isolate the incident [with cameras]. You have to ban these people because one day they will throw something different."

Afterwards Wenger paid tribute to the "character and resilience" of his players. "I am very proud of the team because they have shown everything I like about football," he said. Indeed, in scoring a third goal, when reduced to 10 men and moments after Chelsea had reduced arrears, they showed a strength lacking in Europe this season. Patrick Vieira, in particular, was a galvanising figure.

It was a start that owed more to fury than finesse, although 16 minutes passed before the first booking – Mario Stanic for catching Sylvain Wiltord. Before that Hasselbaink had headed the first chance into the ground, and over, from a corner. Frank Lampard also forced a low save by Stuart Taylor.

Then Arsenal, who up until then had looked tired, scored. Wiltord finally found room in the midfield maelstrom and released Vieira, whose awkward cross-shot was diverted into the net by a despairing John Terry.

Chelsea almost found an immediate riposte. Hasselbaink's free-kick was deflected off the wall, but Taylor adjusted and tipped the ball over.

Astonishingly, Arsenal struck again. This time, in a similar move to the first goal, it was Vieira breaking through, with ease, to slide in Wiltord, who finished with aplomb. Two shots on goal, two goals.

The timing put Chelsea's manager in a quandary. Ranieri had left out Eidur Gudjohnsen – reasoning that three attackers was foolhardy – and also put both of his wingers on the bench. He wanted to play it tight, instead his grip was loosened, and he showed his hand. "It was very frustrating," Ranieri said. "We did not want to concede on the counter-attack and they scored twice. I don't think Carlo Cudicini touched the ball in the first half." Jesper Gronkjaer was sent on before half-time and Boudewijn Zenden joined him at the re-start.

Arsenal had made changes to their starting line-up, too. Wenger omitted his first-choice strikers and included the more cautious Ray Parlour.

Chelsea's Emmanuel Petit, who had earlier been involved in a silly spat with Francis Jeffers, was culpable for Arsenal's goals and was eclipsed by his former midfield partner Vieira. He was a disconsolate figure when he was also withdrawn, for Gudjohnsen.

After the dismissal, Chelsea gathered momentum and Terry, the captain, appeared to redeem himself when he headed home Hasselbaink's cross. However, the defender then erred again. He backed off Lauren after the full-back had cut inside Zenden, giving him too much time for a shot. The Cameroonian made no mistake and Chelsea were beaten.

Chelsea (4-4-2): Cudicini; Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Le Saux; Morris (Zenden, h-t), Petit (Gudjohnsen, 58), Lampard, Stanic; Hasselbaink, Zola. Substitutes not used: De Goey (gk), Desailly, Gronkjaer.

Arsenal (4-4-2): Taylor; Lauren, Cygan, Campbell, Touré; Parlour, Edu, Vieira, Pires (Ljungberg, 67); Wiltord (Henry, 67), Jeffers (Van Bronckhorst, 67). Substitutes not used: Warmuz (gk), Bergkamp.

Referee: D Elleray (Harrow).

REVISED SEMI-FINAL DRAW
Arsenal v Sheffield United (at Old Trafford)
Watford v Southampton (at Villa Park)

Ties to be played Sunday 13 April