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.

Teams

Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot, Terry, Gallas, Le Saux, Stanic (Gronkjaer 34), Lampard, Petit (Gudjohnsen 58), Morris (Zenden 45), Zola, Hasselbaink.

Subs Not Used: de Goey, Desailly.

Booked: Stanic.

Goals: Terry 79.

Arsenal: Taylor, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Toure, Pires (Ljungberg 74), Vieira, Parlour, Edu, Wiltord (Henry 74), Jeffers (van Bronckhorst 67).

Subs Not Used: Bergkamp, Warmuz.

Sent Off: Cygan (66).

Booked: Cygan, Lauren.

Goals: Terry 25 og, Wiltord 34, Lauren 82.

Att: 41,456

Ref: D Elleray (Middlesex).