A Dennis Bergkamp-inspired Arsenal shrugged off their European gloom in emphatic style but suffered a blow of potentially serious consequences for their season when Robert Pires picked up a bad injury.

Bergkamp's genius saw the Gunners sweep into the FA Cup semi-finals at the expense of Newcastle, and will be supremely confident of brushing aside another north east challenge in the form of Middlesbrough.

The Dutchman created Arsenal's first goal for Pires, scored the second himself after the French winger had returned the compliment, and then took the free-kick from which Sol Campbell headed the third to wrap up the match.

Only Pires' injury - twisted knee ligaments - took the shine off a sunny day for Arsenal and he could be out for four weeks.

Bergkamp's class and peerless current form is at least some solace, and the striker, who also struck the woodwork twice, said: "You don't have this sort of cup competitions in other countries where I've played and I really enjoy it, I want to go all the way.

"We've proven over the years that we really enjoy this competition and we've done well. Each year is another year where we want to go all the way."

It is Arsenal's fourth appearance in the FA Cup semi-finals in five years, and it took them just 62 seconds of this replay at Highbury to establish an advantage having touched the ball a mere eight times.

Bergkamp was the creative genius behind the move. The Dutchman had bamboozled Nikos Dabizas in scoring a quite brilliant goal at St James' Park earlier this month, and this time his exquisite touch fooled Andy O'Brien, he released Pires on the left and the Frenchman bent a shot from the edge of the area past Shay Given.

Minutes later, it could have been two after Bergkamp waved his magic wand again. The striker was close to the spot where Pires had scored from, but his curling shot cannoned against the angle of bar and post.

In the ninth minute, however, Bergkamp did get on the scoresheet as Arsenal scythed through the Newcastle defence once more.

This was very much a team goal. Edu, the Brazilian midfielder, kept possession cleverly and fed Sylvain Wiltord on the left. He picked out Pires' run, the winger saw Bergkamp unmarked in front of goal, fired in a low cross and the Dutchman glided the ball home.

The start, as far as Arsenal were concerned, could hardly have been more different to Wednesday's drab affair against Juventus.

Newcastle were in desperate need of inspiration, and it almost arrived from O'Brien.

Arsenal failed to clear a free-kick, Sylvain Distin hammered the ball across the six-yard box for Nolberto Solano to return it into the danger area where O'Brien flicked a header wide.

Bergkamp and Solano then tangled near the touchline, and the Arsenal striker appeared to aim a petulant kick at the Peruvian while sitting on the floor, but referee Uriah Rennie contented himself with waving an angry finger when he should really have wielded a yellow card.

Newcastle were given more hope when Shearer turned into space 25 yards out and floated a chip which had beaten Wright but drifted just wide of the post.

Then came the moment in the 25th minute which could have repercussions for the Premiership title race.

Pires jumped to avoid a run-of-the-mill sliding challenge from Nikos Dabizas and landed awkwardly.

He immediately lay prone in obvious pain, and Wenger was forced to bring on Gilles Grimandi in his place.

Bergkamp had a good shout for a penalty turned down, before a powerful run by Robert from left to right saw Carl Cort presented with space and the ball on the right-hand corner of the area, but his shot was appalling.

"I told him Bergkamp would have scored from there, but we didn't have anyone of his genius," said Newcastle manager Bobby Robson afterwards.

Even the return of Kieron Dyer to the starting line-up failed to spark Newcastle.

The midfielder was outclassed by Patrick Vieira and at one point was even nutmegged by Grimandi.

In the 50th minute, Campbell put the result beyond doubt. Bergkamp took a free-kick from wide on the right, Tony Adams - forceful as ever on his return - just missed it and Campbell came in behind his fellow centre-back, and beat Dabizas to the ball to bullet a header over Given.

Bergkamp then struck the angle for the second time in the game, and what a goal it would have been.

First he teased the Newcastle defence, then he used Edu as a decoy before trying a trademark chip that could not beat the woodwork.

The Dutchman was threatening again soon afterwards, put through on goal by Edu's quick free-kick but steering the ball wide of the post after Given narrowed the angle well.

Edu then gave Given a fright with a wickedly curling free-kick. Richard Wright, taking a rare chance to shine with David Seaman rested, proved his alertness by diving to tip Cort's header past the post.

Grimandi found himself through on goal after Bergkamp's pass but he dithered in such an unfamiliar position and eventually tried unsuccessfully to put the ball through Given's legs.

Alan Shearer looped a header wide in the final exchanges, but Newcastle's hopes had long since died.

Teams:

Arsenal: Wright, Luzhny, Adams, Campbell, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Edu (Jeffers 69), Pires (Grimandi 27), Wiltord (Dixon 77), Bergkamp.

Subs Not Used: Seaman, Kanu.

Booked: Campbell.

Goals: Pires 2, Bergkamp 9, Campbell 50.

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Dabizas, Distin (Elliott 84), Solano, Acuna (Kerr 83), Dyer, Robert, Shearer, Cort (Lua-Lua 84).

Subs Not Used: Harper, Bernard.

Booked: Dyer.

Att: 38,073

Ref: U Rennie (Sheffield).