Arsenal reach Semis again

Freddie Ljungberg kept Arsenal's season alive with the only goal to dump ten-man Bolton out.

In a tense clash, which had all the ingredients of a classic cup-tie, Arsenal overcame their bogey side to stay in the hunt for silverware.

Ljungberg, so often Arsenal's Cup hero having twice netted for Arsene Wenger's side in FA Cup Finals, settled the tie with a typical finish to send the Gunners through to a fifth successive Semi-Final.

Bolton played 81 minutes with ten men after striker El-Hadji Diouf was shown a straight red card for lashing out at goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

But despite being a man-short, Wanderers never gave up and gave the Gunners a stern test of their mettle - an examination last season's beaten Semi Finalists passed.

Arsenal started without Thierry Henry and Ashley Cole, both injury casualties of Wednesday's Champions League exit against Bayern Munich.

Bolton were dealt a blow when Nigerian Jay-Jay Okocha failed to recover from a hamstring injury in time to play.

And Arsenal, nine-times FA Cup winners, made life even tougher for Wanderers as they stormed into an early lead after just three minutes.

In a trademark Gunners attack, left back Gael Clichy found fellow Frenchman Robert Pires who in turn set Freddie Ljungberg bearing down on goal with a fine through-ball.

And the galloping Swede made no mistake as he clipped the ball over the on-rushing Jussi Jaaskelainen to open the scoring with his second FA Cup goal this season and 13th in total.

If Arsenal inflicted an early blow to the home side, then Bolton were masters of their own downfall six minutes later as they were reduced to ten men.

Diouf appeared to elbow Lehmann off-the-ball leaving referee Steve Bennett with no option. It was the Senegal international's second red card in his three years in England.

But Bolton's ten men kept going and caused the Champions problems with a constant stream of long throws and free kicks.

Yet it was the Londoners who came closest to the killer second goal when Dennis Bergkamp sent Jose Reyes through but Jaaskelainen saved well at the Spaniard's feet.

That was the tone for much of the opening period - with Arsenal's flowing football more than matched by Bolton's threat from set-pieces.

Stelios Giannakopoulos, who scored the only goal when the two sides met at the Reebok in January's Premiership clash, kept that pattern going as he twice went close in the air, while Ljungberg could have made it two after a fine Reyes pass.

After the break Bolton's aerial bombardment continued but, again, it was Arsenal who fashioned the best early chance - Reyes' rasping shot producing another good stop from Jaaskelainen.

But still Bolton continued to press without ever threatening Lehmann.

Ljungberg also had time to miss an open goal in stoppage time as Arsenal held on.