Holders Arsenal swept into the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with a pulsating 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Brazilian midfielder Edu gave them a 35th minute lead with a wickedly-deflected free-kick, following an unbelievable miss by United's Ryan Giggs, and France striker Sylvain Wiltord steered home the second in the 52nd minute.

Forwards Giggs and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer squandered United's second-half chances to get back into a game which they lost in midfield, where Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira was outstanding.

Arsenal's win, which avenged a bruising 2-0 league defeat at Old Trafford in December, was all the more impressive for being secured without the help of strikers Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, or Brazil midfielder Gilberto.

Henry came on as a 73rd minute substitute while the others were rested ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game against Ajax Amsterdam at Highbury.

Victory for the double winners is also likely to give them a psychological lift in the premier league title race, where leaders Arsenal are three points ahead of United.