Reyes offers two for price of one

It was the fourth time in as many seasons — every year since Claudio Ranieri took over as coach at Stamford Bridge — that Chelsea had lost to their London rivals in the Cup. Chelsea have not beaten Arsenal in the Cup since 1947 but they made the brighter start on a damp and chilly afternoon, forcing a couple of dangerous free kicks within the first 10 minutes. Defender William Gallas was on target in the 13th minute but his close-range shot went straight to Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Arsenal soon got into their stride, however, and it was Carlo Cudicini, newly returned from injury to the Chelsea goal, who was busier as Robert Pires down the Left combined with Dennis Bergkamp and Reyes in some sparkling moves. Defender Ashley Cole also went close twice. His shot just before the half hour was blocked by Cudicini’s legs and the Italian also tipped over a fine effort from the Left in the dying minutes of the half.

At the other end Chelsea’s Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer had a header controversially disallowed for offside before the visitors took the lead.

Mutu controlled a pass from new Chelsea midfield signing Scott Parker, who had collected a poor Lehmann clearance, and the Romanian deftly turned defender Kolo Toure before sending a blistering 20-metre shot past Lehmann. Arsenal, seeking to become the first team in more than a century to win three consecutive FA Cups, upped the tempo in the second half and it paid off after 56 minutes. -Reuters