Holders Arsenal [ Images ] swept into the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with a pulsating 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United [ Images ] 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 [ Images ], and France [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] and Dennis Bergkamp, or Brazil [ Images ] midfielder Gilberto.

Henry came on as a 73rd minute substitute while the others were rested ahead of Tuesday's Champions League [ Images ] 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.