Eduardo da Silva enjoyed a dream comeback from injury, scoring twice as Arsenal booked their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 victory over Cardiff.
Playing his first club game since suffering a double compound fracture of his leg last February, Eduardo headed the Gunners in front in the 20th minute of Monday's replay at the Emirates Stadium and after that the hosts never looked back.
Nicklas Bendtner doubled the lead with a towering header from a corner 14 minutes later as what was a largely second-string Arsenal side dominated.
The Dane missed a great chance to make it three just before the break as Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton, on loan from Manchester United, kept his side in the game with a fine double save after Bendtner had initially hit the post.
Last year's beaten finalists had no answer to Arsenal's slick passing game and the hosts did make it 3-0 on the hour mark.
Gavin Rae was adjudged to have fouled Eduardo in the box and the Croatian sent Heaton the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
Eduardo had a chance to complete a hat-trick but saw Heaton make another save before the striker was substituted to a standing ovation midway through the second half.
The man who replaced Eduardo, Robin van Persie, completed the rout in the 89th minute, slotting home having been nicely set up by Bendtner.
Van Persie also hit the post in injury time with a header, but by then the damage had already been done.
Arsenal will now entertain Burnley - the team who knocked them out of this season's Carling Cup - in the last 16. That match will take place on either March 7 or 8.
Playing his first club game since suffering a double compound fracture of his leg last February, Eduardo headed the Gunners in front in the 20th minute of Monday's replay at the Emirates Stadium and after that the hosts never looked back.
Nicklas Bendtner doubled the lead with a towering header from a corner 14 minutes later as what was a largely second-string Arsenal side dominated.
The Dane missed a great chance to make it three just before the break as Cardiff keeper Tom Heaton, on loan from Manchester United, kept his side in the game with a fine double save after Bendtner had initially hit the post.
Last year's beaten finalists had no answer to Arsenal's slick passing game and the hosts did make it 3-0 on the hour mark.
Gavin Rae was adjudged to have fouled Eduardo in the box and the Croatian sent Heaton the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
Eduardo had a chance to complete a hat-trick but saw Heaton make another save before the striker was substituted to a standing ovation midway through the second half.
The man who replaced Eduardo, Robin van Persie, completed the rout in the 89th minute, slotting home having been nicely set up by Bendtner.
Van Persie also hit the post in injury time with a header, but by then the damage had already been done.
Arsenal will now entertain Burnley - the team who knocked them out of this season's Carling Cup - in the last 16. That match will take place on either March 7 or 8.
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