But Arsenal's joy was tempered by the sight of Sol Campbell being stretchered off with an injury that may affect the destiny of both the Cup and the Premiership.

The watching England manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, must have been wincing - as Ugo Ehiogu's hamstring strain made it two international centre-backs out of the squad to play Paraguay.

As far as the World Cup is concerned, only time will tell, but in the final reckoning of this game at Old Trafford, Ehiogu's mishap proved the more damaging.

It was his replacement, Gianluca Festa, who put through his own net for the decisive blow in the first half - and Middlesbrough never recovered.

Even with Campbell's premature departure, this should have been a stroll for Arsenal as - hampered by injuries, Paul Ince's suspension and with Benito Carbone being cup-tied - Boro's midfield was made up of virtual unknowns.

Far from being overawed though, Middlesbrough got stuck in and provided the Gunners with some prickly opposition.

The outcome might have been different if Dean Windass' fiercely-struck shot from the right hand corner of the area had not been parried by Richard Wright, or had Luke Wilkshire found the net instead of the side netting.

The turning point came when Ehiogu stretched to tackle Henry and pulled his hamstring in doing so.

In the 39th minute, seven minutes after coming on, Festa stuck out his leg to clear Henry's corner and the ball flew past Schwarzer.

It was the first goal Boro had conceded in their FA Cup campaign, and suddenly their uphill task looked mountainous.

Windass had a header from a corner cleared off line by Dixon, Wright saved from Windass again, before the England keeper prevented Boksic from equalising.

Arsenal - and England - must now wait to see at what price this Cup victory came.