Arsenal may have been missing Thierry Henry, but it didn't stop them from hitting four past Middlesbrough. Two goals from Freddie Ljungberg and one each from Denis Bergkamp and David Bentley shot the Gunners into the next round of the FA Cup.
Wenger's men answered taunts of being a one-man team by inflicting their latest comprehensive defeat on Middlesbrough even without their leading scorer.
While Henry was away on holiday, having been told to rest entirely for a week, his team-mates were securing their place in the FA Cup fifth round at Highbury.
Arsene Wenger would, admittedly, not relish the prospect of being without his leading striker on a regular basis. No manager would. But with Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere injured, while Kanu is on African Nations' Cup duty, Arsenal's makeshift strikeforce of Dennis Bergkamp and Fredrik Ljungberg rose to the challenge.
Bergkamp put the Gunners ahead on 19 minutes and, while Joseph-Desire Job levelled for Boro, winger Ljungberg, who had been moved forward to a striker's role, promptly restored Arsenal's advantage. The Swede then put the result beyond doubt with 22 minutes left before George Boateng was sent off for two late bookings.
And Arsenal's clear supremacy in this third of four meetings between the sides this month was then confirmed with an exquisite late chip by substitute David Bentley.
Then again, while Arsenal were without most of their frontline strikers, Boro's defence was severely depleted by injury and Juninho was also rested ahead of the Carling Cup second leg tie.
Arsenal duly seized the initiative and while Robert Pires was ruled offside as he headed Bergkamp's cross into the net, the Gunners were soon in front. Boro, who had Michael Ricketts off the pitch receiving treatment, were unhappy that Stuart Parnaby was knocked into the crowd by Ray Parlour as they chased the ball to the byline.
But referee Mike Dean waved play on as the midfielder crossed for Bergkamp to convert his shot, via a deflection off Chris Riggott.
That at least sparked Boro into action, with Job smashing a half-volley into the net after holding off Kolo Toure as he sneaked onto a knock-down by fit-again Ricketts.
However, as the match truly came to life, Arsenal hit back once again. Ashley Cole was initially denied by a fine save from Mark Schwarzer, while Pires' appeals for a penalty were turned down after he appeared to clip Riggott's heels on the edge of the area.
Wenger's side were not to be denied though. With 28 minutes gone, Sol Campbell headed the ball down to Vieira and he quickly laid it back to Ljungberg.
The Swede was still being closely marked but an exquisite turn put him into space and he twisted to fire his shot past the Boro goalkeeper. Thereafter, both sides steadied themselves before the break before Arsenal regained their momentum as they penned Boro into their own half for most of the second period.
Although Pires was fortunate to escape a booking as he went sprawling in search of a penalty for the second time, Arsenal made the game safe on 68 minutes. Pires' corner was headed goalwards by Ljungberg and while Gaizka Mendieta scooped the ball clear, it had already crossed the line before the Spaniard intervened and Toure's follow-up effort was not needed.
Steve McClaren had little option but to go for broke and he duly brought on three fresh strikers - Maccarone, Juninho and Szilard Nemeth for Downing, Job and Ricketts.
Not that it did much good as Boateng lost the plot in the final stages. Just a minute after being booked for a tackle on Pires, he earned another yellow card for a late challenge on Parlour and was duly sent off.
Arsenal's supremacy was confirmed when Bentley proved his rich potential with a superb chip to inflict Boro's second 4-1 defeat at Highbury a fortnight.
At least they have one final chance of revenge next week.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
