Bergkamp starts for Gunners
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was forced to go into his side’s fifth-successive FA Cup semi-final without two of his most influential players.
Thierry Henry was forced to withdraw yesterday with a groin injury, while Wenger also claimed the 25-goal top scorer was suffering with fatigue, with Dennis Bergkamp coming into the side.
Centre-back Sol Campbell is close to full fitness after more than two months out with an ankle injury, but Wenger opted against his inclusion, with the prospect he will return to face Chelsea in the Barclays Premiership on Wednesday.
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes, back on his old Millennium Stadium stamping ground after his time in charge of Wales, also refused to risk a key member of his squad in Robbie Savage.
The midfielder returned from a six-week lay-off with a groin problem with 70 minutes in the reserves on Tuesday, but was forced to settle for a place on the bench, with Hughes naming an unchanged team for his side’s first semi-final for 45 years.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Senderos, Toure, Cole, Pires, Silva, Vieira, Reyes, Ljungberg, Bergkamp.
Subs: Almunia, Van Persie, Fabregas, Cygan, Aliadiere.
Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Mokoena, Nelsen, Matteo, Pedersen, Flitcroft, Reid, Thompson, Dickov.
Subs: Enckelman, Emerton, Tugay, Stead, Savage.
Referee: S Dunn (Gloucestershire)
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