We are bitterly disappointed, because even though we were playing a very good side, we didn't pass the ball as well we would have liked

Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle

Spurs celebrate Doherty's goal

Spurs lynchpin Campbell was declared fit before kick-off - but Hoddle's admission that he was adopting a high-risk strategy was to prove ominously correct.

Arsenal were in scintillating form in the first half, and Spurs will wonder how they survived such a sustained barrage of high quality football to remain on level terms.

Spurs stunned their arch-rivals by scoring with their first - indeed only - serious attack of the first half after 13 minutes.

Ferdinand's close range shot was brilliantly saved by David Seaman, but it was only a brief reprieve for Arsenal.

Steffen Iversen's misdirected volley landed on the head of Doherty, who diverted the finish past the stranded Arsenal goalkeeper.

It means a lot to us to bring the FA Cup to Arsenal this season, and the quality of our performance shows how much we want to do it

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Hoddle salutes Spurs fans

Campbell's absence from the penalty area was vital as Arsenal took the free kick while the Spurs captain received touchline treatment.

Pires floated in an inviting cross and Vieira rose majestically to power a header past Sullivan.

Campbell made a brief return but was clearly struggling, and there was an inexplicable delay before he hobbled off to be replaced by Ledley King.

Arsenal were giving Spurs a mauling, and should have gone ahead seven minutes before half time, but Parlour shot wastefully across goal.

The tide continued to flow Arsenal's way after half time, and Sullivan was brave and brilliant again to save from Thierry Henry inside the penalty area.

Spurs suffered another injury blow after 55 minutes when Ferdinand limped off with a hamstring problem to be replaced by Oyvind Leonhardsen.

Goalscorer Vieira skips past Perry

Sullivan was performing magnificently, and he added to his list of saves when Wiltord raced clear on to a pass from his French international colleague Pires only to fall against the familiar barrier.

George Graham's summer siging from Wimbledon was producing a virtuoso performance - and he halted Arsenal twice in the space of seconds just after the hour mark.

He dived to his right to clutch Parlour's header, then hurled himself at the feet of Pires as he seemed certain to score.

Pires displayed great sportsmanship in embracing Sullivan, but it was a time of growing frustration for Arsenal, despite their excellence.

The Arsenal midfield man finally found a way past Sullivan after 72 minutes. finishing off a move fashioned in France.

Vieira released Wiltord on the right flank, and he produced the perfect cross to give Pires the simplest of finishes at the far post.

It was Pires' final contribution. He suffered a hamstring injury, and came off as Wenger introduced Freddie Ljungberg.

But it was a job well done by Arsenal as Wenger's side reached another FA Cup Final.