ROBERT PIRES underlined his case for a new contract to stay at Highbury along with compatriot Thierry Henry as he scored twice to guide holders Arsenal into the FA Cup fourth round.

There may have been little cup romance as the Gunners knocked out Championship side Cardiff, but Henry's declaration of love for the home side relieved the crowd and buoyed them up. The Arsenal captain, who eased fears over his future by revealing his desire to sign a new contract, watched from the executive boxes as he was rested.

Instead, it was left to Pires, whose future is still uncertain, to strike twice in the first 18 minutes to seal victory. The Frenchman, whose contract expires this summer, is looking for a new twoyear deal, while Arsenal normally only offer 12 months to any player over 30. But while his form has been somewhat patchy so far this season, his finishing was accomplished yesterday and it was just as well as Arsenal were given a nervous final four minutes by Cameron Jerome's late strike.

The home side rested not only Henry, but also Jens Lehmann, Sol Campbell and Cesc Fabregas, and their inexperienced defence featured youngsters Kerrea Gilbert and Johan Djourou, as well as the nervous Philippe Senderos. But if their defence looked suspect, they were a completely different prospect offensively, with experience and class in equal measure.

With just six minutes gone, they were ahead. Dennis Bergkamp picked out Jose Reyes and the Spaniard weighed up his options before clipping a superb pass into the path of Pires, who had beaten the offside trap. The winger controlled the ball with his first touch before picking his spot and burying his shot inside the far post.

But Senderos was looking especially shaky at the back and the Swiss international earned a booking for a clumsy late challenge. However, Arsenal were in a class of their own going forward and went further ahead on 18 minutes. This time van Persie was the architect. He delivered an incisive pass to Bergkamp, who then picked out the run of Pires and he again finished superbly.

The script was much the same in the second half. Arsenal, with Quincy OwusuAbeyie on for Reyes, were dangerous going forward but at the back they were still suspect. Indeed Senderos was extremely fortunate not to be sent off for a foul on Kevin Cooper.

Cardiff, meanwhile, refused to give up and Jeff Whitley was denied by a fine save from Manuel Almunia before the visitors finally made a game of it with four minutes left. Ardley's corner was headed down by Neil Cox and Jerome stabbed his shot over the line from close range.

Almunia, who was pushed by a spectator who ran onto the pitch amid the frantic finale, clasped onto the ball amid one scramble in the Arsenal area but the home side held on for victory.