Holders owe it to Ljungberg double
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Flying high. Ljungberg's double ensured holders Arsenal saw off Middlesbrough at Highbury.
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LONDON, England -- Freddie Ljungberg scored twice as English FA Cup holders Arsenal overcame fellow Premier League side Middlesbrough 4-1 to reach the fifth round on Saturday.
The Swedish international midfielder struck in the 28th and 68th minutes after Boro's Joseph Desire Job had cancelled out Dennis Bergkamp's early opener for the home side.
In the other all-Premiership tie, Bruno Cheyrou scored twice as Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-1.
Arsenal and Middlesbrough were meeting for the third time in 15 days and Arsenal thought they had taken the lead on 14 minutes but a Robert Pires header was ruled out for offside.
Five minutes later Dutch star Dennis Bergkamp did put them ahead with a deflected shot.
Middlesbrough equalized after 23 minutes when Job slammed home from an acute angle before Arsenal went back in front after 28 minutes when Ljungberg made space for a shot and scored after Boro failed to clear a Bergkamp free kick.
Arsenal, totally in control, went 3-1 ahead with a second goal from Ljungberg after 68 minutes.
To complete a miserable day for Boro they had George Boateng sent off after 86 minutes for a second yellow card before youngster David Bentley added a fourth for Arsenal in the last minute.
"We always looked dangerous, I was very pleased with the team performance," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who opted to rest Thierry Henry.
At Anfield, Cheryou put Liverpool ahead after only two minutes, before fellow Frenchman Laurent Robert gave Newcastle hope with an equalizer from a fierce free kick just two minutes later.
Liverpool gradually took command in the second half and won the game with Cheyrou's header after an hour following a pinpoint cross from the impressive Steven Gerrard. It was his fourth goal in three games.
Liverpool will be indebted to keeper Jerzy Dudek who pulled off a decisive save to deny Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer in the second minute of extra-time.
The result was a welcome relief for Liverpool's French manager Gerard Houllier who has been under intense scrutiny after seeing his side's title challenge collapse.
Defeat for Newcastle, sixth in the table to Liverpool's fifth, left the club still searching for their first FA Cup title since 1955.
Swansea spring surprise
The surprise of the day came at the Vetch Field where Swansea came back to beat Preston and reach the fifth round for the first time since 1980 with late goals from Andy Robinson (80) and Lee Trundle (82).
Preston, who beat Swansea 2-1 the last time the clubs met in the Cup in the 1964 semi-final, took a 58th minute lead with a Dickson Etuhu header and seemed to be heading for victory before Swansea's storming fight-back.
Trundle, with his 20th goal of the season, maintained his record of scoring in every round this season -- against the club that rejected him as a youngster nine years ago.
The only other surprise came at Coventry where the first division side were held to a 1-1 draw by third division Colchester United.
First Division Gillingham, who knocked out premier league Charlton in the last round, crashed 3-1 at Burnley.
Birmingham City and Portsmouth, the other premier league sides in action, both won, with Birmingham beating first division Wimbledon 1-0 and Portsmouth edging third division Scunthorpe United 2-1.
Tranmere Rovers, who knocked premier league Bolton Wanderers in the last round, won 1-0 at fellow second division side Luton to reach the fifth round for the fourth time in five seasons.
