Arsenal rallied from a 2-0 deficit to beat ten-man Preston 4-2 and progress to a fourth round FA Cup encounter with Wolves.

Rob Watson reports (BBC News 24)

Two goals from French international Emmanuel Petit, and a goal apiece from Marc Overmars and Luis Boa Morte cancelled out Kurt Nogan's early double strike.

But the result flattered the Gunners, who were outclassed in the first 40 minutes.

Preston made all the early running, taking advantage of an Arsenal side without Seaman, Adams, Anelka and Bergkamp.

Lee Nogan celebrates his second goal

Nogan threatened from the start, and his floated cross to the edge of the six yard box created early panic in the Arsenal defence, but Vivas cleared.

It was Nogan again who provided the penetration, shooting from 20 yards, but straight into Manninger's hands.

Ian Brown reports from Deepdale (BBC Radio 5 Live)

At the other end, Parlour, the only Arsenal player to make an impact in the first half, had a good shot from the right edge of the area saved by Lucas.

On 17 minutes, Nogan started and finished the move that gave North End the lead. His pass put Rankin clear on the left, and when his cross was not cleared by the Gunners' defence, Nogan drove in the rebound from 10 yards.

Arsenal responded by forcing the play into the Preston penalty area, but their best effort was a deflected Parlour shot which went four yards wide.

Preston's second came from a series of corners from Billy Eyres. The first forced Manninger to punch the ball off the goaline.

His second, on 21 minutes, went to the far post, over the goalkeeper's head, where Nogan, unmarked, headed in from three yards.

Again, Arsenal's response came from Parlour, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area drew a fine save from Lucas

Steve Bould had his hands full with Jonathan Machen

In the final five minutes of the first half, Arsenal began to improve, with Boa Morte twice forcing Murdock into rash challenges inside the penalty area. On both occasions, referee Dermot Gallagher waved away penalty appeals.

The Gunners were facing the possibility a two-nil deficit at half-time, until out of nowhere, Boa Morte's left footed shot from 12 yards took a deflection and spun into the far corner past Lucas.

After half-time Overmars shot brilliantly from 20 yards, but Lucas pushed it away with his right hand.

Although Arsenal began to press with the authority of Cup holders, Cartwright reminded them of his obvious qualities with a cross from the right which hit the crossbar.

But the turning point of the game was not far away, as David Eyres was sent off on 58 minutes for a professional foul on Overmars. The Dutchman was clean through on goal, and Eyre's challenge was a foot outside the penalty area.

But Petit made sure that justice was served, as he curled in the free kick with his left foot.

From then on, it was one way traffic, as the champions pushed forward, although their third goal was not without controversy.

On 79 minutes, Boa Morte drove towards the byline and his cross found Petit six yards out who slotted into an open goal. But Caballero, on as a sub for Mendez, had clearly elbowed Preston's Kidd in the face, and the young defender lay prone as the Frenchman gave his team a lead they never looked like losing.

To add insult to injury, Overmars made it four as he took Boa Morte's pass and drilled his left footed shot past Lucas.

Preston: Lucas, Parkinson, Kidd, Murdock, Jackson, Gregan, Cartwright, Rankine, Nogan, Macken, Eyres. Subs: McKenna, Appleton, Harris, Darby, O'Hanlon.

Arsenal: Manninger, Dixon, Viera, Bould, Vivas, Overmars, Keown, Parlour, Petit, Boa Morte, Mendez. Subs: Garde, Upson, Grondin, Lukic, Caballero.