Arsenal saw off the challenge of West Ham in a lively game at Upton Park while at Reading Middlesbrough grabbed a last gasp winner to see them through to the Coca-Cola Cup semi-finals.

West Ham 1 Arsenal 2

Hammers heroes John Hartson and Rio Ferdinand became Upton Park villains as Arsenal scrambled through to the last four of the Coca-Cola Cup.

Strike ace Hartson had come into the game desperate to add to the 23 goals he had scored in the 37 games since his £3.2m switch from Highbury last February.

But the dream scenario went horribly wrong when the Welshman's woeful first half penalty was saved by David Seaman, easily atoning for another goalkeeping gaffe.

Ian Wright took advantage by claiming only his second goal in three months six minutes later, exchanging passes with Dennis Bergkamp before crashing past Craig Forrest.

It was Wright's staggering 29th goal in 29 appearances in the competition for the Gunners and Crystal Palace and celebrated with relish.

Then seven minutes after the break, teenager Ferdinand, who was never at ease against top Gunners Wright and Bergkamp, committed a schoolboy error which allowed Marc Overmars to slot home the killer.

While substitute Samassi Abou did his best to breathe life into the proceeding by coming off the bench to score his first goal in English football, Arsene Wenger's side were never going to relinquish their advantage.

It spelled the end of the Hammers' 10-match winning run, their best in 16 years and was enough for two-time winners Arsenal to reach their ninth semi-final.

Perhaps the Hammers should have expected the worst. After all, Arsenal had won their last five games against their neighbours and were unbeaten at Upton Park since 1987.

Reading 0 Middlesbrough 1

Middlesbrough's Craig Hignett pounced three minutes in to injury-time to send his team through to the last four.

Hignett scored from a Paul Merson free-kick sparking furious protests from the Reading players who believed the kick should have gone to them.

Carl Asaba came close for Reading fater that but failed to score.

Middlesbrough now have another chance of success in the competition which the lost at the last hurdle against Leicester at Wembley last year.

On Wednesday in the other quarter finals Newcastle play hosts to Liverpool who will want to make ammends for being dumped out of the FA Cup by Coventry.

Nationwide club Ipswich play Chelsea who come fresh from a 5-3 mauling by Manchester United.

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