AUSTRALIAN striker Carl Veart stepped out of the Bramall Lane shadows to bring Howard Kendall a thrilling first victory as Sheffield United manager and leave Arsenal's dreams of a cup double in tatters.

Veart, making his first appearance in five games, got the goal the Blades deserved with a spectacular diving header after Dane Whitehouse had sliced through the Arsenal defence in the 68th minute.

First division Sheffield, equally impressive in the 1-1 draw at Highbury 11 days ago, now have the chance of a crack at another Premiership team, Aston Villa, in a televised fourth round tie at Bramall Lane on January 28th.

Out of sorts Arsenal, dumped from the third round by first division Millwall last season, must now concentrate on the Premiership and their two leg League Cup semi final with Villa next month.

A 15 minute delay to allow an all ticket 22,255 crowd to squeeze into the three sided ground seemed to unsettle Arsenal more than United, who carved out two clear cut chances in the opening 13 minutes.

First Whitehouse, United's scorer in the first match, brought a fine save from David Seaman with a glancing header from Mitch Ward's cross. Then, with the Seaman in no man's land, David White fired in a 12 yard shot which hit the underside of the bar and bounced back into play off the goal line.

Sheffield United continued to exploit spaces down the right flank, with rookie Arsenal defender Gavin McGowan hard pressed to contain overlapping right back Chris Short, who set up further opportunities for White and Veart.

The visitors created only three genuine chances, the first two of which were wasted by Dutch stars Dennis Bergkamp and Glenn Helder, before Lee Dixon thundered a 39th minute shot just over the bar after neat approach play by Paul Merson.

Arsenal began the second half more convincingly than they had the first and 18 goal leading scorer Ian Wright, who netted the Arsenal in the first game at Highbury, had Alan Kelly scrambling to block a volley in the 51st minute.

But the Blades were soon back on the attack and Veart was left to thump the ground in frustration after shooting weakly from White's well placed through ball three minutes later.

United finally got the break they deserved when experienced mid fielder Gordon Cowans, a recent arrival from Wolves, picked out Whitehouse, who beat Arsenal substitute David Linighan playing at right back in place of the injured Dixon before crossing for Veart to bring Bramall Lane to bursting point with his fifth goal of the campaign.

From then on it was nerve tingling stuff and Wright came agonisingly close to an equaliser with an 85th minute shot which shaved the post.

But United had the last word, with Veart curling an injury time shot on to the roof of the net, as if to emphasise their overall superiority.

Afterwards Sheffield United manager Howard Kendall said We did exceptionally well at Highbury to be honest I thought we could have won there. Tonight we've again caused international players all kinds of problems and could have scored more goals.

"Now my immediate problem is to get them back down to earth for Saturday's match against Watford. We're struggling in the league and it's vital we start winning games.

Arsenal manager Bruce Rioch, said succinctly. We're disappointed that goes without saying.