Arsenal have kept their attempt to end a seven-year trophy drought on track, scoring three times in eight second-half minutes to beat Aston Villa 3-2 and reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Villa led 2-0 at halftime through goals by Richard Dunne and Darren Bent, prompting near silence on Sunday from Arsenal fans still waiting for a trophy to follow the 2005 FA Cup.

But a revitalised home side got back in the game through Robin van Persie’s 54th-minute penalty, equalised through Theo Walcott’s lucky rebound and took the lead in the 61st through a second spot kick from Van Persie.

Middlesbrough and Sunderland will replay on February 8 for the right to face Arsenal after drawing their fourth-round match 1-1.