DWIGHT YORKE put Dennis Bergkamp's Wembley plans on hold, alter the Arsenal striker had coolly fired Arsenal into a two-goal lead in their English league Cup semi-final at Highbury.

Brian Little's 24-year-old Tobagan forward is in, irrepressible form and took his haul to eight goals in six games as he hauled the Midlanders level.

For the first half hour the game belonged to Dutchman Bergkamp. It took him a long time to settle after his headline grabbing move from InterMilan. But there is no stopping him now as he scored for the third game running.

He began and finished the 6th-minute move that put Arsenal ahead, flicking the ball on to Merson to the right and then moving infield to receive Wright's lay back on his deadly right foot. With barely a backlift, the ball rocketed low and true from 22 yards into the far corner beyond Bosnich's despairing right hand.

His second six minutes late saw Villa's three-man defence which has given them one of the best records of the season caught flat-footed as he went clear and bemused Bosnich with a feint over the ball betore slipping it between his legs.

Fortunately for Villa, Yorke can do no wrong since Little converted him to striker and, he hauled Villa back into the tie in the 39th minute alter a catalogue of errors from the Arsenal defence.

And Linighan allowed Yorke to scramble the ball back, from the byline and the home side never cleared the danger, Merson's attempted headed clearance putting them in more trouble before Mark Draper's cross arrived at the feet of Yorke