Manchester City returned to the FA Youth Cup final after holding 10-man Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates on Monday to secure a 4-3 aggregate win.
Just like the first game, City fell behind early only to come back to lead 2-1 at half-time. Winger Chris Willock put Arsenal ahead in the sixth minute as the Gunners dominated early but Brahim Diaz and Rodney Kongolo answered before the break as the visitors took a commanding edge in the tie.
Substitute striker Donyell Malen equalised on the night shortly after coming off the bench, but the hosts' hopes of completing the comeback ended when Marc Bola was sent off with a straight red card for a clumsy studs-up challenge on Kongolo.
City lost last year's final to Chelsea and could face the Blues again if they get past Blackburn in the other semifinal. Chelsea have won the tournament in four of the past six years while City are looking for their first title since 2008.
They were pressed back early at the Emirates as Arsenal came out attacking from the start. Willock opened the scoring with a good solo effort in the sixth minute after City turned the ball over in midfield, driving forward and slotting home a well-placed shot from just outside the area.
Arsenal had chances for a second before they were caught on a counter-attack for the equaliser. Lukas Nmecha's close-range shot was saved by goalkeeper Hugo Keto but the ball looped up towards Diaz, who headed in the rebound by the far post.
City then caught the Arsenal defence napping for the second goal as Manu Garcia's quickly taken free kick found Kongolo racing towards goal and he finished with a low shot past Keto.
Arsenal coach Steve Gatting brought on Malen as part of a double substitution in the second half and it paid off right away as the striker was left unmarked at the far post to meet a corner with a powerful header.
But Bola's reckless challenge cost his team as he came sliding in with his feet up and caught Kongolo's shin with his studs.
Down to 10 men, Arsenal still pressed for a late goal that would have levelled the aggregate score and City goalkeeper Daniel Grimshaw gifted them a chance when he bizarrely handled the ball outside his area.
But he made amends when reacted well to push away the free kick from Ben Sheaf, and Malen then missed Arsenal's last opportunity when he couldn't connect with the ball when it fell to him in the area late in injury time.