I still love the FA Cup, but Preston really had us nervous for long spells until Olivier Giroud's late winner gave Arsenal a dramatic 2-1 win at Preston.
Callum Robinson gave the Championship side an early lead before later having a goal disallowed before goals from Aaron Ramsey and Giroud, who was captaining the side for the first time, turned the game on its head to put Arsenal into round four.
Anything can happen in the FA Cup and no team should ever be underestimated. Arsenal made hard work of the tie and Arsene Wenger's record of having never lost a third-round tie became seriously under threat, but credit should go to Preston for this as they performed admirably.
Giroud tried a speculative long-range effort inside the opening minute of the match, but it was comfortably saved by Chris Maxwell in the Preston goal.
Preston then sparked the game into life with the opening goal after just seven minutes. Aiden McGeady spun past his man before passing it through to Jordan Hugill. The ball then bounced off Hugill and into the path of Robinson for the forward to slot home and send the Deepdale faithful into raptures. It was a very frustrating moment especially given the fact that I was in a room with including a Preston supporter and I also had a Tottenham fan either side of me.
Arsenal tried to muster a response, but Lucas Perez's shot was saved by Maxwell without causing the goalkeeper any real trouble.
Preston were looking the more likely to score and almost got a second when Robinson got on the end of Hugill's cross, but the forward's header was well blocked by Shkodran Mustafi. It really should have been 2-0 soon after though when Robinson beat the offside trap and sent in a cross, but somehow Hugill was unable to connect with it. It was such poor defending by Arsenal and a big let off for them that they were not punished more for it.
David Ospina produced a decent save to keep out Ben Pearson's long-range strike, while Daniel Johnson sent his effort wide as Preston continued put pressure on us. It wasn't feeling too much like we were playing a lower league side and credit to Preston for taking the game to us and carving our defence open, but we also really should have done better.
Arsenal weren't creating too much in attack, although Ramsey should have done better when in the box, but the midfielder failed to get his shot in before Maxwell denied Lucas Perez soon after. The Gunners wasted another chance when Giroud sent an effort of target.
The hosts were nearly made to pay for those misses as Paul Gallagher managed to lob Ospina but, fortunately for Arsenal, Nacho Monreal came to the rescue to clear it away from danger.
Young full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles created a good chance for Arsenal before the break when his cross was met by Ramsey, but the Welshman's header was straight into the grateful arms of Maxwell.
Arsenal nearly fell further behind in the first half when Robinson put the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for an alleged foul on Ospina. There was some contact, but Preston are likely to feel hard done by and it was a big let off for us.
The Gunners made a bright start to the second half and equalised through Ramsey within a minute of the restart. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross was met by Alex Iwobi, who did well to keep hold of the ball before setting up Ramsey to rifle in a shot from the edge of the box.
Arsenal wasted the opportunity to have gone in front when Giroud's header was comfortably saved by Maxwell before the Preston shot-stopper produced a fine save to keep out Mustafi from close range.
The visitors were looking a bit more lively and Giroud thought he had scored after 76 minutes, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside, but the Frenchman certainly made up for it later on when he rescued us yet again.
Arsenal continued to push forward with Iwobi forcing a save out of Maxwell, while Danny Welbeck came off the bench to make his return after eight months out with a long-term injury and it was good to see him back.
With just over a minute left of normal time Giroud latched onto Perez's clever back-heel to score a dramatic winner for Arsenal. In truth, Preston would have probably deserved at least a replay and will feel hard done by to have got nothing and I am definitely relieved to see us scrape through.
Welbeck nearly marked his comeback with a goal in stoppage time, but his shot was superbly tipped over the bar by Maxwell.
There wasn't enough time for Preston to find an equaliser and we were able to hold on for the win, but if I had to describe this game in one word it would be 'phew'. We were lucky to edge past Preston, but we did what mattered most and got the result.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Preston fan Dan Aspinall believes his side can be proud and hold their heads high despite the result.
"It was an excellent performance from Preston," said Aspinall. "If we can play like that against a team like Arsenal then we should take encouragement from it and put it to good use in the league.
"The whole team was immense. To be upset we didn't win says a lot when you are playing Arsenal."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
It wasn't the greatest of displays, but progressing into the next round is what mattered most and we did just that. It will be interesting to see who we get in the fourth round, but whoever it is we will need to perform much better than we did this time if we want to avoid being on the wrong end up an upset.
We definitely need to up our game after recent performances if we are to have a 2017 to remember. We are already off the pace in the Premier League and eight points behind leaders Chelsea, but we must focus on our own game and let the rest take care of itself.
If we are to have any slim chance of the league title then realistically we will have get a maximum nine-point haul from the next three games against Swansea, Burnley and Watford.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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