If ever there was a way to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup then that was it after Arsenal produced an excellent performance in a thumping 5-0 win at Southampton.
Danny Welbeck, who was making his first start since May, was superb and deservedly grabbed two goals before a Theo Walcott hat-trick put the result beyond doubt.
Going into the game we knew it would be tough with Southampton having already knocked us out of the EFL Cup, where they have since reached the final, earlier in the season.
We also didn't have the easiest time of things in the last round with a late goal from Olivier Giroud helping us to edge past Championship side Preston.
With both sides making multiple changes it was hard to tell how the game would pan out, but fortunately we turned on the style at St Mary's and thoroughly deserved the win.
The performances of Welbeck and Walcott were very encouraging and we will need them to produce similar goal-scoring performances in the big upcoming games against Watford and Chelsea that could go a long way to deciding the fate of our season.
The first 10 minutes were fairly uneventful apart from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sending a shot wide against his former club, but the Gunners did break the deadlock soon after through Welbeck. The striker latched onto a great flick from Lucas Perez before chipping the goalkeeper with a composed finish that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Welbeck was playing as someone with renewed confidence and looked very lively on the ball, which was very pleasing to see, and just seven minutes later he got his name on the scoresheet again. Oxlade-Chamberlain sent a ball over the top, which Welbeck did well to bring down before sliding the ball beyond Southampton's young goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
At the other end Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina was let off the hook when Southampton were unable to capitalise on his positioning as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg volleyed over the bar. The Colombian shot-stopper redeemed himself soon after when he produced a decent save to tip Shane Long's strike away for a corner.
Arsenal should have made it 3-0 when Oxlade-Chamberlain sent in a good delivery from a free-kick, but Shkodran Mustafi sent his header wide. Southampton also had a chance from a free-kick soon after, but Hojbjerg's effort went into the side netting and just off target.
Arsenal added a third nine minutes before the break as Lucas Perez picked out Welbeck with a great pass, before the striker squared it for Walcott to slide in and poke home from close range.
Arsenal were in complete control and Welbeck had a chance to complete his hat-trick within three minutes of the restart, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. Youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles put in a good shift for the visitors at the back, but he was unable to get his name on the scoresheet as he shot over from the resulting corner.
Hector Bellerin shot straight at the goalkeeper as Arsenal continued to try to add to their lead, while Jordy Clasie sent an effort off target at the other end.
Walcott scored his second of the afternoon 21 minutes from time thanks to great work from Oxlade-Chamberlain and substitute Alexis Sanchez. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who showed a great range of passing on the day, beat his man before picking out Sanchez and the Chilean then cut the ball back for Walcott to score from close range.
Southampton were struggling to create too much in attack as Clasie volleyed over the bar, while Josh Sims attempted to inject some life into the hosts with a run into the box. But the youngster's run was matched by Maitland-Niles, who did excellently to force the ball out of play.
Although Welbeck was my personal man of the match, Walcott also deserves a lot of praise for his display after completing his hat-trick five minutes from time. Another great pass from Perez found Sanchez, who set up Walcott to beat Lewis with a low strike.
Sims forced Ospina into a decent late save before Arsenal very nearly added a sixth goal in the final minute of normal time, but Lewis rushed off his line well to block Perez's effort.
It was a great win and keeps our cup run going, but we need to really make things count by getting a minimum of four points from our next two league games.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Southampton fan Mavis John was disappointed by the result and hopes the confidence of the younger players isn't affected too much from being on the wrong end of a big scoreline.
"That was certainly not a joy to watch and I'm just relieved Arsenal didn't score more!" said John. "Although there were 10 changes to both teams, there was an obvious gulf between the two - as certain pundits said, it was definitely men against boys.
"With so many inexperienced players in our team, our defending was woeful, the ball was given away too easily and we just couldn't cope with a superior Arsenal team.
"I just hope the confidence of our young players hasn't been knocked too much. Here's an interesting stat - the last time we reached the League Cup final we were knocked out of the FA Cup by none other than Arsenal!"
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
That certainly was an FA Cup performance to be proud of and, while this competition is very important to me we really must start proving ourselves in the league and put in a serious title challenge.
With leaders Chelsea among our next two opponents this is our possible chance and we can't afford any slip-ups. It is still Chelsea's to lose and they are the favourites, but if we can produce a memorable week and beat Watford and them then who knows. I'm not saying we will do it as I still think this year will be Chelsea's, but we have at least given ourselves a chance.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
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