Theo Walcott hit his 100th goal for the club as Arsenal avoided a potential banana skin to progress into the FA Cup quarter-final with a 2-0 win at non-league Sutton.
With only one win this month prior to the trip to Gander Green Lane, there was a feeling of uncertainty about Arsenal despite facing lower league opposition.
Any other year I would have felt super optimistic about this kind of game, but our recent performances haven't been great and we knew just how fired up Sutton would be for this clash.
I genuinely believed we would progress, but I couldn't help but feel wary of the opposition especially in a competition where it has been proven on numerous occasions that upsets are possible. All the more reason why I am delighted at the victory. Yes, as some will argue, it was "only Sutton", but you can only beat what's put in front of you and I'm just glad we avoided any daft slip ups in this game.
As for Sutton they can definitely hold their heads high after that performance. The gulf in class of the squads and with several divisions between the two teams, this was always going to be a mammoth task for the National League side, but they showed no fear and did well to restrict the chances that came our way. We should have probably performed better than we did, but take nothing away from Sutton as it was a decent effort from them.
In a first half of few chances, Arsenal finally opened the scoring after 26 minutes through Lucas Perez. The Spanish forward curled an excellent delivery into the box and, Walcott's attempt to get a touch to it did enough to put off goalkeeper Ross Worner, and the ball went into the far corner of the net. There was an element of good fortune about the goal in some ways, but it was also a great cross from Perez.
Arsenal tried to add a second just minutes later when Nacho Monreal found himself free on the edge of the box, but the full-back took a heavy touch that allowed Worner to make the block before Walcott shot over the bar soon after.
Former Arsenal youth player Roarie Deacon, who was named man of the match by the BBC, then created a half chance as he sent a free-kick into the box. Unfortunately for Sutton nobody was able to get their head to it and the free-kick went wide.
Sutton continued to restrict chances for the visitors, but Arsenal very nearly doubled their advantage five minutes before the break. Walcott made a good break upfield before Alex Iwobi's shot took a slight deflection to take it wide for a corner.
The non-league side almost levelled the scores soon after when Adam May reacted to a poor kick from David Ospina, only to make a meal of it and send his shot wide. But with Arsenal winning just 1-0 at half-time the game was far from over.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on at half-time to replace Mohamed Elneny, who appeared to have picked up an injury and the Ox certainly injected some much-needed energy into Arsenal's game.
Sutton had a half chance within six minutes of the restart as Bedsente Gomis produced a great turn, but he was unable to get his shot away as he was crowded out by Arsenal shirts.
The longer it stayed 1-0 the more Sutton would fancy their chances of causing an upset, so obviously I was relieved when we doubled our advantage after 55 minutes to more or less put the result beyond doubt. A great move with a nice one-two released Monreal, whose cross found Walcott and Arsenal's captain for the day was on hand to score from close range.
Sutton wasted a great opportunity to reduce the deficit soon after as May unselfishly set up Maxime Biamou, but the French striker's tame effort was straight as Ospina. The non-league side created another chance minutes later as Ospina flapped at a corner, but fortunately for the Gunners' shot-stopper he was let off as Jamie Collins headed over the bar.
The hosts and the lively Deacon deserved to have got a goal from what was a superbly hit shot from Deacon after 65 minutes. The striker unleashed a sublime long-range strike from 25 yards, only to see it cannon back off the crossbar.
Oxlade-Chamberlain came close to adding his name onto the scoresheet when he cut inside from the left in the final 10 minutes, but his shot was well saved by Worner.
Sutton tried to nick a consolation goal in the closing stages, but substitute Bradley Hudson-Odoi saw his shot deflect behind for a corner as Arsenal held on to their two-goal lead.
So Arsenal are now into the quarter-final and will again face non-league opposition in Lincoln City. This is personally a great fixture for me and one I have been hoping would happen in the FA Cup ever since I moved to Lincoln in 2003...and now it finally has! I still hold a soft spot for Lincoln and had they been playing any other side I'd want them to win, but I'll be rooting for Arsenal all the way in this one.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Sutton United fan Max Camilleri was proud of his side despite their cup exit, but fears they may lose star man Deacon, who was reportedly the subject of interest from Fulham in January.
"I'm quite happy about the performance," said Camilleri. "We put in a good fight and I'm so proud of the boys. We played really well and now we can focus on the league.
"Deacon is just too good for us and I think he will go to the Championship."
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Banana skin avoided and into the last eight and now....no more games this month! How disappointing! Due to Southampton being in the EFL Cup Final our league game was re-arranged and we have no fixture this weekend.
In some ways that could be seen as a positive as it gives us longer to prepare for our next game - a tough league trip to face Liverpool at Anfield. But it also means the other sides in and around the top four can potentially take advantage of us not playing to move above or further clear of us.
Although I'd much rather be talking about a more serious title race, we are in an all too familiar position in the league and the match against Liverpool is massive in terms of us wanting a top-four finish. We are currently fourth and only one point above Liverpool so it is a match we can't afford to lose.
Also we need to prove we can produce top performances away against teams like Liverpool so there can be no excuses. Arsene Wenger and the lads must make sure they stand up to be counted at Anfield and give us a performance to be proud of.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
No comments:
Post a Comment