Eddie Nketiah’s second-half brace saw Arsenal comfortably avoid a FA Cup Third Round cupset in a 3-0 away win against Oxford United at Kassam Stadium.
Nketiah calmly finished past McGinty in the 70th and 76th minutes from passes made by Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Martinelli respectively, which ultimately assured the Gunners of their first-ever away win against Oxford Utd in all competitions at the fifth attempt.
Mohamed Elneny had earlier put the Gunners ahead with a close-range header from a 63rd minute free-kick to break the deadlock in a largely quiet contest.
Arsenal will now visit Manchester City in a blockbuster Fourth Round tie between the current top two Premier League clubs, which is scheduled across the weekend of 27-30 January.
Despite 58 places separating Oxford Utd and Arsenal in the football pyramid, a drab opening 15 minutes saw the League One club comfortably matching the Premier League leaders.
Takehiro Tomiyasu eventually produced the first chance of the game in the 16th minute as he overlapped with Bukayo Saka up the right flank, yet saw his low pullback cross saved by Edward McGinty.
Karl Robinson’s Us though recovered and were able to comfortably frustrate the Gunners throughout the rest of the first half, as Cameron Brannagan saw a 24th minute shot blocked following a couple of quick passes after Fabio Vieira gave possession away.
Alber Sambi Lokonga meanwhile went close for Arsenal in the 35th minute as his shot deflected wide by Elliot Moore, albeit via his left arm which led to penalty appeals but referee – David Coote opted to ignore the visitors’ complaints as the first-half finished goalless.
Four minutes after the restart, Arsenal’s Matt Turner was soon in action to make a crucial save to deny Matty Taylor who was played through onto goal via a direct long ball from the left flank.
Arsenal soon afterwards cranked up their intensity as Bukayo Saka and Nketiah both saw chances denied.
Oxford Utd’s resilient defence soon collapsed as Djavan Anderson conceded a 63rd minute free-kick, which Vieira whipped in for Elneny to nod in from close-range to put the Gunners ahead at a ground where they’ve never won before in all competitions.
Any prospect of an Oxford Utd fightback were swiftly killed off as Elneny and Vieira combined in midfield, with the latter playing Nketiah through to round McGinty and roll into an empty net in the 70th minute.
Nketiah eventually made sure of Arsenal’s progress six minutes later as he chipped in from Martinelli’s pass to absolutely ensure that the League One opposition couldn’t spring a late giant killing.
Robinson’s Us however refused to settle for a three-goal loss as they chased a consolatory goal, during which Sam Long’s 88th minute header was saved by Turner as their hunt for a goal ultimately ended in disappointment.
What’s Next?
Oxford Utd now face an away trip to Fleetwood Town in a mid-table League One clash on Saturday 14 January at 3pm GMT.
Arsenal now turn their attention to a North London derby away to Tottenham in the Premier League live on Sky Sports, on Sunday 15 January at 4:30pm GMT.
Teams
Oxford United: Edward McGinty, Djavan Anderson, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Ciaron Brown (Fleming 84′), Lewis Bate, Marcus McGuane (Johnson 84′), Cameron Brannagan, Billy Bodin (Goodrham 77′), Matty Taylor (O’Donkor 77′), Josh Murphy (Wildschut 62′)
Substitutes: Simon Eastwood, Brandon Fleming, Stuart Finlay, Josh Johnson, Tyler Goodrham, Stephan Negru, Yanic Wildschut, Yoav Sade, Gatlin O’Donkor
Arsenal: Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu (White 82′), Rob Holding, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney (Zinchenko 61′), Fabio Vieira (Marquinhos 82′), Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga (Xhaka 62′), Bukayo Saka (Smith Rowe 75′), Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli
Substitutes: Ben White, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Marquinhos, Karl Hein, Granit Xhaka, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji
Referee: David Coote
Leave a Reply