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Match Report

English FA Cup

Sunday, 15 February 2015,

Arsenal
2
-
Full Time
Live
-
0
Middlesbro
Kickoff: 17:00 BST, live coverage on BT Sport
  • Referee: -
  • Stadium: Emirates Stadium
  • Attendance: 59,823
  • 27' Olivier Giroud
  • 29' Olivier Giroud

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    Arsenal

    Half time

    Full time

    Middlesbrough

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    Top-four finish priority for Wenger

    Arsene Wenger claims every Premier League match is like a cup contest for Arsenal in their bid to secure a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League.

    The Gunners play Monaco later this month after qualifying for the knockout stages of Europe's elite competition for a 15th consecutive season, but their participation in next term's Champions League is in doubt in a competitive Premier League.

    Arsenal continue their FA Cup defence in Sunday's fifth-round clash with Middlesbrough, but Wenger knows priorities lie elsewhere.

    ''Our basic is always to finish in the top four and then win a trophy on top of that,'' said Wenger, whose FA Cup success last term ended a nine-year trophy drought.

    ''We want always to be in the Champions League and this season it will be very difficult, because it's very tight if you look at the table - every game now becomes a cup game.''

    The FA Cup is a competition Wenger wants to do well in, though. ''We have won (the FA Cup) five times during my period here,'' he added.

    ''Nobody has won it more in the last 18 years, so we have always taken the competition seriously.''

    Wenger plans to rotate his options and could give Gabriel Paulista his debut in defence and rest Germany World Cup winner Per Mertesacker.

    The 24-year-old Brazilian signed from Villarreal for a reported B£15million fee in a deal which attracted attention due to Arsenal's repeated defensive failings in recent seasons.

    Wenger has no doubt Gabriel has the ability to swiftly adapt to English football, but the Arsenal boss has concerns that the language barrier could make life difficult.

    Gabriel's English is ''very bad'', Wenger said. ''It is a problem.

    ''When you don't speak English and you don't understand 'Come out, come back, right, left', it is a problem for a defender. You need to know the key words. Offside. Referee. Foul.

    "(But) he has the physicality and motivation. He has an opportunity to show that now.''

    Gabriel is the first defender Wenger has bought with no English at all, although Jose Antonio Reyes' command of the language was limited even when he returned to Spain.

    Aitor Karanka will not allow himself or his players to get carried away as he attempts to manage the demands of a dual bid for promotion and FA Cup glory.

    Middlesbrough's head coach guided his side to the top of the Sky Bet Championship table on Tuesday evening by way of a hard-fought 2-1 win on a pudding of a pitch at Blackpool.

    On Sunday, he will send team into battle once again, this time on the billiard table playing surface at the Emirates.

    However, whatever happens in the red and white corner of North London this weekend, Karanka is adamant that he and his players have achieved nothing yet despite their lofty position and the fourth round shock they pulled off at Manchester City.

    Asked if the club's fans could dare to dream, he said: "I am very, very excited. When I go home and I think about how the team was when I came here and how it is now, I am very pleased, very proud.

    "But I have to think about the future because nothing is done and the day that I think everything is done, I am making a very big mistake."

    For a few days at least, the FA Cup will take precedence at the Riverside Stadium as Boro, who were beaten finalists in 1997, attempt to upset the odds once again and repeat their heroics at the Etihad Stadium by dispensing with another Premier League high-flier.

    The squad assembled by Karanka is light on top-flight experience, but has among its ranks a man who has played at the top both at home and abroad.

    Former England defender Jonathan Woodgate has been a largely silent partner this season as injuries have once again taken their toll on his 35-year-old body.

    Woodgate made his first league appearance - and scored - at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday evening a matter of weeks after telling Karanka he was contemplating retirement.

    The Spaniard managed to talk the former Leeds, Newcastle and Real Madrid defender out of it, and is delighted to have done so.

    He said: "He is very, very important for me and I am very, very pleased to see him enjoying this moment because he said two weeks ago he was thinking about retirement.

    "I convinced him and now he is enjoying the moment. He is very important for the team, he is very important for the club and I am very pleased."

    Boro will be without injured defender Daniel Ayala, cup-tied midfielder Adam Forshaw and ineligible defender Tomas Kalas, but full-back George Friend is expected to be available after illness.

    91'+3

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    91'+2

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Defending)

    91'+2

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    91'+2

    Theo Walcott clears the ball from danger.

    91'+2

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    91'+2

    Garcia Kike hits a good header, but it is off target. Outcome: hit post

    91'+2

    Ryan Fredericks crosses the ball.

    91'+1

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    91'

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    91'

    Adam Clayton clears the ball from danger.

    91'

    End of the game

    91'

    The referee has signaled the end of the second half

    90'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Defending)

    90'

    Wojciech Szczesny takes a long goal kick

    89'

    Albert Adomah hits an impressive left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    89'

    Kieran Gibbs clears the ball from danger.

    88'

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    88'

    Santi Cazorla crosses the ball.

    87'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Tip Over)

    87'

    Theo Walcott hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    87'

    Kieran Gibbs clears the ball from danger.

    86'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Other)

    86'

    Mesut Özil hits a good left footed shot. Outcome: save

    86'

    Throw-in: Kieran Gibbs takes it (Attacking)

    85'

    Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Free Kick at 85'

    85'

    Jelle Vossen

    85'

    Jelle Vossen commits a foul on Santi Cazorla resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    85'

    Wojciech Szczesny takes a long goal kick

    83'

    Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) Free Kick at 83'

    83'

    Arsenal makes a sub: Chuba Akpom enters for Olivier Giroud. Reason: Tactical

    82'

    Offside called on Garcia Kike

    81'

    Kenneth Omeruo blocks the shot

    81'

    Theo Walcott hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    81'

    Mesut Özil crosses the ball.

    81'

    Calum Chambers crosses the ball.

    80'

    Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal) Free Kick at 80'

    79'

    Jelle Vossen commits a foul on Mesut Özil resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    79'

    Throw-in: Mesut Özil takes it (Attacking)

    78'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Defending)

    78'

    Throw-in: Adam Reach takes it (Defending)

    78'

    Kieran Gibbs crosses the ball.

    78'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    77'

    George Friend clears the ball from danger.

    77'

    Calum Chambers crosses the ball.

    77'

    Throw-in: Adam Reach takes it (Attacking)

    76'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    76'

    Mathieu Flamini clears the ball from danger.

    76'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    76'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    76'

    Santi Cazorla curls an impressive left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: over bar

    75'

    Adam Clayton hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    75'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    74'

    Throw-in: Ryan Fredericks takes it (Attacking)

    74'

    Calum Chambers crosses the ball.

    74'

    Throw-in: Mesut Özil takes it (Attacking)

    74'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    73'

    Throw-in: Mathieu Flamini takes it (Defending)

    73'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Defending)

    73'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    72'

    Arsenal makes a sub: Theo Walcott enters for Danny Welbeck. Reason: Tactical

    72'

    Arsenal makes a sub: Tomas Rosicky enters for Alexis Sánchez. Reason: Tactical

    71'

    George Friend clears the ball from danger.

    71'

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    71'

    Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) Free Kick at 71'

    70'

    Jelle Vossen commits a foul on Santi Cazorla resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    70'

    Laurent Koscielny clears the ball from danger.

    70'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    69'

    Olivier Giroud clears the ball from danger.

    69'

    Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) Free Kick at 69'

    68'

    Kieran Gibbs commits a foul on Garcia Kike resulting on a free kick for Middlesbrough

    68'

    Throw-in: Ryan Fredericks takes it (Attacking)

    68'

    Laurent Koscielny clears the ball from danger.

    68'

    Jelle Vossen crosses the ball.

    67'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    66'

    Wojciech Szczesny takes a short goal kick

    66'

    Grant Leadbitter curls a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    66'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    66'

    Adam Reach crosses the ball.

    65'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    65'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    65'

    Olivier Giroud hits a good header, but it is off target. Outcome: over bar

    64'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Parry)

    64'

    Alexis Sánchez hits a good header. Outcome: save

    64'

    Santi Cazorla crosses the ball.

    64'

    Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Free Kick at 64'

    64'

    Handball called on Adam Clayton

    63'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Catch)

    63'

    Olivier Giroud hits a good header. Outcome: save

    63'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Parry)

    63'

    Kieran Gibbs hits an impressive left footed shot. Outcome: save

    59'

    Olivier Giroud crosses the ball.

    59'

    Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal) Free Kick at 59'

    58'

    Offside called on Jelle Vossen

    58'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    57'

    Kenneth Omeruo blocks the shot

    57'

    Alexis Sánchez hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    57'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Defending)

    56'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    56'

    Mathieu Flamini blocks the shot

    56'

    Grant Leadbitter hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    56'

    Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough) Free Kick at 56'

    55'

    Gabriel Paulista

    55'

    Gabriel Paulista commits a foul on Adam Reach resulting on a free kick for Middlesbrough

    55'

    Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Free Kick at 55'

    55'

    Grant Leadbitter commits a foul on Alexis Sánchez resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    54'

    Santi Cazorla clears the ball from danger.

    54'

    Tomas Mejias (Middlesbrough) Free Kick at 54'

    54'

    Middlesbrough makes a sub: Adam Reach enters for Patrick Bamford. Reason: Tactical

    54'

    Middlesbrough makes a sub: Jelle Vossen enters for Lee Tomlin. Reason: Tactical

    53'

    Handball called on Alexis Sánchez

    53'

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    53'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Fumble)

    53'

    Mesut Özil hits a good left footed shot. Outcome: save

    51'

    Danny Welbeck hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss left

    51'

    Throw-in: Ryan Fredericks takes it (Defending)

    50'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    50'

    Ben Gibson clears the ball from danger.

    50'

    Calum Chambers crosses the ball.

    49'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    49'

    Mathieu Flamini hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss left

    48'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    48'

    Alexis Sánchez hits an impressive right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    47'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    47'

    Ben Gibson clears the ball from danger.

    46'

    Danny Welbeck clears the ball from danger.

    46'

    George Friend crosses the ball.

    46'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    46'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    46'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    46'

    Patrick Bamford crosses the ball.

    46'

    The second half is under way

    46'

    Throw-in: Kieran Gibbs takes it (Attacking)

    46'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    46'

    The referee has signaled the end of the first half

    45'

    Danny Welbeck hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    45'

    Ben Gibson blocks the shot

    45'

    Mathieu Flamini hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    45'

    Ryan Fredericks clears the ball from danger.

    44'

    Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Free Kick at 44'

    43'

    Adam Clayton commits a foul on Santi Cazorla resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    43'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    43'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    42'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    42'

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    42'

    Ben Gibson clears the ball from danger.

    41'

    Throw-in: Ryan Fredericks takes it (Defending)

    40'

    Throw-in: Kieran Gibbs takes it (Defending)

    39'

    Wojciech Szczesny makes the save (Catch)

    39'

    Albert Adomah hits a good right footed shot. Outcome: save

    38'

    Santi Cazorla crosses the ball.

    38'

    Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Free Kick at 38'

    38'

    Kenneth Omeruo commits a foul on Danny Welbeck resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    37'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    37'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    36'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    35'

    Lee Tomlin (Middlesbrough) Free Kick at 35'

    35'

    Mathieu Flamini commits a foul on Lee Tomlin resulting on a free kick for Middlesbrough

    34'

    Adam Clayton clears the ball from danger.

    33'

    Calum Chambers clears the ball from danger.

    33'

    Ryan Fredericks crosses the ball.

    32'

    Kieran Gibbs clears the ball from danger.

    32'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Defending)

    32'

    Santi Cazorla curls a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    31'

    Kenneth Omeruo clears the ball from danger.

    30'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Defending)

    29'

    2 - 0

    Goal!! Olivier Giroud hits a left footed shot to the upper left corner from the left 6 yard and scores!! Arsenal now leads 2 - 0

    29'

    Olivier Giroud hits an impressive left footed shot. Outcome: goal

    29'

    That last goal was assisted by Alexis Sánchez

    27'

    1 - 0

    Goal!! Olivier Giroud hits a left footed shot low through the middle from the centre penalty area and scores!! Arsenal now leads 1 - 0

    27'

    Olivier Giroud hits a good left footed shot. Outcome: goal

    27'

    That last goal was assisted by Kieran Gibbs

    26'

    Wojciech Szczesny takes a short goal kick

    26'

    Albert Adomah crosses the ball.

    24'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Defending)

    23'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Catch)

    23'

    Olivier Giroud curls a good left footed shot. Outcome: save

    22'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Defending)

    21'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    21'

    Ryan Fredericks clears the ball from danger.

    19'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Attacking)

    17'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Defending)

    17'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    16'

    George Friend clears the ball from danger.

    16'

    Calum Chambers crosses the ball.

    16'

    Mesut Özil crosses the ball.

    16'

    Throw-in: Danny Welbeck takes it (Attacking)

    15'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    15'

    Gabriel Paulista clears the ball from danger.

    15'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    14'

    Tomas Mejias clears the ball from danger.

    14'

    Alexis Sánchez hits a good right footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    14'

    Olivier Giroud curls a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: miss right

    13'

    Tomas Mejias (Middlesbrough) Free Kick at 13'

    13'

    Mathieu Flamini commits a foul on Kenneth Omeruo resulting on a free kick for Middlesbrough

    13'

    Calum Chambers crosses the ball.

    12'

    Wojciech Szczesny takes a short goal kick

    11'

    Ryan Fredericks crosses the ball.

    11'

    Throw-in: Ryan Fredericks takes it (Attacking)

    11'

    Throw-in: Ryan Fredericks takes it (Attacking)

    10'

    Ryan Fredericks clears the ball from danger.

    10'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Defending)

    9'

    Kieran Gibbs crosses the ball.

    9'

    Throw-in: George Friend takes it (Defending)

    8'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    7'

    George Friend clears the ball from danger.

    7'

    Kieran Gibbs crosses the ball.

    7'

    Tomas Mejias takes a long goal kick

    6'

    Ben Gibson blocks the shot

    6'

    Alexis Sánchez hits a good left footed shot, but it is off target. Outcome: blocked

    5'

    Albert Adomah clears the ball from danger.

    4'

    Tomas Mejias makes the save (Parry)

    4'

    Santi Cazorla curls a good left footed shot. Outcome: save

    4'

    Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Free Kick at 4'

    3'

    Adam Clayton commits a foul on Olivier Giroud resulting on a free kick for Arsenal

    2'

    Throw-in: Calum Chambers takes it (Attacking)

    1'

    Ryan Fredericks clears the ball from danger.

    1'

    Kieran Gibbs crosses the ball.

    1'

    Game on!

    Show all commentary

    Possession

    69%
    31%
    • Arsenal
    • Middlesbrough

    Shots

    23
    4

    Shots on target

    11
    1

    Fouls

    4
    5

    Corners

    0
    0

    Yellow Cards

    1
    0

    Red Cards

    0
    0

    Head to Head

    Arsenal2 - 0Middlesbro
    Arsenal2 - 0Middlesbro
    Middlesbro1 - 1Arsenal
    Arsenal1 - 1Middlesbro
    Middlesbro2 - 1Arsenal
    Middlesbro1 - 1Arsenal

    Arsenal

    • 1Wojciech Szczesny
    • 21Calum Chambers
    • 6Laurent Koscielny
    • 3Kieran Gibbs
    • 5Gabriel Paulista
    • 20Mathieu Flamini
    • 19Santi Cazorla
    • 11Mesut Özil
    • 17Alexis Sánchez
    • -> Tomas Rosicky
    • 23Danny Welbeck
    • -> Theo Walcott
    • 12Olivier Giroud
    • -> Chuba Akpom
    • Subs
    • 18Nacho Monreal
    • 26Emiliano Martinez
    • 34Francis Coquelin
    • 4Per Mertesacker

    Middlesbro

    • 40Tomas Mejias
    • 6Ben Gibson
    • 3George Friend
    • 5Ryan Fredericks
    • 22Kenneth Omeruo
    • 7Grant Leadbitter
    • 8Adam Clayton
    • 23Patrick Bamford
    • -> Adam Reach
    • 10Lee Tomlin
    • -> Jelle Vossen
    • 27Albert Adomah
    • 9Garcia Kike
    • Subs
    • 39Jonathan Woodgate
    • 17James Husband
    • 24Emilio Nsue
    • 18Dean Whitehead
    • 12Connor Ripley

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    Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough

    Olivier Giroud struck twice as FA Cup holders Arsenal beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium to book their place in the quarter-finals.

    The Gunners avoided going the same way as Manchester City had in round four against the Sky Bet Championship promotion-chasers with two first-half goals from the France forward in the space of as many minutes.

    Giroud - out for three months earlier in the season with a broken fibula - blasted the ball past Boro keeper Tomas Mejias from close range on 27 minutes and before the visitors could recover, the forward sweetly volleyed home a corner.

    Boro, who had been unbeaten in their last 10, worked hard enough, but never really stretched the Arsenal defence and have more important targets ahead over the closing weeks of the campaign in their bid to return to the elite.

    Arsene Wenger's side, meanwhile, looked to have found form again just at the right time ahead of a crucial run of games, which sees them take on Monaco for a place in the last eight of the Champions League.

    Arsenal set the tone with a positive start as Santi Cazorla tested Mejias with a curling 25-yard free-kick which almost crept inside the right-hand post.

    Left-back Kieran Gibbs, one of several fringe players handed a chance to impress, was inches away from connecting with another slide-rule pass into the Boro penalty area as the home side remained on the offensive.

    Giroud had Mejias scrambling across his goal again on 14 minutes to acrobatically palm a curling shot away, with Alexis Sanchez, who had been a doubt because of a knee problem, putting the rebound into the side netting from the tightest of angles.

    Boro, though, continued to defend resolutely, while also starting to offer a threat on the counter themselves.

    Arsenal finally made their possession count on 27 minutes.

    Cazorla, who had been running the game from a deep central role, picked out the overlapping Gibbs, who played a first-time pass into the six-yard box.

    Giroud timed his run perfectly to blast the ball off the keeper and into the net.

    Before the Championship side could recover, it was 2-0.

    As everybody waited on the edge of the penalty area, Sanchez played a quick corner in from the left, which Giroud ran onto ahead of George Friend to volley past Mejias at the near post for his 10th goal of the season.

    Boro were in danger of being overrun, as Adam Clayton made a goalline clearance after Sanchez almost finished off another sweeping Arsenal attack from Mesut Ozil's through-ball.

    When the Championship side were able to temporarily relieve the pressure, Albert Adomah's 25-yard pot-shot was straight at Wojciech Szczesny, the Pole returning to the side in place of David Ospina.

    Arsenal, who had laboured to a Premier League win over bottom club Leicester here in midweek, remained on the offensive in the second half.

    Danny Welbeck's angled chip dropped across the face of goal after more clever play from Giroud down the right.

    Gabriel, making his debut, collected a first caution in English football when the former Villarreal defender clattered into Adam Reach as the Boro substitute broke quickly down the left.

    As the hour mark passed, Mejias turned a rising drive from Gibbs over and then somehow got down to brilliantly tip away a glanced header from Sanchez as the ball looked to be dropping into the far corner.

    Boro, though, still fancied their chances of getting back into the tie and Gabriel had to make a couple of important clearances.

    It was almost 3-0 when Kenneth Omeruo blocked a bullet header from substitute Theo Walcott on the line, the England forward then denied by a save from Mejias after bursting clear down the right.

    In stoppage time, a far-post header from Kike came back off the post, denying Boro's superb 5,000-strong travelling support a late consolation.

    ends




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