FA Cup
26 January, 2013
Brighton & Hove Albion
Casper Ankergren
16
Iñigo Calderon
14
Adam El-Abd
6
Wayne Bridge
28
Gordon Greer
3
David López
21
Liam Bridcutt
26
Dean Hammond
4
Ashley Barnes
9
Leonardo Ulloa
13
William Buckley
30
Substitutes
Craig Mackail-Smith
12
Gary Dicker
18
Tomasz Kuszczak
29
Rodriguez Vicente
15
Marcos Painter
22
Andrea Orlandi
11
Kazenga LuaLua
25
Arsenal
1
Wojciech Szczesny
25
Carl Jenkinson
4
Per Mertesacker
6
Laurent Koscielny
11
André Santos
2
Abou Diaby
7
Tomas Rosicky
16
Aaron Ramsey
15
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
12
Olivier Giroud
9
Lukas Podolski
Substitutes
10
Jack Wilshere
14
Theo Walcott
28
Kieran Gibbs
3
Bacary Sagna
19
Santi Cazorla
23
Andrei Arshavin
24
Vito Mannone
Referee: Michael Oliver
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Olivier Giroud proved the man to fire Arsenal into the next round of the FA Cup, with his brace proving vital in his side's victory over an impressive Brighton & Hove Albion side at the AMEX stadium. The Frenchman had given his side the lead against the run of play with a fine strike into the top corner after a quarter of an hour, but Gus Poyet's man cancelled that out through Ashley Barnes just under 20 minutes later with a powerful header. Arsenal rallied during the interval and found the lead for the second time, again through Giroud. A fine ball over the top proved too much for most of the home defence and Adam El-Abd was unable to stop Giroud firing home from close range. But the match wasn't yet finished - Leonardo Ulloa marked his debut with a fine headed goal, but ultimately the fitness of the Premier League side showed when Theo Walcott's deflected effort gave them a vital win.
And that's the game at the AMEX Stadium. Arsenal eventually grind out a 3-2 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
Kieran Gibbs is penalised for a foul just inside his own half, which gives Brighton a chance to hurl it forward with a minute remaining. It drops for Barnes, who can't make the most of it, before Kazenga LuaLua scoops a cross out for a goal kick.
Craig Mackail-Smith is almost on the end of a cross from Bridcutt, but he tumbles to the ground at the far post. Jenkinson walks away... As does the referee! The home fans are livid, shouting for the penalty. Arsenal nearly undone at the back again!
There will be a minimum of four additional minutes at the end of the second half.
Arsenal are really heaping the pressure on now, but Brighton are staying resolute. This time Theo Walcott tries another long range drive after a goal-mouth scramble, but he fires it wide of the far post. It would flatter Arsenal to win by more than one, but Brighton & Hove Albion's men are looking very tired now.
Arsenal have the lead from the corner! It's headed and punched away simultaneously by the Brighton defence, but it falls to Theo Walcott, who slams home the finish from the edge of the box. A big deflection takes it away from the man on the line, but Theo will take this one!
Another stunning spell of play from Arsenal as this time Kieran Gibbs darts into the box. He tries a cross to Giroud, this time at the far post, who goes for the spectacular overhead kick, but it's turned behind.
What a chance for Arsenal to take the lead. Jack Wilshere fires a great ball out to Lukas Podolski on the left, and he centres for Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman tries to smash a volley into the back of the net, but he scuffs it downards and it goes tamely over the bar.
Super defending from Adam El-Abd here as he nicks the ball off Theo Walcott's toes after a fine pass over the top from Jack Wilshere. Arsene Wenger makes his final change now - Andre Santos, who has looked like a liability at the back this afternoon, is replaced by Kieran Gibbs.
Madness from the home side here. Adam El-Abd puts his goalkeeper under a lot of pressure with an unnecessary pass back to Ankergren, and he has no choice but to hook it out for a throw. Not exactly a wise move with just fifteen minutes left on the clock.
And Craig Mackail-Smith's first job is to help organise the defence for an Arsenal free kick. Ashley Barnes was booked for the poor tackle in the process. Olivier Giroud tries to go one better than his earlier bar-rattler, but this opportunity is too close, and he swerves it wide.
Craig Mackail-Smith is Gus Poyet's only change to make - he's coming on for Leonardo Ulloa.
And they do indeed come on, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky are the men to make way.
Theo Walcott is warming up for the Gunners. Arsene Wenger is about to roll his dice. Oh and there's Jack Wilshere, too. I'm sure Gus Poyet isn't too happy to see either...
Aaron Ramsey slides in on Kazenga LuaLua to give Brighton a promising free kick and earn himself a booking. However the cross from the set piece is poor, and Arsenal earn a throw in. This is turning into a classic cup game, lots of skill and passion on show from both sides.
And that breakaway leads to a fine goal! Leonardo Ulloa finishes off a wonderful cross from Ashley Barnes out on the right to hammer home a second equaliser. Easy stuff from Brighton once again!
Lukas Podolski feeds Tomas Rosicky as the pair burst at speed, but the Czech player trips over his own feet and Brighton break away...
Kazenga LuaLua does brilliantly to get away from Carl Jenkinson and cross, but Albion can't capitalise in the middle. Moments later, Olivier Giroud pops up at the end of a fine ball from Tomas Rosicky to try and complete his hat-trick, but this time Casper Ankergren blocks his effort.
What a superbly well taken second goal from Olivier Giroud! The ball is fed in from the middle - a hopeful ball from Diaby going over the top. Adam El-Abd tries to usher him out of play - and has his opponent's shirt at one point - but Giroud takes one sublime touch to set himself up, before rifling home from close range. He's booked for over-celebrating in the process, but I'm sure he won't mind.
Albion move swiftly to counter and end up scooping a good chance over the bar after some neat play, Leonardo Ulloa was the player to fluff his lines in the end.
Lukas Podolski stands over the ball, just right of centre, 30 yards out. He smashes the ball with finess towards the goal - it clears the wall - it clears Ankergren - but it cannons back off the bar. There's a melee as the Arsenal players try to nod it in, but it's eventually hooked wide of the post.
Adam El-Abd shoves Tomas Rosicky to the floor, but the referee waves play on. Aaron Ramsey picks up on the loose ball and rifles in a shot that stings the palms of Casper Ankergren. Brighton really have got to play to the whistle.
Aaron Ramsey slips over in the middle of the park, and Ashley Barnes nips in to steal the ball and drive towards goal. He tries to feed strike partner Ulloa with a low ball into the box, but it's hooked away by the Arsenal defence. The Gunners really need to be more careful in their own half.
There's a big string of passes from the visitors early in this second half, but Brighton are holding their shape well and resisting the pressure. Eventually the Gunners work the ball out to Andre Santos, who crosses poorly from the left into the arms of Casper Ankergren.
William Buckley has been withdrawn during the interval, Kazenga LuaLua replaces him. The home side get us going again.
Arsenal have shown much of their Premier League quality in this first half, but it is the resilience of the Championship side that is proving most impressive. Brighton & Hove Albion had the best of the opening passages of play, but it was Arsenal who took the lead thanks to a superb curling effort from Olivier Giroud. The home side rallied, though, and deserved to draw level thanks to an emphatic header from Ashley Barnes. The second half should be an entertaining affair!
Arsenal try to fashion an opening right at the death, but Tomas Rosicky blasts a shot wide. There's not even a chance to get restarted as the referee blows his whistle.
Aaron Ramsey does well to somehow earn a corner just as we see the 45th minute end. We've got three additional minutes in this first half. There's a little delay as William Buckley needs to go off for treatment, but the corner is headed clear in his absence. Andre Santos then hoofs a shot goalwards from more than 30 yards - it ends up in the stands.
Dean Hammond doesn't like the way Tomas Rosicky dances away from him with the ball, so he hacks at his heels, twice. The referee keeps his card in his pockets, though.
Leonardo Ulloa is in fine form - inside his own area. First he knocks an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back out with a fine header, then he turns a cross from the same player out for a throw in. Impressive stuff from the forward.
The home side are forced into a change - Gordon Greer does come off, Gary Dicker comes on.
Gordon Greer is down on the pitch, he seems to be holding his hamstring. Quite a lengthy stoppage this.
A really simple goal from the home side. William Buckley earns a corner on the near side. It's drifted across and Ashley Barnes powers home the header. Wojciech Szczesny was caught in no-man's land, a really disastrous goal for Arsenal to concede.
It's a debut goal for Leonardo Ulloa! Until he sees the linesman with his flag raised! Andre Santos is robbed of the ball on the edge of his own box and Inigo Calderon plays a superb cross in towards Ashley Barnes. Barnes can't make the most of it, but Leonardo Ulloa is there to take a touch and slide it home - but the whistle goes for the offside. The correct decision from the referee's assistant.
Tomas Rosicky shuffles the ball onto his right foot and tries to curl one into the net from 25 yards, but it is easily spotted and caught by Casper Ankergren.
Another one from the left flank by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, this time Casper Ankergren rises well to claim.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drifts a ball in to the near post, but it's headed away at the first time of asking. A poor set piece.
Inigo Calderon releases William Buckley in behind Andre Santos, and he delivers a lovely low driven cross into the edge of the six-yard box. Ashley Barnes tries to knick it towards goal on the turn, but he can only steer it in towards Leonardo Ulloa. Sadly, he's caught flat footed and the ball is picked up behind him by a thankful Wojciech Szczesny. Arsenal caught completely cold at the back there.
Inigo Calderon tries to swing a ball into the danger area, but it takes a strange swerve. Wojciech Szczesny panics and tries to get back on his line, but it just drops onto the top of the net.
Brighton & Hove Albion are trying to get their footing back in this game. Lots of possession and lots of passes around the midfield and defence area. Arsenal are quite happy to let them have the ball in their own area, unsurprisingly.
It's all Arsenal now, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain drifts around Wayne Bridge and cuts it back. Inigo Calderon has to head behind for a corner.
What a finish from Olivier Giroud! He shapes his body on the edge of the box, just inside the 'D', and swings with the left, curling it beautifully around both the goalkeeper and a defender. A top class finish, totally against the run of play. Arsenal lead 1-0.
David Lopez drifts away from his markers in the middle and a super header releases him - only for Wojciech Szczesny to turn around the post. Great stop.
Brighton seem to be targeting the visiting full backs as they break down the right-hand side again, but this time Andre Santos stands firm.
Wayne Bridge finds some space down the left-hand side and tries to hook a cross towards the six-yard box, but it drops past everyone and out for a goal kick.
The Gunners are struggling to break down some the home side - the Brighton players are looking very comfortable on the ball and aren't interested in giving the visitors a sniff.
Brighton & Hove Albion break down the right thanks to some stand-offish defending from the Gunners. The cross comes in towards Leonardo Ulloa, but the offside flag is raised.
Andre Santos is penalised for a handball on the near touchline. The game is a little bit unbalanced so far, neither side on top though.
A couple of small fouls early on from Dean Hammond and Ashley Barnes just interrupt a little bit of possession for the away side. Fans in fine voice so far, a good atmosphere today.
Arsenal get us up and running in red shirts and white shorts. Brighton in their usual blue and white stripes.
Both sets of players are out on the turf now, just moments before we get up and running.
We're about five minutes away from kick off now. The AMEX is filling up nicely, and the pitch looks in good condition ahead of this one.
Brighton: Ankergren (GK), Calderon, Greer, El-Abd, Bridge; Bridcutt, Hammond, Lopez; Buckley, Barnes, Ulloa. On the bench for the home side: Kuszczak (GK), Painter, Dicker, Orlandi, LuaLua, Vicente, Mackail-Smith. Arsenal: Szczesny (GK), Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos; Diaby, Ramsey, Rosicky; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Podolski. And the away bench: Mannone (GK), Sagna, Gibbs, Wilshere, Cazorla, Arshavin, Walcott.
Sorry Brighton fans, but there's some worrying statistics ahead of this encounter. The Gunners record against your side is, well, perfect. Arsene Wenger's men have never lost to the Seagulls in the FA Cup. However, if Brighton do defeat the Londoners, it will be Arsenal's 100th loss in the FA Cup.
Francis Coquelin is set to miss out due to a hamstring injury – he joins Mikel Arteta and captain Thomas Vermaelen on the sidelines. Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby could play a part after their respective injuries.
There's a late fitness test for defender Bruno as he aims to recover from an Achilles injury, but Vicente could still be struggling for fitness in the middle of the park after his return from injury and could miss out. Striker Leonardo Ulloa is in the squad and could make his debut.
The AMEX stadium sees Brighton play host to Premier League opposition for the second successive time in this FA Cup fourth round encounter, with Brighton and Hove Albion welcoming Arsenal. The home side's previous victory over top-flight strugglers Newcastle came three weeks ago, in which time they have lodged five points in three Championship matches, including a point at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers. The Gunners, on the other hand, succeeded in dumping Swansea out of the FA Cup at the second time of asking to make the fourth round thanks to a late Jack Wilshere goal. Their impressive thumping of West Ham in midweek shows the potential in their side, but their vulnerabilities were also on show in the recent defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City.