This weekend, another memorable one in an FA Cup that is fast becoming one of best renewals in the competitions’ recent history, has taken many big contenders by the wayside, but still Arsenal stand with an ever increasing chance of retaining their precious trophy.
The Gunners had every reason to be wary, with Stoke having been trashed by Blackburn and Sunderland on their way to a defeat at seasoned giantkillers Bradford, against a Middlesbrough side that had deserved their victory at Manchester City in the previous round and that was also leading the championship.
They need not have been. Coming from a shaky performance against Leicester in midweek, Arsenal’s first half was one of a team that knew failure was not an option.
Mejas had single-handledly kept Middlesbrough in the cup at Manchester City, and his save from Santi Cazorla’s free kick was a sign of things that were still to come. Just a minute before, a wonderful one touch move had helped Mezut Ozil get into a shooting position.
Source: arsenal.com
Cazorla’s rejuvenation has been a key part of what has been a strong 2015 for Arsenal so far, and his regular links with Kieran Gibbs were a feature of Arsenal’s early incisiveness.
Middlesbrough had not travelled all this way to be overwhelmed, however, and Aitor Karanka has not rejuvenated the club by allowing for a loose defence. Middlesbrough kept an impressively rigid defensive line, and when it was breached – a regular occurrence in the first 20 minutes – the likes of Kenneth Omeruo, whose superb tackle prevented Alexis Sanchez from shooting 13 minutes in, were on hand to prevent the opener.
Mejas was a key part of the effort and was called upon once again to palm away Oliver Giroud’s strike; Sanchez smashed the rebound into the side netting. Giroud, an active and constant presence through the 90, just failed to set Danny Welbeck through and then, having been gifted the ball by Albert Adomah, saw fit to pardon the Ghanaian’s mistake by shooting straight at Mejas from 25 yards.
Middlesbrough were now beginning to creak and Arsenal’s one touch football was threatening to unlock their defence. Before the half hour mark, it did. Alexis Sanchez – the man who was apparently not himself in midweek according to Arsene Wenger – going on one of his darting runs. Danny Welbeck to his pass and gave it to Santi Cazorla, who found Gibbs. Gibbs’ sharp ball across the box reached Oliver Giroud, who was never going to miss so close to the goal, with his finish so perfectly timed across Mejas’s body.
Three minutes later, Sanchez lofted in a corner, one that Giroud followed with intent towards the near corner. The Frenchman duly volleyed the ball with gilt edged precious past Mejas, and in less than five minutes one felt Arsenal had put one foot in the last eight.
It was nearly three on the bounce as Arsenal sprung from deep, with Sanchez’s effort coming back off a Middlesbrough defender and heading for the net until Adam Clayton cleared away.
The visitors had their first shot when Adomah was running at a backtracking defence but gave Wojech Szczesny, back in the side following a successful run for David Ospina, little to do in what had been an entirely comfortable first half for him.
Middlesbrough started the second half better than the first, winning a corner on the left, but it came to nothing and soon the onslaught was continuing. One of Calum Chambers’ frequent forward runs saw him put Danny Welbeck through, and while his heavy first touch forced him wider than he’d have liked, his ball across there area was begging to be put away.
Sanchez found Ozil soon afterwards, but his shot was beaten away. The Chilean then made one of his only mistakes when passing straight to new substitute Adam Reach, forcing the debutant Gabiel Paulista – who had looked the part today, albeit under very little pressure – into a big forceful challenge that was entirely deserving of the booking. Thankfully Grant Leadbitter’s free kick was shoved straight into the wall.
The game entered a seemingly cusmtoary lull with Arsenal keeping the ball amid customary TV closeups of banners, the engraving around the top tier of the Emirates that states the last trophy – this one, a year ago – and the actor Woody Harrleson, who looked thoroughly bored with proceedings upto that point.
There was to be more excitement as Mejas defied Sanchez with the save of the game, Santi Cazrola’s free kicking finding his head and the ensuing header finding Mejas’s hands – somehow. Middlesbrough were not coming forward with anywhere near the same sharpness as Leadbitter’s freekick was headed away with ease.
A double change of Tomas Rosicky for Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott for Danny Welbeck indicated the game was coming down to an end and the sporadic counter attacks from Middlesbrough corners were the most interesting thing on the pitch. Roskicky and Ozil set up Walcott, whose header straight at goal was hardly going to bother Mejas. Ozil did the same thing with four minutes to go and so did Walcott again after Roskicky cut open Middlesbrough.
Adomah drove from the right and only just missed the left hand post, and it would be Middlesbrough that nearly had the last word, with Kike’s late header hitting the post. However that was the last major action of the match, and at the full time whistle the Gunners turned with fresh eyes to the quarter finals, Middlesbrough went back to the Championship, their reputation enhanced by this competition and minds fully focused on gaining promotion to England’s top table.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Cazorla, Flamini, Sanchez (Rosicky 72), Ozil, Welbeck (Walcott 72), Giroud (Akpom 83)
Subs not used: Mertesacker, Monreal, Martinez, Coquelin
Goals: Giroud (27, 29)
Bookings: Paulista
Middlesbrough: Mejias, Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Adomah, Tomlin (Vossen 54), Bamford (Reach 54), Garcia
Subs not used: Ripley, Husband, Whitehead, Nsue, Woodgate
Goals: NONE
Bookings: Vossen
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
William Kedjanyi
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