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Arsenal survived a second half scare to reach the FA Cup fifth round with a 3-2 victory over Brighton.
Defeats for Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham yesterday gave the Gunners a significant boost in their attempt to successfully defend the trophy they won in May and Arsene Wenger’s side started on the front foot here in a bid to avoid becoming another high-profile casualty.
Theo Walcott, making only his second start of the season after nearly a year out with knee and groin problems, opened the scoring inside two minutes when converting Calum Chambers right-wing cross.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">PHOTO: Theo Walcott celebrates after putting Arsenal ahead at Brighton <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/XGLDou4swu" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-http://t.co/XGLDou4swu" data-vars-event-id="c23">http://t.co/XGLDou4swu</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/3zc1BtCEKD" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-http://t.co/3zc1BtCEKD" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/3zc1BtCEKD</a>— Standard Sport (@standardsport) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/standardsport/status/559390920437932032" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-https://twitter.com/standardsport/status/559390920437932032" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 25, 2015</a>
Mesut Ozil also capped his own injury comeback with a goal midway through the half as Brighton looked overawed by the occasion and Arsenal’s slick midfield passing.
Player Ratings: Brighton v Arsenal
The home side rallied after the break as Chris O’Grady turned Mathieu Flamini before firing a right-foot shot past goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who had hitherto been untroubled on his return to the starting line-up.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">PHOTO: Mesut Ozil adds a second as Arsenal put Brighton on the ropes <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/XGLDou4swu" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-http://t.co/XGLDou4swu" data-vars-event-id="c23">http://t.co/XGLDou4swu</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/FqYBSRXtad" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-http://t.co/FqYBSRXtad" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/FqYBSRXtad</a>— Standard Sport (@standardsport) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/standardsport/status/559391263678799872" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-https://twitter.com/standardsport/status/559391263678799872" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 25, 2015</a>
But just as Brighton began to generate a threatening momentum cheered on by a record crowd of 30,278 at the Amex Stadium, Rosicky smashed home a sumptuous volley from the edge of the box to restore Arsenal’s two-goal lead.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-cards="hidden" lang="en">GOAL: 3-2. Sam Baldock nips in to dink over the top of Wojciech Szczesny. Last 15 minutes set up perfectly here. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&id=222025&p=http://t.co/XGLDou4swu" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-http://t.co/XGLDou4swu" data-vars-event-id="c23">http://t.co/XGLDou4swu</a>— Standard Sport (@standardsport) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/standardsport/status/559403985892016129" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-109786-https://twitter.com/standardsport/status/559403985892016129" data-vars-event-id="c23">January 25, 2015</a>
Wenger responded by introducing Alexis Sanchez and Chuba Akpom from the bench but Brighton remained defiant and reduced the deficit with 15 minutes left through Sam Baldock, who burst through the heart of Arsenal’s defence before dinking the ball over Szczesny.
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Sanchez hit the crossbar with a free-kick before Calum Chambers survived a late penalty claim for handball but Arsenal held firm to book their place in tomorrow’s draw for the last 16.
