Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score two late goals as Arsenal beat Everton 4-1 in an entertaining match at Emirates Stadium to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Mesut Ozil was one of seven changes to the Arsenal
side and, in his first start since that infamous missed penalty against
Bayern Munich, scored his first goal in three months when Santi Cazorla
exploited a slip from James McCarthy to slip a pass to the German, who
finished coolly into the bottom corner after seven minutes. Everton keeper Joel, continuing with cup duties, brought a rather chaotic flavour to Everton’s performance and, having already punched unconvincingly on a number of occasions, managed to palm a harmless cross from Bacary Sagna onto his own bar after 24 minutes.
However, in what was a wonderfully open encounter, Everton equalised on 32 minutes. Ross Barkley escaped Mathieu Flamini and embarked on a wonderful 50-yard run before delivering the perfect cross for Kevin Mirallas, who had run past the culpable Sagna. His finish was comically bad, but Romelu Lukaku was fortunately placed to control the errant shot and side-foot the ball impudently over the line.
Everton were proving predictably formidable opponents, with Barkley going close with a rasping effort after the break, but Arsenal restored their lead on 68 minutes when Gareth Barry fouled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box and Mikel Arteta scored his penalty at the second attempt, with Giroud being booked for encroaching at the first.
Giroud then safeguarded Arsenal’s progress with two late goals: the first a fine close-range finish from Sagna’s neat pull-back and the second coming after a classic Arsenal counter-attack and a clever pass from the impressive Ozil.
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal roar into the semi-finals with Manchester City now arguably the only team capable of preventing the Frenchman from enjoying a first trophy win since 2005
Arsenal and Everton had only met three times before in the FA Cup with the last time being in 1981. The Toffees had won twice (1910 & 1981) and Arsenal once (1928). (Opta)
Everton have won none of their last 20 away games against Arsenal in all competitions (W0 D4 L16), but had drawn their last two visits. (Opta)
The Gunners have conceded just four goals in their last 14 domestic games at the Emirates. (Opta)
Mesut Ozil scored his first goal in 2014 and the first for Arsenal since also netting v Everton on December 8 in Arsenal's 1-1 Premier League home draw against them. (Infostrada) posted by Emanto Ngaloru March 8, 2014
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