Football: Arsenal book FA Cup date with Man City after hard-earned win over Oxford

Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah celebrates scoring his second goal in the 3-0 win over Oxford in the FA Cup on Monday. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON – Control was the key for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, as his Premier League leaders booked an FA Cup fourth-round clash with Manchester City after they beat third-tier Oxford United 3-0 on Monday night, thanks to second-half goals from Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah.

League One side Oxford more than held their own in the first half, giving Arsenal a few worrying moments while restricting their illustrious opponents to half chances down the other end.

Once the deadlock was broken by Elneny, via a bullet header from a Fabio Vieira free kick in the 63rd minute, Arsenal were too strong for Oxford. It was the Egyptian’s first goal for his club since May 2021.

Nketiah made sure of the victory seven minutes later from another Vieira assist, before he netted his fifth goal in his last five matches in all competitions for the Gunners 14 minutes from time to put the seal on a hard-earned Arsenal win.

“Yes, it’s always tough to win these kind of matches. It was a physical game in many moments, we have stood by that,” said Arteta.

“They are a really direct team and we had to control certain things better. We changed in the second half and had even more control of the game and we found the openings to win the game.”

Nketiah added: “Every player wants to play. I’m grateful for the opportunities and just want to keep helping the team.”

A trip to City at the end of January is Arsenal’s reward for the win, as Arteta’s side continue their fine season.

When asked about facing such a tough Premier League side in the Cup, the Arsenal manager said: “That’s the competition. In the FA Cup, you have to play against the top sides. We experience that every single season.

“You have to play the same teams in different competitions and I will try to prepare for the game to win it, obviously.

“That game will be very different to the game that is in the league, but we know each other really well. Every team knows each other really well and I don’t think that will change too much.”

Arsenal have now won their last 14 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the top two divisions of English football. Wrexham were the last side outside the top two tiers to eliminate Arsenal in January 1992.

Despite the loss, Oxford boss Karl Robinson was proud of his players for their fighting spirit.

“My players did the football club proud. I felt we fought in all areas of the game, I thought we didn’t look like a team that was so far apart against a top-level team,” he said. REUTERS, AFP

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.