Arsenal will face Manchester City in the next round of the FA Cup, following their comfortable 3-0 victory against Oxford United tonight in the third round.
The Gunners started their 2022/23 FA Cup campaign away at League One team, Oxford United. Being classified as favourites, Arsenal easily strolled past their opponents.
Mikel Arteta decided to rest some of his first XI for the game, which saw some players that haven’t had that many minutes so far this season get on the pitch, such as Lokonga, Holding and Elneny.
The Gunners hadn’t gotten up to speed in the first half with the game goalless at the break, but the performance drastically improved in the second half and Arsenal didn’t have much trouble in the end.
Mohammed Elneny opened the scoring in the 63rd minute, following a fantastic cross by Fabio Vieira from a free-kick. Eddie Nketiah continued his goalscoring form with a goal in 70th minute after another Vieira assist, before completing his brace with a coldblooded finish in the 76th minute, chipping the ball past the keeper.
It is worth mentioning that Emile Smith Rowe finally made his return, coming on for Bukayo Saka in the 75th minute. These were his first minutes since the Manchester United game on 4th of September. He will be a massive boost in Arsenal’s title charge and another big reinforcement in the midfield and attack.
The Gunners played in their “No More Red” shirts, lifting the curse from the last time they wore it, a defeat in the last years FA Cup third round against Nottingham Forest. Arsenal will face Manchester City in the next round on 28th of January.
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