By John Marshall
Olivier Giroud ended a run of 11 appearances without a goal by hitting a brace in Arsenal’s 4-0 FA Cup fifth-round victory over Hull City to set up a quarter-final date with Jude Ighalo’s Watford.
The Frenchman had failed to score in 11 appearances before he capitalised on a calamitous error by Hull captain David Meyler to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead in a fifth-round replay they controlled from start to finish.
Giroud put the tie out of Hull’s reach with a second after 71 minutes before Theo Walcott’s double rounded off the scoring, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will need to check on the fitness of three injured players ahead of Sunday’s home quarter-final with Watford.
Defenders Per Mertesacker and Gabriel had to be replaced, along with midfielder Aaron Ramsey, adding to the club’s busy treatment room at a time when the team continues to fight on three fronts.
Strong performances from fringe players Alex Iwobi and Mohamed Elneny ensured Arsenal were too strong for Hull on the night, but a depleted squad is the last thing Wenger needs.
With their Premier League ambitions seemingly fading and a daunting Champions League clash with Barcelona looming next week, the Frenchman can at least console himself with a last-eight clash against Watford as Arsenal bid to win this competition for a third year in a row.
Walcott had the ball in the net inside the first three minutes but Hull, who struggled to get an early touch, were saved by the offside flag.
A clash of heads between Mertesacker and Nick Powell left both players bleeding, and the lengthy stoppage for treatment typified a first half that was lacking flow or rhythm from either side, before the German had to eventually come off.
But just as Hull looked to be heading in level at half-time, Meyler made a careless pass across the face of his own goal where the advancing Giroud gratefully tucked it into the net.
After Ramsey almost levelled the match by nearly putting the ball into his own net, Arsenal made sure of their place in the quarter-finals when Walcott raced clear and sent over a cross that deflected off Harry Maguire to Giroud, who scored from close range.
Ramsey then had to be taken off before Walcott added a third, finishing a flowing move started by Campbell with a trademark cool finish into the corner of the net.
Iwobi rounded off a fine performance by providing an assist for Walcott’s second of the night, which the England forward finished emphatically to cap an assured display.
COMMENTS