FA Cup third round: Reaction as Arsenal cruise past Oxford

1. Use audio icons at the top of page to listen to commentary from the Kassam Stadium
2. Oxford 0-3 Arsenal - Nketiah double adds to Elneny opener
3. Final game in third round
4. The winner will play Manchester City in the fourth round

Some of the Oxford fans are singing "we're going to win 4-3".

They've got a corner after a good run by Djavan Anderson.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Two more changes for Arsenal.

Ben White and Marquinhos come on for Takehiro Tomiyasu and Fabio Vieira.

This could get a little messy in the closing stages. Arsenal look like scoring every time they come forward now.

They find Emile Smith Rowe, who is one-on-one at the back post, but a poor first touch means he has to poke towards goal, and it deflects behind for a corner.

'Ice cool'

Clinton Morrison

Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

He is ice cool in them positions. Great timing of the pass and then Nketiah's finish was superb.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Double change for Oxford.

Tyler Goodrham and Gatlin O'Donkor - who will play again tomorrow here in an FA Youth Cup tie - replace Matt Taylor and Billy Bodin.

GOAL - Oxford United 0-3 Arsenal

This is definitely game over.

What a superb finish too.

Gabriel Martinelli plays a really delicate ball through for Eddie Nketiah, who just times his run, and he sits Edward McGinty down and just effortlessly dinks it over him.

Manchester City-Arsenal awaits in round four.

SUBSTITUTION

Emile Smith Rowe is back.

He's not played since 4 September because of a groin injury.

The 22-year-old replaces Bukayo Saka, who hobbles off after receiving some treatment.

A potential concern for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

An Oxford goal would make this interesting again though.

They are preparing a double change too.

When will Mikel Arteta be thinking of more changes? His side go to Tottenham in the north London derby on Sunday afternoon.

The Arsenal fans are in fine voice now.

They were serenading Fabio Vieira and now they are onto "Que Sera Sera, we're off to Wembley".

Perhaps a bit premature when a trip to Manchester City awaits in round four.

'Tie over'

Clinton Morrison

Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Oxford gave the ball away but you have to credit Viera. He anticipated it then played a great ball. Nketiah made the run and when he is in that position nine times out of 10 he finishes. That is tie over for me.

Getty Images

GOAL - Oxford United 0-2 Arsenal

Make that two-nil to the Arsenal.

Mohamed Elneny and Fabio Vieira are involved again.

The former dinks through for the latter, and he threads beautifully in behind for Eddie Nketiah.

He gathers, rounds Edward McGinty and slots into the empty net.

Game over?

"One-nil to the Arsenallll" is the shout from the away end.

They've picked up in noise since that opener. It was starting to become a frustrating evening.

Get Involved

That goal will now mask how awful both vieira and elneny have been. Absolutely rotten all game until vieira sets elneny up for that. Wouldn’t trust any of the starting midfield from tonight. Sambi lokonga is a waste of a place in the squad let alone on the pitch. He’s awful.

Paul

'Do what Stevenage did'

Clinton Morrison

Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Oxford need to take confidence from what Stevenage did yesterday (scored twice late on to beat Aston Villa).

Oxford boss Karl Robinson looks concerned on the touchline.

He just offers a little shrug of the shoulders as his assistant asks a question.

His side come forward but Lewis Bate is crowded out and Arsenal manage to clear.

'A great ball in'

Clinton Morrison

Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

A great ball in from Viera. It is a free run. You can't keep giving away free kicks and this will be hard now for Oxford.

Getty Images

GOAL - Oxford United 0-1 Arsenal

There it is!

A moment of quality.

Arsenal have a dangerous free-kick on the left wing. It's whipped it with pace, behind the Oxford defence, by Fabio Vieira.

Egypt midfielder Mohamed Elneny is there to meet it and powers it past Edward McGinty.

It's his first goal for Arsenal since May 2021. A good time to get it.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Cometh the hour, cometh the changes.

It's a double one for Arsenal. Kieran Tierney and Albert Sambi Lokonga are hooked, with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Granit Xhaka coming on.

Oxford also make one, with Josh Murphy replaced by Yanic-Sonny Wildschut.

YELLOW CARD

As I say that, Ciaron Brown picks up the first card of the night for hauling down Eddie Nketiah.

Oxford's left-back Ciaron Brown looks a good player.

We saw him defend Bukayo Saka well in the first half, and here he is whipping in a really dangerous cross.

It's almost met by Sam Long, but Gabriel is there to meet it and get a crucial header in.