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

KICK-OFF

Oxford get us under way.

Will we have another shock?

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Oxford have been playing some fantastic football without getting the results. Feeling positive for tonight.

James (Milton Keynes)

'This was the opportunity we were looking for'

ITV

Oxford United manager Karl Robinson speaking to ITV: "When the draw was made we said we wanted a team here. You are trying to capture the community and young kids and this was the opportunity we were looking for: we've got the best team in the Premier League here."

On the quality they have to forego tonight: "The fludiity. We play in a certain way. We do like to dominate possession. I don't know if we're going to be able to do that tonight. We won't be compromising that. We want to see the best version of these players.

"Their team is not bad seeming we were told players were going to be rested. We want to see those players playing against us."

It is getting noisy at the Kassam Stadium as the two sides make their way out.

We've just seen former Arsenal midfielder David Platt in the crowd.

Ex assistant manager Pat Rice is in with the away fans too. A bit different to Platt's comfortable seat.

'A big competition for us'

ITV

PA Media

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta talking to ITV: "This is a big competition for us. You have to be ready mentally for this competition. We have tried to explain to the players how big this competition is for the club, with the history attached to it. We have to show that on the pitch today."

On the connection between the fans and players: "That is one the things i'm most proud of: how everyone has contributed to bringing this football club and how everyone feels a part of it and attached to what we are doing. That is credit to every member of this football club. I believe that was the biggest platform to build anything big that this club deserves."

On Fabio Vieira: "He is a huge talent. It took him a while to get set. He came with a big injury but he's already shown what he can do. Hopefully today he can show that ability."

It's an interesting point.

Do you focus on one competition and effectively let the other pass you by or do you try and keep or get momentum going?

That's the question that's faced a lot of managers this weekend.

Let us know what you think.

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Can't help, as an Arsenal fan, feeling like we should lose this intentionally so that we can concentrate on the league?? Discuss...

Anon (please remember to include your names on all messages)

'If I have to change I will very quickly'

Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta came in for criticism for his behaviour in their goalless draw against Newcastle in the Premier League last Tuesday.

Arteta was furious his side weren't awarded two penalties, calling it "scandalous".

Alan Shearer described Arteta's antics on the sidelines as "disrespectful", while Chris Sutton, writing for the Daily Mail, said the Spaniard behaved like a "clown".

"I am not part of that debate," said Arteta on Saturday. "Of course, they can have their opinions.

"I try to do my best for this football club, to defend it, to promote it, and to play with the passion that the game has to be played in.

"Every game is special and every manager behaves very differently regarding the circumstances. And you can't take the context out of a situation. That is not fair. That is me, here and on the pitch, for the good and the bad."

Asked if he was prepared to change his behaviour, Arteta replied: "That is me and I will try all the time to be better and whatever I do, if it is tomorrow, the next day, or the next one, is to make the club stronger and my players better, to play better, and to win.

"But if I have to do something, I will do it, and if I have to change something, believe me I will look in the mirror myself and change it very quickly."

Pre-match stats: A tough night in store for Oxford

Getty Images

• This is the first meeting between Oxford United and Arsenal since the third round of the FA Cup in 2002-03, which Arsenal won 2-0 with Dennis Bergkamp scoring his 100th goal for the club in the game. The Gunners went on to win the FA Cup that year.
• Oxford have only progressed from one of their last eight FA Cup ties against Premier League teams, knocking out Swansea City in the third round in 2015-16.
• Arsenal have only been eliminated in two of their last 26 FA Cup third-round ties, both times against Nottingham Forest in 2017-18 and 2021-22. The Gunners last went out at this stage in consecutive seasons in 1994-95 (v Millwall) and 1995-96 (v Sheffield United).
• Arsenal have progressed from their last 13 FA Cup ties against sides from outside the top-two divisions of English football. Wrexham were the last side not in the top-two leagues to eliminate Arsenal in January 1992, winning 2-1 as a fourth-tier side. The last third-tier side to knock Arsenal out were York City in January 1985.

Get Involved

Arteta has gone a lot stronger than I was expecting. A lot of respect shown to good opposition, especially after the cupsets this weekend - hopefully no injuries and progression, otherwise he may as well have given the fringe squad a run out.

Chris, Surbiton

From two interviews to 19

Getty Images

Oxford manager Karl Robinson has told the Oxford Mail that he normally does pre-match media duties with two outlets: them and the BBC.

This week Robinson had to do 19 different interviews.

"I can only apologise if you keep hearing me on the radio or TV in the next few days but we shared it out among the players as well, and our club will feature in just about every national newspaper over the next few days," said Robinson.

"That’s a fantastic way to showcase what we do as a club and hopefully we back it up with a performance to be proud of on Monday.

"The question I was asked the most this week, inevitably, was whether we had a chance.

"If both sides play to the potential then the answer is probably no: Arsenal have a team full of international stars who should be too strong."

Oxford are playing in the third round for the first time in three seasons. Their best run saw them reach the quarter-finals in 1963-64.

Oxford looking to the future

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer in at The Kassam Stadium

There is a huge banner behind the goal at the Kassam Stadium "SOS Support Our Stadium". A site for a potential new stadium will be discussed by Oxford council officials on 24 January. Big moment in the club's future.

Right, back to tonight's game at the Kassam Stadium.

Kick-off is just 20 minutes away now.

Potter retains support of Chelsea board

FA Cup: What's going wrong for Graham Potter at Chelsea?

Graham Potter retains the support of Chelsea's board despite Sunday's 4-0 FA Cup defeat by Manchester City.

The former Brighton boss has been under pressure after a run of six losses in nine games in all competitions, with Chelsea exiting both domestic cups and slipping to 10th in the Premier League.

Fans sung the name of former boss Thomas Tuchel, who was sacked in September, during Sunday's game.

But Chelsea see Potter, who replaced Tuchel, as a long-term appointment.

There is belief he can turn around the club's form, which has not been helped by a long list of injuries.

The club want to adopt a different approach to that of former owner Roman Abramovich, who was renowned for his high turnover of managers. The Russian's name was also sung by Chelsea fans during the loss at Manchester City.

Non-league clubs show underdog spirit

It was a cracking weekend for the three National League sides left in the competition too, with all earning their place in Sunday's fourth-round draw.

Wrexham are definitely through after a dramatic 4-3 win at Championship Coventry.

Chesterfield came so close to beating West Brom, but face a replay at the Hawthorns, while Boreham Wood will also have to face League One Accrington Stanley again.

The FA Cup is a great leveller.

FA Cup highlights: Coventry City 3-4 Wrexham

Highlights: Chesterfield 3-3 West Brom

Highlights: Boreham Wood 1-1 Accrington Stanley

Is another shock on the cards?

We've seen four Premier League clubs knocked out by EFL sides over the weekend.

The biggest shock saw League Two Stevenage knock out Aston Villa - there were 59 places separating those sides going into the round.

There were 43 places between Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle, but the Owls came out on top at Hillsborough.

The gap between Blackpool and Nottingham Forest was 27 places, but the Seasiders ran riot.

There's only five places between Bournemouth and Vincent Kompany's Burnley, but it saw another Premier League side eliminated.

Could we see a fifth EFL side knock out a Premier League big boy tonight? There are 57 places between Arsenal and Oxford United.

FA Cup highlights: Aston Villa 1-2 Stevenage

Highlights: Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Newcastle United

FA Cup Highlights: Blackpool put four past Forest in FA Cup

FA Cup highlights: Championship Burnley beat Bournemouth in thriller

Another Premier League club to go?

FA Cup Highlights: Blackpool put four past Forest in FA Cup

This FA Cup third round has already seen eight Premier League teams - Everton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Brentford, Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa - knocked out.

A ninth is guaranteed, with Liverpool and Wolves drawing 2-2 and setting up a replay.

That ensures the most top division teams bowing out at the first hurdle since 2007-08 - the only other season to feature as many as nine sides fall since 1992.

Leeds could also be eliminated in their replay against Cardiff, while Arsenal could go tonight too.

Has the FA Cup dropped down the priority list?

Shall we take a look at what happened over the weekend?

There was plenty of success for lower league teams.

Arsenal all in white

Tonight's game is Arsenal's second in their "No More Red" initiative.

It is a joint initiative with kit manufacturer Adidas, and sees the Gunners wear an all-white kit, including the badge and sponsors.

It is designed to give young people more opportunities and tackle the root causes of violent youth crime.

Although the number of teenagers killed as a result of violent youth crime dropped significantly in 2022 in comparison to 2021, there were 11,502 knife offences recorded in London between January 2022 and November 2022, an increase compared with the corresponding period in 2021.

You can read more about the campaign on Arsenal's website.

Sutton's prediction: Oxford to force replay?

BBC Sport

We are going to see Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta use plenty of his fringe players again here, which is understandable given their position at the top of the Premier League.

I have a feeling Oxford will rise to the occasion in front of the TV cameras and although I don't see Arsenal going out, they might need to take the U's back to Emirates Stadium to finish the job.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1 (Arsenal to win replay)

Bad Education writer and podcast host Nathan Bryon: 1-2

See how Chris Sutton has got in his other third-round predictions.