Arsenal see off brave Brighton in Cup cracker

BRIGHTON, England: FA Cup holders Arsenal just did enough to keep second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion at bay with a 3-2 fourth-round win at the Amex Stadium on Sunday
Goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Tomas Rosicky saw Arsene Wenger’s side into Monday’s draw for the last 16, although second-half efforts from the Brighton duo of Chris O’Grady and Sam Baldock helped set up a tense finish on the south coast.
Even so, Arsenal never looked in real danger of suffering a a shock to rival either of Saturday’s stunning FA Cup upsets, which saw Premier League leaders Chelsea lose 4-2 at home to third-tier Bradford City and Manchester City go down 2-0 to second division Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger’s side were mostly on superb form, putting in one of their best displays of the season in terms of attacking movement.
They certainly seemed assured after last week’s mood-changing 2-0 league win at Manchester City, and now have an excellent chance of retaining the FA Cup given how the draw has opened up.
Should Arsenal actually go and win a 12th FA Cup this season, it would make them the most successful club in the competition’s history, and Wenger the joint most successful manager alongside Aston Villa’s George Ramsay, the last of whose six Cup triumphs came in 1920.
Arsenal made a blistering start on Sunday, going ahead within two minutes as Walcott hit his first goal in over a year.
The quality of finish didn’t look like that of a player out injured for so long, as the England winger angled a drive past David Stockdale from about 12 yards out after Callum Chambers’s run and pass.
Walcott wasn’t the only player enjoying a return to the team or the scoresheet.
Ozil was making a first start since a knee injury in October and promptly scored his second goal of the season.
Arsenal were rampant, with Brighton regularly outfoxed by the intelligence and innovation of the visitors’ passing.
Rosicky was greatly enjoying himself, as evidenced by so many step-overs, dummies and the odd no-look pass.