FA Cup
ABSENTEE MESUT OZIL REACTS TO ARSENAL WINNING FA CUP
The German wasn’t at Wembley as Arsenal came from a goal down to beat Chelsea 2-1 in Saturday’s FA Cup final, in which Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang bagged a brace
Mesut Ozil sent a message of congratulations to his Arsenal teammates as the Gunners won the FA Cup in the German’s absence on Saturday.
A brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw the Gunners come from a goal down to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley, after Christian Pulisic had opened the scoring for the Blues early on in the match.
Ozil wasn’t at the game having been told by manager Mikel Arteta earlier in the week that he wasn’t going to be in his matchday squad, which featured nine substitutes.
Instead, the playmaker watched the match in Turkey as he continued his Gunners absence, which has now stretched to five months as Arteta has failed to pick him since football’s restart.
Taking to his Instagram account, Ozil posted a picture of Aubameyang with the trophy, and wrote: “Great job my boys!” along with his by now trademark #YaGunnersYa hashtag.
Arteta was asked about the absence of both Ozil and midfielder Matteo Guendouzi from his squad after the match.
“We don’t have Matteo here and Mesut but they deserve credit as they played their part,” he said.
He was then pressed on just why they were absent but simply replied: “Let’s enjoy the moment.”
Elaborating on his side’s win, he said: “It was a difficult start when we conceded so early. If I know something about these players, is that we weren’t going to give up. “We played probably the best 30 minutes after since I arrived. I am so proud to represent these players and this club.
“It is a double reward for us. It is really important for this club in every way to be in Europe. We all did it so I am so happy.
“The players were completely knackered and they made a massive effort through the coronavirus to keep fit so I am so happy for them.”
Mikel Arteta sends message to Pep Guardiola after Arsenal win FA Cup
The Gunners manager was previously assistant to Manchester City boss Guardiola – and thanked his countryman for helping shape his coaching career after the final triumph
Mikel Arteta sent a classy message to Pep Guardiola after watching Arsenal lift the FA Cup following their 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
The Gunners boss worked as assistant coach to Guardiola at Manchester City for three years before leaving his role to take the Emirates Stadium hot seat last December.
During his time as Guardiola’s deputy, City won five major honours – including the FA Cup last year – and Arteta learned from one of the all-time great coaches.
On the path to his own FA Cup triumph this season, Arteta masterminded a 2-0 win over holders City in the semi-finals.
And after the victory over Chelsea, the Spaniard made sure to thank his compatriot – alongside his family – for helping him become the manager he is today.
“I miss my family so much they have been all the way with me,” Arteta told BT Sport .
“Thank you as well I have to thank you Pep in a very big way because I am a manager in a big part to him so I think I have to consider that as well.” Arteta also hailed Guardiola for his influence on him as City and Arsenal prepared to meet in the Premier League in June.
“Well, he [Guardiola] was an influence for me since I was 15 years old and we met at Barcelona, both as players,” Arteta said before the 3-0 defeat to the Sky Blues.
“And in my coaching career and my personal life, he has an enormous influence.
“If I have to talk about the person he is, his values, the way he has treated me and how he deals with the players and the staff around him, its phenomenal.
“As a coach, I have learned so much from him, we have spent some amazing moments together, some difficult ones as well, but the experience next to him has been incredible.”
Arsenal survived a genuine scare in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday as they edged past spirited third-tier Mansfield Town 2-1, with Eberechi Eze’s thunderbolt sending the Premier League leaders into the quarter-finals.
Noni Madueke gave Arsenal the lead going into halftime at Field Mill, but Will Evans equalised for Nigel Clough’s Mansfield before Eze scored in the 66th minute to ensure the top-flight side progressed to the last eight.
“Happy to score. I had the space and the opportunity to shoot. So I took it,” Eze told TNT Sports.
“It was a difficult environment to play in. But we did what we had to do and we are through to the next round, which is the important thing.”
Mikel Arteta named a much-changed side, starting teenagers Max Dowman and Marli Salmon, as Arsenal became the first Premier League side to start a competitive game with two players aged 16 or under in any competition.
However, Arteta’s changes nearly backfired as the hosts, feeding off a raucous home crowd, gave Arsenal a genuine fright with aggressive pressing and infectious energy that clearly unsettled the visitors.
“Before the game, the gaffer said, ‘Have a go. We were not expected to win the game, so have a go and enjoy it,” Mansfield forward Rhys Oates said.
“We created more chances than we thought we could, and we have given them a game.”
Dowman, Arsenal’s youngest-ever FA Cup player at 16, emerged as a lively attacking threat as the top-flight side gradually found their rhythm before Madueke broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
Madueke, who had an initial shot saved, curled a powerful finish into the far corner to give Arsenal their 100th goal of the season in all competitions.
Clough brought on Evans for the second half, and the Welsh striker made an immediate impact, netting five minutes after coming on.
The 28-year-old wrong-footed a second-guessing Cristhian Mosquera before finishing past Kepa Arrizabalaga in Arsenal’s goal.
“It’s typical, isn’t it? For me to have a league goal drought and then come on for a half against Arsenal and have a goal against them,” Evans said.
Arsenal were rattled but recovered and found the winner when substitute Eze made space for himself and fired a powerful shot from the edge of the box to silence the crowd at Field Mill and keep Arsenal’s quadruple bid on track.
-Reuters
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Chelsea’s Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro struck in extra time to secure a nervy 4–2 win over second‑tier Wrexham and reach the FA Cup quarter‑finals on Saturday as the Premier League giants escaped from the Racecourse Ground after a tough battle.
Garnacho volleyed home from close range in the 97th minute with such force that the ball ricocheted off the back stanchion to give Chelsea the lead for the first time on the night.
Wrexham — who lost George Dobson to a 93rd-minute red card — thought they had equalised deep into added time in the extra period when Lewis Brunt headed home, but he was offside. Pedro then sealed Chelsea’s win with a fine goal in the 125th minute.
Sam Smith had put the Championship side ahead in the 18th when he sprinted onto Callum Doyle’s long pass, took a touch and fired past Robert Sanchez. Chelsea equalised with a huge slice of luck when George Thomason’s attempt to clear Garnacho’s shot struck goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and rolled in.
Wrexham went back in front after 78 minutes when Doyle diverted the ball past Sanchez after Ryan Longman fired it back into the area from a corner. But Josh Acheampong equalised soon after with a blistering shot into the roof of the net after Dobson slipped to send the game into extra time.
-Reuters
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Arsenal will visit League One Mansfield Town, while Manchester City travel to Newcastle United in a mouth-watering all-Premier League tie following the FA Cup fifth round draw on Monday.
Third-tier Mansfield stunned top-flight strugglers Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday and have been rewarded with a clash against 14-time winners and Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s City face Newcastle in a repeat of one of this season’s League Cup semi-finals, while Premier League bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers host Liverpool.
Brentford head to West Ham United after an own goal away to sixth-tier Macclesfield, who stunned holders Crystal Palace in the last round, giving them a 1-0 win on Monday.
Championship side Wrexham welcome eight-time winners Chelsea, while Fulham entertain Southampton and Leeds United host another second-tier side in Norwich City.
Sunderland face a second successive away trip after being drawn against Port Vale or Bristol City, whose fourth-round tie has been postponed until March 3 due to a waterlogged pitch.
FA Cup fifth round draw
- Fulham v Southampton
- Port Vale or Bristol City v Sunderland
- Newcastle United v Manchester City
- Leeds United v Norwich City
- Mansfield Town v Arsenal
- Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool
- Wrexham v Chelsea
- West Ham United v Brentford
Matches to be played over the weekend of March 7–8
-Reuters
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