Man City work hard for win but Arsenal bow out

FA Cup holders Arsenal were eliminated from the competition in the fourth round thanks to Gabriel’s own-goal in a 1-0 loss to Southampton, while Manchester City survived a scare to beat fourth-tier Cheltenham 3-1.

Cheltenham came close to one of the biggest shocks in the 150-year history of the FA Cup before Pep Guardiola’s City team scored three late goals yesterday.

A long throw-in from Cheltenham captain Ben Tozer caused a mix-up in the City defence and Alfie May seized on a deflection to stab the ball into the net.

In the 81st minute City finally pulled level as Phil Foden met Joao Cancelo’s cross at the far post and knocked the ball into the net. Gabriel Jesus scored City’s second three minutes later to avoid extra time, though his goal may have been deemed offside had the video review system – not used in cup games at non-Premier League stadiums – been in operation.

Ferran Torres added a third in stoppage time to ensure City move on to play Swansea in the fifth round.

In the all-Premier League clash between Arsenal and Southampton, defender Gabriel Magalhaes’ decision to try to block a shot from Saints’ Kyle WalkerPeters

proved decisive for Arsenal losing their hold on the cup.

Right-back Walker-Peters was allowed plenty of space to overlap the Arsenal defence, but his shot looked to be heading narrowly wide of the far post before Gabriel’s failed attempt deflected the ball off the post and in. It was the first goal Arsenal had conceded since December 26 after five consecutive shutouts.

‘‘I’m very disappointed because we wanted to continue in the competition, we had a dream to do it again like last year and the dream today is over,’’ Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

‘‘I am as well disappointed with the way we conceded the goal in an area where we know we shouldn’t be doing that.’’

Southampton move on to a fifthround game away at Wolverhampton, who beat sixthtier Chorley 1-0 on Saturday.

Premier League clubs Brighton, West Ham and Sheffield United all won their fourth-round games against lower-league teams. Brighton edged out third-tier Blackpool

2-1, while West Ham cruised to a

4-0 win over Doncaster. Sheffield didn’t win a game in any competition this season until January 9, but have now won three of their last four following yesterday’s 2-1 win over Plymouth.

Other FA Cup scores: (home teams named first): Barnsley 1

Norwich 0, Brighton 2 Blackpool 1, Millwall 0 Bristol City 3, Sheffield United 2 Plymouth 1, Swansea City

5 Nottingham Forest 1.

■ In a premier league match yesterday, Aston Villa returned to winning ways and climbed into the top

10 with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle .

Club-record signing Ollie Watkins scored for the first time in

10 matches to set Villa on their way to all three points with a 13thminute strike, before Bertrand Traore doubled the lead shortly before halftime.

Villa moved up to eighth in the table while Newcastle dropped to

16th spot after a sixth defeat in a eight-match winless EPL run.