The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Injuries mar Gunners’ cruise into last eight
Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott netted braces as Arsenal eased through to the FA Cup quarterfinals, although the comprehensive victory at Hull looks to have come at a cost for Arsene Wenger’s men.
Winning the competition for a third straight year looks to be the Gunners’ most realistic shot at silverware, having fallen eight points behind surprise league leaders Leicester and requiring a huge turnaround to avoid being dumped out of the Champions League by Barcelona next week.
Wenger refused to pin all of his trophy aspirations on the FA Cup ahead of the trip to Hull, but will have no doubt been relieved to see Arsenal win this fifthround replay 4- 0 – albeit concerned that Per Mertesacker, Gabriel and Aaron Ramsey all limped off at the KC Stadium.
Giroud’s first goals since January 13 were key to this victory, with the France striker netting twice the day after his partner gave birth to a baby boy.
The 29-year-old gleefully steered home a wayward David Meyler pass late in the first half and then fired home a cross from Walcott, who added gloss to the scoreline by turning home coolly and then fizzing past Eldin Jakupovic late on.
Wenger told BT Sport 1: “It was a shock as we lost our two centre-backs in the game and then we lost Aaron Ramsey.
“Mertesacker is not serious, just a little concussion, and I think Gabriel looks all right but for Ramsey I am little bit more concerned.
“It’s a thigh injury... but apart from that we have played well.”
Arsenal now face Watford in the quarter-finals.