FA CUP 3rd ROUND REPLAY
ARSENAL 1 SWANSEA CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
A WONDER goal three minutes from time from the outstanding Jack Wilshere kept Arsenal's season alive at a frozen Emirates last night.
The 21 year-old, who only returned from a 17 month injury nightmare in October, finally ended the brave Swansea resistance with a thumping half-volley just as it was beginning to look like a tale of missed opportunities for Arsene Wenger's side.
Arsenal had dominated the second half to such an extent that Wojciech Szczesny was in danger of catching hypothermia in the freezing temperatures.
Chance after chance went begging as the Gunners did everything but score. Theo Walcott, playing on the right, chipped narrowly wide after a superb through ball from Abou Diaby, before seeing a close range effort cleared off the line by Danny Graham.
Oliver Giroud, back in the starting line up in place of Lukas Podolski, twice came close as did Santi Cazorla, while Michel Vorm had earlier saved well from Thomas Vermaelen and Francis Coquelin.
But with extra time less than five minutes away, Wilshere finally made the crucial breakthrough. Cazorla found Giroud on the right side of the penalty area and the Frenchman's lovely flick sat up nicely for Wilshere to drill a half-volley beyond Vorm from 20 yards.
After Sunday's defeat at the hands of Manchester City, this was a match Wenger's side could ill-afford to lose. With the FA Cup their only realistic chance of silverware this season, an early exit would have piled more pressure on the Frenchman.
The fans had already shown their disillusionment with thousands of seats left empty, a situation rarely seen at the Emirates, but those who stayed away missed a thrilling tie.
Swansea gave as good as they got in an even first half. Former Gunner Kyle Bartley headed onto the crossbar while only a desperate, last-ditch tackle from Vermaelen denied Nathan Dyer.
But there was only one team in it after the break. With Abou Diaby and Coquelin providng a shield in front of the back four, Wilshere and Cazorla were given the freedom to run riot. But with time running out and extra time imminent, Wilshere finally broke Swansea hearts to seal a 4th round trip to Brighton.
"Jack was outstanding tonight," said Wenger. "He played in a different position, a bit higher up
the pitch, and it suited him well. I didn't expect him to be this good at this stage.
"I always thought that if we could get Jack back to a reasonable level by
January we will have done well, but he is ahead of what I could imagine.
"He is back to what he was before the injury, I think so, yes. A complete
midfielder can defend and attack and Jack can also dribble and give a final ball
so the closer players like him are to the goal the better it is for them."
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said: "We tried, we defended well, at times heroic.
"They had two or three chances where you say 'It's only a matter of time when
they score'.
"If they score a few minutes from the end you think it could have gone into
extra-time, but they deserved the win in the end.
"I want to win every game and the players want to, but it's not possible for
anyone. It's not a question of saying it doesn't matter and I am disappointed."
Meanwhile, Wilshere was delighted with only his second goal of the season.
"It was a great set-up from Olivier [Giroud}. I didn't want extra-time. It was important we got the winner before 90 minutes. We know Brighton play football, they play great football, so it will be another tough tie."
ARSENAL - Szczesney 6, Sagna 6, Mertersaker 6, Vermealen 7, Gibbs 7, Diaby 6 (Ramsey 82, 6), Coquelin 6, Wilshere 9, Cazorla 8, Giroud 8, Walcott 7. Subs not used: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Podolski.
SWANSEA CITY - Vorm, 8 Richards 6, Bartley 7, Chicco 7, Tiendalli 7, Brittan 6, Agustien 6 (Hernandez 59, 6), Dyer 6, De Guzman 6 (Jung-Yeong 60, 6), Routledge 6, Graham 5(Michu 71, 6). Subs not used: Tremmel, Davies, Monk, Shechter.
REFEREE: M. Clatenberg 7 - Got all the big calls right and went about his business in a calm and assured manner.
MAN OF MATCH: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) - Is there a better midfielder anywhere in the World right now ?
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