ddie Nketiah scored twice as Arsenal beat League One side Oxford to setup an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester City.
The Gunners struggled against their lower league opponents in the first-half and neither side managed a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes After the break, however, Arsenal went through the gears as Mohamed Elneny broke the deadlock and Nketiah bagged a brace.
Simon Collings was at the Kassam Stadium to see Arsenal in action…
Matt Turner – 6
A little shaky with the ball at his feet, with the bobbly pitch not helping, but all in all he had a solid night. Should keep his place in the next round.
Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6
Had a difficult first-half and he looked a little rusty after the World Cup break. Got better as the game went on and made a number of good interventions.
Rob Holding – 7
Into the side and put in a good, solid performance. Oxford tried plenty of long balls but he was equal to them. One of the few good first-half performers.
Gabriel – 7
He has been one of Arsenal’s best players since the World Cup break and he couldn’t his good form here. Didn’t put a foot wrong. Physically dominant.
Kieran Tierney – 5
Had a bit of a scrappy game and couldn’t really make the impact going forward that he usually does. Shanked one cross high into the stands.
Fabio Vieira – 8
Endured a really difficult first-half, where he seemed to struggle with the pitch and physicality of the game. Much better after the break and finished the game with two assists.
Mohamed Elneny – 8
Got the all important opening goal and had a decent game at the base of midfield. Typically full of running and looked composed on the ball.
Albert Sambi Lokonga – 5
Just didn’t really influence the game in the way he would have wanted to. A lot of the match passed him by and he was hooked after 60 minutes.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Not one of his best nights and he was starved of the ball, without much space to make an impact. The quietest of Arsenal’s front-three as Oxford doubled up on him well.
Eddie Nketiah – 8 | Star player
Barely had a kick all game for the first 70 minutes, which was partly down to the poor service he got. Finally got some decent service and scored twice.
Gabriel Martinelli – 7
Struggled in the first-half but he was much better after the break. Caused his opposite number problems and setup the third goal.
Substitutions
Oleksandr Zinchenko (Tierney 61’) – 7
Came on and raised the tempo of the game. Is clearly the No1 left-back for Arteta. So good on the ball.
Granit Xhaka (Lokonga 61’) – 6
Just helped team move the ball much quicker. Needed his maturity.
Emile Smith Rowe (Saka 75’) – N/A
Ben White (Tomiyasu 81’) – N/A
Marquinhos (Vieira 81’) – N/A
Unused: Hein, Partey, Odegaard, Butler-Oyedeji.
