FA Cup: Holders Arsenal crash out but Manchester City survive scare

Dubai: Last season’s FA Cup winners Arsenal were eliminated from the competition in the fourth round on Saturday 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.

In an otherwise close game, Gabriel’s decision to try to block a shot from Kyle Walker-Peters 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.

“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. At the same time, I cannot fault the effort of the players, how they tried and how they went to get a goal in the second half.”

Arsenal have won the FA Cup a record 14 times and Arteta before kick-off called it “our favourite competition”.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored both of the team’s goals in the 2-1 win over Chelsea in last year’s final, but he wasn’t available Saturday due to what Arteta called “a personal matter”. Arteta said he couldn’t yet predict when Aubameyang might return.

Southampton move on to a fifth-round game away at Wolverhampton, who beat sixth-tier Chorley on Friday.

CITY UNDER PRESSURE

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.

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 if the video review system — not used in cup games at non-Premier League stadiums — had been in operation.

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

“We learnt to suffer and at the end the quality made the difference. We won the game and we are happy to win this game in this type of competition,” Guardiola said. “We knew how tough it would be and the response from the players was magnificent.”

City had been brilliantly denied an opener after 12 minutes. Tommy Doyle’s cross was half cleared to Benjamin Mendy and the defender’s angled rocket was cleverly — and bravely — cleared off the line for a corner by Tozer.

Guardiola tried to use the game to give his young players experience, but ended up bringing Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Ilkay Gundogan off the bench.

“The players they brought on from the bench probably tells you something, and the way they celebrated the goals probably tells you something as well,” Cheltenham manager Michael Duff said. “I think they’ll know they’ve been in a game.”

The game was briefly interrupted in the first half with the score at 0-0 because of a nearby fireworks display in Cheltenham’s red and white colours. Even in defeat, Cheltenham’s battling performance against one of the world’s biggest clubs will likely become part of local folklore.

SHEFFIELD WIN AGAIN

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 hadn’t won a game in any competition this season until January 9 but have now won three of their last four following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Plymouth.

VILLA ON THE RISE

Aston Villa beat Newcastle 2-0 to move within three points of sixth-place Everton in the only Premier League game on Saturday. Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore scored first-half goals for the hosts. Newcastle lost their fourth straight league game and are in 16th place, increasing the pressure on manager Steve Bruce.