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Sutton United
FA Cup | Fifth Round
Feb 20, 2017 at 7.55pm UK
 
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0-2

FT(HT: 0-1)
Perez (27'), Walcott (55')

Live Commentary: Sutton United 0-2 Arsenal - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Sutton United in the FA Cup fifth round.
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Arsenal have progressed through to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Sutton United.

There are 104 places separating the two teams in the English football pyramid and although Arsenal advanced thanks to goals from Lucas Perez and Theo Walcott, Sutton made a mockery of their league placing and could have gotten on the scoresheet on another night.

Arsene Wenger's side will now host fellow National League side Lincoln City in the last eight.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at Gander Green Lane.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the FA Cup fifth round between Sutton United and Arsenal.

Last season, we saw one of football's greatest ever fairytales as Leicester City won the Premier League title, despite being at odds of 5000/1 before the start of the campaign. Over the course of a season, it's an achievement which will likely never be repeated but don't be fooled into thinking that's it as far as moments which could potentially go down in folklore are concerned. National League outfit Sutton United could be just 90 minutes away from recording one of the biggest upsets sport has ever seen, but we are sure that Arsenal will have something to say about that.

We will talk about the minnows a bit later but naturally, the attention surrounding this match has been on Arsenal and what if they succumb to Sutton on their artificial pitch. It goes without saying that Paul Doswell's men are huge underdogs to earn a money-spinning replay at the Emirates Stadium - never mind achieving the unthinkable - but while this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for their players, they have nothing to lose against a team and manager who have come in for severe criticism of late after they were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich. Publicly, neither Wenger or the club are expected to disclose anything about the Frenchman's future but a slip-up on Monday night would leave him on the brink of what would almost be an inevitable exit.

Without further ado, let's crack on with the team news. There has been plenty of speculation regarding the strength of the team that Wenger will pick tonight and he has proceeded to make as many as seven changes...

ARSENAL XI: Ospina, Gabriel, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal, Xhaka, Elneny, Perez, Reine-Adeliade, Iwobi, Walcott

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Martinez, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Maitland-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis

David Ospina, Shkodran Mustafi, Granit Xhaka and Alex Iwobi are the only players to keep their place in the team after the defeat to Bayern, but who comes into the team? Gabriel Paulista, Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal are all included at the back, while Mohamed Elneny has been entrusted to marshall the area in front of the back four. Further forward, Lucas Perez, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Theo Walcott are all given an opportunity, with Alexis Sanchez only being included on the bench. Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Laurent Koscielny, Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud are all missing from the 18-man squad.

SUTTON UNITED XI: Worner, Amankwaah, Downer, Collins, Beckwith, Deacon, Bailey, Eastmond, May, Gomis, Biamou

It was inevitable that Doswell would have disappointed some of his squad this evening but this is the starting lineup which he has selected. The name that will stick out is Craig Eastmond, who started his career with the Gunners, but former Charlton Athletic man Nicky Bailey brings some crucial experience in the middle of the park while Roarie Deacon has enjoyed more than stand-out moment during their run to the last 16.

Paralympian David Weir is in attendance for tonight's game at Gander Green Lane and he's not the only high-profile name expected to be at the tie. Comedian Tim Weir is a boyhood fan of the team, while former Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew can often be found at the non-league ground.



While Sutton have defeated both AFC Wimbledon and Leeds United to reach this stage of the competition, they haven't been achieving many positive results in the National League. They sit in 17th position at the fifth tier of English football, owing to a run of four games without a win. They will probably argue that they have been distracted by their exploits in the FA Cup but they don't come into this game with much of a winning feeling.

Only those involved or who follow non-league sides will fully understand the magnitude of a fixture like this, and yours truly had that experience 20 years ago when Hednesford Town - then chasing promotion in the Conference - reached the fourth round and were drawn away to Premier League Middlesbrough. Hednesford came within four minutes of earning a draw at the Riverside Stadium against the likes of Fabrizio Ravanelli and Juninho and it's a day which is still spoken about to this day. Those are the kind of memories which Sutton United can create tonight and while they will realistically expect to fall short tonight, there's that small chance that something unbelievable can occur and they would become a worldwide name overnight should they avoid defeat tonight. That's really not an exaggeration. This is a tie which can change the lives of their players and staff.

Another chapter was added to the build-up to this game when it was revealed that Lincoln City - another team from the National League - would face the winners of this tie. The stakes were already at an obscene level but they are even higher for Sutton now. If they can beat Arsenal, they would be granted a home match in the FA Cup quarter-finals against a team from their division, with an opportunity to compete at Wembley Stadium for a place in the final. It's surreal writing out that scenario, so I have absolutely no idea what it must be like for everyone involved.

Before we get onto the prediction, we have to talk more about what this tie means for Arsenal. They are unlikely to be in the Champions League for too much longer and they are effectively out of the Premier League title race, so it leaves Wenger realistically viewing this competition as his only chance to bow out in style, should he decide to leave the club at the end of the season. One thing is for sure - he cannot afford to miss out on a win in this match. He was alarmed with the lack of fight displayed by his players as they lost in Munich and he will not accept anything less than a convincing win to restore some confidence in the stands.

PREDICTION! We have to back Arsenal, obviously. Wenger has rested some of his key men but there is more than enough quality in the team and Arsenal should be able to score a few goals, despite being at a disadvantage due to their unfamiliarity with the artificial pitch. We are going for a 4-0 win for the Gunners.

We are closing in on kickoff but let's remind you of the last time that Arsenal faced non-league opposition. That came 14 years ago in 2003 as they face Farnborough and on that occasion, the Gunners ran out 5-1 winners. On that day, Wenger's side was full of star men with Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp all getting some minutes. Will Arsenal require Alexis Sanchez in the second half?

Here come the two teams. It's one of the most surreal walk-outs you are ever likely to see. What will this game throw up? I really have no idea. Kickoff is coming right up.

Arsenal get us underway.

Sutton look cautious when Arsenal have the ball, and that's been the case for the opening two minutes. The ball was eventually played through to Walcott but he was flagged offside.

Arsenal have started this match exactly how Wenger would have hoped. Forget the lack of chances or goals, they have already drawn the sting out of the game. Sutton's fans are enthusiastic but reality is starting to set in.

Walcott goes on his first direct run of the match and Sutton look petrified and back off. The ball eventually falls to Iwobi but a Sutton defender gets the block in before the home side win a free kick.

Every Arsenal mistake is being cheered and there have been a few misplaced passes. Monreal had a chance to set up Iwobi for a cross on the left but he couldn't find his teammate with a six-yard pass.

I mentioned earlier that this had been the perfect start for Arsenal, bar scoring a goal, but Sutton have really come into this now. Arsenal are committing a few silly fouls and not really getting close to the Sutton goal, whereas the home side are starting to show more ambition.

SHOT! Arsenal put together their best move of the match and Iwobi really should so better from a crossing position on the left. However, the ball falls to Elneny, who sends the ball several yards over the crossbar.

It has to be said - it's a very lacklustre game. It's intriguing but neither side are doing enough. A couple of crosses have been whipped into the area but they don't come anywhere near finding their intended target.

We've not seen much of Deacon - who starred against Leeds United in the previous round - but he attempts to get himself into the match with a run down the left. However, it ends with a wayward cross and Arsenal have a goal kick.

BOOKING! Xhaka is no stranger to a booking and he receives one here. Don't assume it's for a bad challenge though - it's not. He pulled Eastmond back after failing with an interception.

GOAL! Sutton United 0-1 Arsenal (Perez)

Disaster for Sutton. Perez is freed down the right flank and after biding his time, he sends a low, inswinging cross towards the back post and after Walcott fails to connect, it finds the bottom corner. It's unfortunate for the minnows but Perez put it in a dangerous area and got his reward.

SHOT! That goal has rocked Sutton and it's now all Arsenal. Walcott picks up the ball from around 35 yards out but after progressing closer to goal, he drills a shot just over the crossbar.

Perez didn't feature much during the first quarter of this game but he now looks Arsenal's biggest threat. He turns sharply 30 yards out before threading a fine ball through to Iwobi but it has too much weight on it and Sutton survive.

Deacon bides his time before finding Eastmond with a pass, but play is brought back after the winger is fouled by Mustafi. It gives Sutton a chance to get the ball into the box from around 40 yards but while the ball is decent enough, the wind helps it out for a goal kick.

While a 1-0 scoreline isn't great for Sutton, it's far from a disaster. If they can get to half time just the one goal down, it leaves Doswell's team talk far easier than it would at 2-0, where it would probably be game over. Big moments coming up.

BOOKING! Deacon dispossesses Reine-Adelaide around 45 yards from goal and appears ready to advance towards the penalty area but he is brought down by the Arsenal midfielder, who accepts a booking.

CHANCE! Arsenal probably should be 2-0 ahead. The Gunners break in numbers after Sutton's free kick comes to nothing but when Iwobi gets the chance to shoot from inside the penalty area, his effort is deflected marginally wide of the far corner. A huge let-off for the hosts.

CHANCE! Oh my word, what a chance for Sutton. Ospina passes the ball straight to May who gets the chance to run into the penalty area but under pressure from a defender, his shot is very poor and goes wide of the near post. There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Sutton United 0-1 Arsenal

The half-time whistle goes at Gander Green Lane and Arsenal lead thanks to that goal from Perez. Sutton haven't disgraced themselves, however, and while chances have been in short supply, they are still in this match.

We are all ready for the second half. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is coming on for Elneny, who picked up a knock in the first half.

Sutton get us back underway.

The home side start positively but they soon concede an early corner which is taken by Iwobi. Sutton manage to head clear, however. Small confidence booster at the start of this second half.

Arsenal have started to boss possession again but the effects of the artificial pitch means that the simplest of passes aren't always finding their target. Oxlade-Chamberlain is adding a threat in the final third.

Sutton haven't had much success in the penalty area tonight but it appeared that things were about to open for Gomis. He twisted and turned in an attempt to fashion an opening but to their credit, the Arsenal defenders remained in the way.

GOAL! Sutton United 0-2 Arsenal (Walcott)

Game over? Probably. Monreal takes the opportunity to get forward from left-back and after receiving the ball in the penalty area, his low cross was deflected into the path of Walcott by Iwobi and the attacker was able to convert from close range for his 100th goal in an Arsenal shirt.

CHANCE! Sutton feel that they still have a chance in this game and they manage to fashion another opportunity. It's a good one, too, with May teeing up Biamou on the edge of the penalty area but he doesn't make a proper connection with his shot and Ospina makes a comfortable save.

CHANCES! The Sutton crowd are on their feet because their side are giving this a right go. Biamou comes within inches of heading home Deacon's cross before Monreal heads behind for a corner. From the resulting piece, Collins has the chance to head on target from eight yards but he sends it over the crossbar with Ospina nowhere. Huge opportunity.

SHOT! Perez continues to pose a threat for Arsenal but on this occasion, he fires well wide of the target. Arsenal are back into the ascendancy now.

WOODWORK! Deacon almost scores the ultimate wonder strike! What a sensational hit from 25 yards. The crossbar is still shaking. He got everything behind it and Ospina didn't move. So unlucky.

All of Oxlade-Chamberlain's pace is on show as he accelerates two flagging defenders but after reaching the byline, he can't find Walcott with his cross. It Walcott gets a touch, it's 3-0.

Sutton have made a couple of substitutions in quick succession but they are going to have to mount the comebacks of all comebacks to get something out of this game. They are still throwing men forward but Arsenal possess plenty of speed on the break.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Wenger decides that he wants to use Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean, and Ainsley Maitland-Miles, are replacing Reine-Adelaide and Iwobi.

The noise level has dropped at Gander Green Lane but Sutton continue to show ambition. They are leaving everything out on the pitch, where they get back into this match or not. They are unlikely to trouble Arsenal in these closing stages but they are going down with pride.

SAVE! Sutton goalkeeper Worner hasn't really had that many saves to make but he makes a solid intervention to prevent Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot from 14 yards finding the corner.

Sutton get a chance to whip the ball into the penalty area after Hudson-Odoi's shot is deflected wide but it comes to nothing. Just five minutes to go now.

There will be three minutes of added-on time. This game is petering out now.

FULL TIME: Sutton United 0-2 Arsenal

The full-time whistle goes at Gander Green Lane and Arsenal are through to the quarter-finals. The 2-0 scoreline doesn't tell the whole story but Arsenal were fully deserving of their win. Sutton also deserve huge amounts of credit for how they tested their more illustrious opponents but they will now attempt to remain in the National League.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again tomorrow for the Champions League. Goodbye for now.

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Alexis Sanchez in action during the Premier League game between Everton and Arsenal on December 13, 2016
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