Arsenal continues to push on multiple fronts during what remains an impressive 2022-23 after a consummate 3-0 win over Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium just one day after seeing multiple Premier League clubs dumped out of the third round of the FA Cup, with Chelsea and Newcastle United chief among them.
Into the next round 💪 pic.twitter.com/TQHXHhWtB1
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 9, 2023
The first half certainly featured a fair degree of frustration from an Arsenal perspective. Regardless of the expected dominance when it came to possession numbers, the largely second-string Gunners XI found it difficult to craft chances against Oxford.
Arteta’s outfit failed to create a single big chance in the opening forty-five minutes, with their EFL League One opponent out-chancing their illustrious Premier League visitors before the half-time interval, though Arsenal did manage to craft a superior xG over the course of play before both sides disappeared into the changing rooms.
Arsenal upped their tempo after the break and finally looked at the side more likely to break the deadlock but was still unable to find a breakthrough, with Arteta making a pair of chances which saw Granit Xhaka and Oleksandr Zinchenko come off the bench in the 61st and 62nd minutes to replace Sambi Lokonga and Kieran Tierney.
It would only take one minute since the change for the Gunners to finally take an expected 1-0 lead when Mohamed Elneny headed home from six yards, with summer signing Fábio Vieira turning provider from a set-piece on a night where Arteta backed the Portuguese youth international to prove he is ready for greater responsibilities in north London.
Elneny’s first goal for the club since May 2021 would not be Arsenal’s only strike on the night, with the Gunners finding a second just seven minutes later when Eddie Nkeitah once again found the back of the net during his interim period as the club’s first-choice striker, and his second-half strike has now seen him score in every competition Arsenal have taken part in this season.
Nketiah would then go on to bag his brace just one minute later in the 76th minute to seal all three points and book Arsenal’s passage into the fourth round of the competition and a date with Manchester City as Arteta’s men remain in the fight for multiple honors this season.
📰 Table Of Contents
Arsenal Player Ratings
- GK: Matt Turner – 7
- RB: Takehiro Tomiyasu – 7
- CB: Rob Holding – 7
- CB: Gabriel Magalhães – 7
- LB: Kieran Tierney – 6
- DM: Mohamed Elneny – 7.5
- CM: Fábio Vieira – 7.5
- CM: Sambi Lokonga – 6
- RW: Bukayo Saka – 7
- LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 7.5
- CF: Eddie Nketiah – 8
- Sub: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 6.5
- Sub: Granit Xhaka – 6.5
- Sub: Emile Smith Rowe – 6
- Sub: Ben White – 6
- Sub: Marquinhos – 6
Key Performers
Eddie Nketiah’s game by numbers vs. Oxford United:
32 touches
3 ground duels won
2 shots on target
2 goals
1/1 dribble completed
1/1 long ball completedAt the double. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/zkOS8THzOD
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 9, 2023
Gabriel’s game by numbers vs. Oxford United:
93% pass accuracy
70 touches
55 passes completed
7/8 aerial duels won
4 long balls completed
4 clearances
3/3 ground duels won
1/1 dribble completedYou shall not pass. 🛑 pic.twitter.com/eqPn0H9G3I
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 9, 2023
Fabio Vieira’s game by numbers vs. Oxford United:
81% pass accuracy
4 key passes
4 crosses completed
3/4 ground duels won
3/4 long balls completed
2 big chances created
2 assistsPlaymaker. 💫 pic.twitter.com/WSTit5rci0
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) January 9, 2023
Social Media
“It’s one of the things I’m most proud of, the way everyone has contributed”
😁 Mikel Arteta and @IanWright0 are all smiles thanks to this @Arsenal side 🔴#ITVFootball | @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/uBt37zTAg6
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 9, 2023
⚪️👏 @Arsenal are donning their ‘No more red’ kit as part of their initiative to tackle violent youth crime. pic.twitter.com/Y6rgC3cbjo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 9, 2023
USMNT’s Matt Turner starts for Arsenal in their third round FA Cup tie against Oxford United. 🇺🇸
He has yet to give up an open play goal as a member of The Gunners. 👀 pic.twitter.com/0WHxM2O5oQ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 9, 2023
🍌 Arsenal haven’t slipped on a FA Cup third or fourth tier banana skin for 31 years!#BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/KPR6a8RQt8
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 9, 2023
Great header from Elneny – 1-0 to the Arsenal https://t.co/T32B3wJOy9
— Renato (@rehnato) January 9, 2023
Eddie Nketiah has now scored in every possible competition for Arsenal this season:
◉ Premier League
◉ Europa League
◉ League Cup
◉ FA CupHe always answers the call. 📞#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/wP4csfA7y4
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) January 9, 2023
Saka still trudging round the pitch as Arsenal celebrate the third goal. Ben White has a quick word. pic.twitter.com/0YrPZku7db
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 9, 2023
Full-time
Oxford 0-3 Arsenal
Job done for Arsenal after an awful first 45 minutes. Whole side much better after the break, but particularly Fabio Vieira. Eddie Nketiah took both his goals well. Ideal confidence booster for him ahead of the derby on Sunday.
— Simon Collings (@sr_collings) January 9, 2023
