FA CUP kings Arsenal ignited their campaign to bring the trophy back to North London for a third successive year as they extinguished Sunderland in a comfortable win at the Emirates today (Saturday).

The 3-1 scoreline – the goals came from Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Joel Campbell – and the home team's moment of slapstick defending,made the game a near-repeat of the home side’s flustered league-tie here in December. 

But this time a Gunners victory was never in doubt, even when Sunderland forward Jeremain Lens took advantage of Laurent Koscielny’s hashed attempt at a Cruyff turn on the edge of the box to poach the lead. 

Arsene Wenger said: “In the first half we went one down and we had to find our way because we were sharp in midfield. After that, slowly in the second half we took over, played in their half and scored great goals and created many chances.”

Wenger stressed his side have a long way to go before becoming the first club in over a century to win the FA Cup three years on the bounce. “We have only one left to win,” he said. “We have done it twice. What I will say is we take this competition with a desire to do well in it and to try to win it. It is a long way in the cup and you need a long run.”

The manager had chosen to rest a few key players for the fourth-round clash and while Ozil’s star-quality was missed, his absence allowed younger players to step into the spotlight. Hector Bellerin caused havoc down the right flank, his two assists winning him Man of the Match.

“He became stronger and stronger,” said Wenger. “Sometimes I felt in the last 20 minutes, every time he went forward he created a chance on goal.”

The Gunners boss also only had praise for 19-year-old Alex Iwobi, enthusing over the Nigerian international’s passing and his willingness to run unfazed at his opponents. It was his shunted pass to Theo Walcott that began the move that led to Arsenal’s opener. Walcott expertly cut back to the unflappable Joel Campbell who slotted the ball past Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who spent much of the game practicing a sequence of frustrated arm gestures, raised the tempo after the break and rattled the post. Campbell was then denied by impressive debutant Pickford from close range. Sunderland also had opportunities to take the lead, the best chance falling to Steven Fletcher, but his header sailed over the bar.

It was the Gunners that managed to break the deadlock when Aaron Ramsey, on for Iwobi, side-footed a great pass from Hector Bellerin into the net. Bellerin’s second assist clinically bisected Sunderland’s defence, leaving Giroud to seal the winner and kick-start Arsenal’s bid to continue their reign. 

ARSENAL: Cech, Gibbs, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers (Arteta 67), Campbell (Reine Adelaide 81), Iwobi (Ramsey 67), Walcott, Giroud.
Subs not used: Debuchy, Macey, Monreal, Willock.
Attendance: 59,349.