Published: 17 January, 2013
by TOM FOOT

FA CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAY
Arsenal 1, Swansea City 0

ARSENAL fans are gearing up for a seaside beano in Brighton after knocking Swansea out of the FA Cup at the Emirates last night (Wednesday).

Manager Arsene Wenger said he would take “full power” to the south coast but added that restoring the winning mentality to his side was more important to him than “just the FA Cup”.

He said: “I would like to think it is less important than fighting back in the Premiership. For us there was more at stake than just the FA Cup. To lose another, the confidence drops. But we will go to Brighton and play with full power.”

Arsenal dominated the match from start to the finish and managed an incredible 26 shots – with 16 on target – before Jack Wilshere finally sealed the tie with a strike of pure class on 86 minutes.

He latched on to a bouncing cross on the half volley and the ball arrowed past Michael Vorm into the bottom corner from outside the box.

The Gunners’ number 10 drove the team forward in what was one of the hungriest performances from an Arsenal player so far this season.

His penetrating runs almost reaped rewards for Arsenal’s attacking quartet in the first half, and in the second he seemed to be carrying the team with him.

He set Theo Walcott racing through on goal, but the striker’s dinked chip dribbled agonisingly wide on a frustrating night for the frontman. There were massive shouts for a penalty after a Walcott volley hit Danny Graham on the arm.

Former Gunner Kyle Bartley hit the bar for Swansea with a header on 25 minutes – but Swansea never looked like scoring.

After the match, Wenger praised Wilshere as a “complete midfielder”. He said: “He is outstanding and he played in a different position tonight.

“He can defend and attack – he’s a guy that can give the final ball. It was unbelievable that he couldn’t score, but he got it in the end."

He added: “I have no experience of a player out for 17 months in my whole career.”

Arsenal will travel to Brighton for the fourth-round tie on Saturday, January 26 for a 3pm kick-off.