Ton-up Walcott Ends Sutton's FA Cup Dream

LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Feb, 2017 ) - Theo Walcott scored his 100th Arsenal goal as Arsene Wenger's side ended non-league minnows Sutton United's FA Cup fairytale with a 2-0 victory in the FA Cup on Monday.

The England forward added to Lucas Perez's opener as Arsenal returned to winning ways following their 5-1 drubbing by Bayern Munich last week and set up a home quarter-final with another non-league team, Lincoln City.

But the narrow margin of victory belied the 105 places that separate the two teams in England's football pyramid, with Sutton currently 17th in the fifth-tier National League. "We did the job," Arsenal manager Wenger told BBC Sport.

"It was not an easy game at all. We have to give them credit because every error we made they took advantage of on this pitch. They played very well." South London club Sutton had hoped to emulate their famous 1989 win over Coventry City, FA Cup winners 19 months previously, but there was no disgrace in defeat in their first ever fifth-round game.

Arsenal were given several uncomfortable moments on the 3g pitch at Sutton's 5,000-capacity Gander Green Lane ground, which was full to bursting with fans in yellow Sutton T-shirts, hats and scarves.

The home supporters almost had a goal to cheer as well, but Roarie Deacon, who began his career at Arsenal, saw his 25-yard effort cannon back off the bar in the second half. "It was a dream to watch my team play against Arsenal.

I'm very, very proud," said Sutton manager Paul Doswell. "This was our cup final and these players will go down in history at the end of the day." Wenger will continue to face questions about his future but, for now at least, his dream of winning a record seventh FA Cup remains intact.

He made seven changes to the team humiliated by Bayern in the Champions League, with only goalkeeper David Ospina, Shkodran Mustafi, Granit Xhaka and Alex Iwobi keeping their places.