ARSENAL made it to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah.
- RESULT: Arsenal 3-0 AFC Wimbledon
- Arsenal XI: Leno, Cedric, Holding, Mari, Tavares, Sambi, Partey, Maitland-Niles, Martinelli, Nketiah, Lacazette
- AFC Wimbledon XI: Tzanev, Guinness-Walker, Nighingale, Heneghan, Lawrence, Hartigan, Woodyard, McCormick, Rudoni, Assal, Palmer
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GOODNIGHT
That’s all from us as Arsenal stretch their winning run to three games without conceding a goal in all competitions.
Gunners fans will be aware that it was only a League One side in their way this evening – albeit a very competitive one in AFC Wimbledon – but will also know how a winning mentality can breed quickly among their players.
They’ll certainly be hoping that’s the case come Sunday when another club from the capital arrive at the Emirates, this time with much more on the line.
Yes, it’s the season’s first North London derby, and we’ll be here with extensive coverage of the battle that is Arsenal against Tottenham. Be sure to join us.
LEEDS AWAIT
The draw for the fourth round has just been made, and Arsenal have been handed another home tie but this time against fellow Premier League opposition in Leeds United.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team were penalty shootout winners at Fulham last night, and will return to London on either October 26 or 27 to take on the Gunners.
GUNNERS RATED
Etienne Fermie was at the Emirates Stadium this evening, casting his eye over the Arsenal hopefuls.
Here’s how he rated the home side on a night when the Premier League side had to be patient.
FULL TIME STATS
The scoreline may feel harsh on Wimbledon, who competed admirably throughout, but Arsenal dominated tonight’s contest in every area.
FT: ARSENAL 3-0 WIMBLEDON
AFC Wimbledon’s Carabao Cup adventure comes to an end across London as Arsenal eventually make their Premier League class show. A first half penalty by Alexandre Lacazette was added to by late strikes from Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah as the League One team ran out of steam. The Gunners take their place in the hat for the Last 16 at the end of a professional night’s work.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
IT’S ALL OVER AT THE EMIRATES!ARSENAL 3-0 WIMBLEDON
90+2. Into additional time, and Saka really wants to seal victory.
The England international gets himself into the area and smashes a left footer straight at Tzanev, which the Wimbledon keeper does well to tip over.
ARSENAL 3-0 WIMBLEDON
89. The last thing you want to see if you’re a tiring League One defender, who has put an epic shift in for 80 minutes, is the electric pace and skill of Bukayo Saka being introduced. Yet here he is…
…and there he goes. The substitute darts past his marker like he’s not there and then goes close with a shot that’s just off target.
ARSENAL 3-0 WIMBLEDON
86. The game is finishing in a scrappy fashion with a flurry of fouls.
Both sides will settle for a 3-0 scoreline now, surely.
ARSENAL 3-0 WIMBLEDON
83. Eddie Nketiah’s night is over and it will be ending on a high after that sparkling finish.
The striker takes his leave and is replaced by 20-year-old Folarin Balogun, who many expected to start over the player he is replacing.
ARSENAL 3-0 WIMBLEDON
80. Eddie Nketiah has his goal, and it’s the best of the night.
Once again, Arsenal work the ball intricately down the right with Nuno Tavares heavily involved.
It’s then moved on to Cedric Soares on the overlap, and his fizzed cross is flicked in at the near post by Nketiah’s instinctive and brilliant back-heel.
The scoreline is harsh on Wimbledon, but that was a goal of Premier League class.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!
EDDIE NKETIAH MAKES IT THREE!!ARSENAL 2-0 WIMBLEDON
77. Emile Smith Rowe finally ends Wimbledon’s resistance.
With their attacking reinforcements on show, Arsenal stretch the visitors’ defence by moving the ball from left to right and back again.
Smith Rowe slips in Bukayo Saka and although his cross towards Eddie Nketiah is cut out, Alexandre Lacazette is on hand to poke back into the path off Smith Rowe.
The substitute takes a touch to make room for himself, and then fires an emphatic shot beyond Nik Tzanev.
That should be Arsenal in the Last 16.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!
EMILE SMITH ROWE ADDS ARSENAL’S SECOND!!ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
76. Arsenal are turning to their big guns to get the job done. Here comes Bukayo Saka, only for the final quarter of an hour in place of Gabriel Martinelli.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
73. Nketiah’s hopes of finding the net this evening take another blow as his left-footed strike is smothered by Tzanev.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
72. Having made the save, the Wimbledon goalkeeper tries to launch a quick attack with a punt forward.
But guess what? Assal is offside.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
71. Having watched Partey go close, it now seems as though Cedric fancies his chances of becoming an unlikely scorer.
The right-back ghosts into the box to collect Smith Rowe’s pass, but then shoots straight at Tzanev.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
68. A final throw of the dice for Mark Robinson as one 21-year-old replaces another.
The Wimbledon head coach introduces South African Ethan Chislett for Jack Rudoni.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
67. Midway through the second half and the difference remains just a single goal.
The Dons have looked good when they’ve attempted to get forward, but know Arsenal could pick them off to finish the tie if they commit too much too soon.
Something has to give shortly.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
64. Off the post! Nuno Tavares has caught the eye this evening, and goes close to bagging Arsenal’s second.
The roaming Portuguese youngster bursts forward to meet Martinelli’s deep cross, only for his header to be kept out by a combination of Tzanev and the woodwork.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
63. Almost! Those Wimbledon substitutes almost combine to present Mebude with an immediate chance to make himself a hero, but Pressley’s pass is cut out by Holding.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
60. Another substitution for Wimbledon, and it’s another striker thrown into the mix.
Dapo Mebude, formerly of Glasgow Rangers and loan from Watford, is on for Luke McCormick, and will partner fellow sub Aaron Pressley up front.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
59. Thomas Partey almost caps his evening with a stunner. The midfielder exchanges passes with Nuno Tavares and then unleashes a rocket from close to 30 yards. Nik Tzanev does well to touch over the crossbar.
It’s Partey’s last involvement of the night too, and he departs for Emile Smith Rowe in anticipating of the North London derby. More of the same on Sunday, please.
ARSENAL 1-0 WIMBLEDON
57. Woodyard picks out McCormick’s run, but the midfielder had gone too early and has been flagged offside.
The Arsenal offside trap has been in action as if the return of Wimbledon really took them back to 1989.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
