Late Giroud strike downs Preston


Arsenal captain Olivier Giroud struck late to send his side into the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 win at Preston North End on Saturday night.

The Premier League side had to do it the hard way against their Sky Bet Championship opposition, coming from behind at Deepdale following Callum Robinson's seventh-minute opener.

Preston squandered several clear-cut chances to add a second and were punished when Aaron Ramsey equalised a minute after half-time.

And Giroud, who scored a dramatic leveller against Bournemouth on Tuesday night, repeated the trick, bundling home from Lucas Perez's neat back-heel.

There was more good news for Arsenal as Danny Welbeck made his first appearance for eight months, replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the closing stages.

Arsene Wenger made five changes from the draw at Bournemouth, leaving Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil at home and handing the armband to Giroud.

Preston, meanwhile, made three changes and the hosts dominated the first half, opening the scoring through the lively Robinson.

Everton loanee Aiden McGeady had a crucial role in creating the goal, with Robinson on hand to slot home after a fortuitous break of the ball.

The Preston goalscorer was a constant menace alongside strike partner Jordan Hugill, and the Championship outfit had three big chances to extend their lead before the break.

The best was wasted by Robinson, who failed to pick out Hugill for a tap-in at the far post after springing Arsenal's offside trap.

Monreal cleared Paul Gallagher's lob off the line and Shkodran Mustafi recovered well to block Robinson's goal-bound header as last-ditch defending kept Arsenal in the game.

Preston were made to pay for those missed chances when the Gunners equalised within 50 seconds of the restart.

Ramsey, who went closest for the visitors in the first half with a header straight at Preston goalkeeper Chris Maxwell, blasted home from 18 yards.

The goal sparked Arsenal into life and they enjoyed the better of the second period, with Maxwell busy to deny Mustafi and Alex Iwobi.

It set the stage for Giroud, who had a goal correctly ruled out for offside earlier in the half, to deny Preston the chance for a replay at the Emirates.

The Arsenal skipper rose highest to flick on for Perez before latching onto the Spaniard's back-heel and turning past Maxwell.

There was still time for Welbeck to go close as the Preston 'keeper denied the Arsenal forward the perfect comeback with a fine save in the final minute.

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