Arsenal beat Oxford United in FA Cup third round clash at Kassam

A Mohamed Elneny header and two strikes from Eddie Nketiah proved enough as the Gunners set up a tie with Manchester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Karl Robinson made two changes to the side which lost 1-0 at home to Exeter City on New Year’s Day, with Josh Murphy and Billy Bodin coming in for Tyler Goodrham and Yanic Wildschut.

Arsenal meanwhile made seven changes – but kept the front three which drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle United six days prior.

Gabriel kept his place in defence, as did Bukayo Saka, Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli in attack.

The sides went into the half-time break goalless as United more than held their own against the Premier League leaders.

Chances were at a premium, but the U’s frustrated the Gunners in front of goal with some brilliant blocks and challenges when required.

The first sight of goal came for United with three minutes on the clock.

Fabio Vieira gave the ball to Marcus McGuane just outside the penalty area.

A heavy touch from McGuane let him down though as he sought to find a way into the box.

The U’s continued their impressive start with Murphy clipping a cross from the right towards Matty Taylor, but Gunners goalkeeper Matt Turner was able to claim the ball.

It took just over 15 minutes for Arsenal to truly threaten for the first time, when Takehiro Tomiyasu found space down the right, but his cross was well held by Ed McGinty.

Ten minutes later, a Cameron Brannagan shot from the edge of the box was blocked as Robinson’s side upped the ante.

Just after the half-hour mark, Taylor thought he’d won a corner when he latched onto the end of a long ball from McGinty, and although it looked like the ball last went off Rob Holding, a goal kick was given.

Arsenal then appealed for a handball in the box when their first shot of the game – from Albert Sambi Lokonga – was charged down by Elliott Moore, but referee David Coote gave a corner in the face of the Gunners' protests.

Another promising moment for United saw Taylor slip in Bodin, however his cross wasn’t able to find Murphy.

The final moment of action in the opening 45 minutes saw Djavan Anderson match Martinelli for pace and make a perfectly timed challenge as the Brazilian forward looked to lead a counter-attack.

The beginning of the second half saw a through ball fall kindly for Taylor, who beat the offside trap but could not stretch enough to poke it past Turner.

Arsenal’s first serious attack saw Lewis Bate block Saka's effort from inside the six-yard box, with the England winger’s resulting corner pushed away by McGinty as it swung goalwards.

The Gunners made a double substitution just after the hour mark and took the lead minutes after.

Anderson was penalised for a soft-looking foul on Martinelli, with Vieira whipping in the resulting free-kick towards the edge of the six-yard box.

Elneny found space in the crowded penalty area and thumped home a header past McGinty.

Arsenal doubled their lead seven minutes later when a loose pass by McGuane was picked off by Elneny, who found Vieira in space.

The through ball to Nketiah was perfect, as was the striker’s run, and he rounded McGinty and applied the finish.

The Premier League side were in complete control and showed their class for the third goal when Martinelli turned into space and found Nketiah, who dinked the ball over McGinty.

Oxford United (4-3-3): McGinty; Anderson, Moore, Long, Brown (Fleming 84); Bate, McGuane (Johnson 84), Brannagan; Murphy (Wildschut 61), Taylor (O’Donkor 76), Bodin (Goodrham 76).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Negru, Findlay, Sade.

Booked: Brown.

Arsenal (4-3-3): Turner; Tomiyasu (White 81), Holding, Gabriel, Tierney (Zinchenko 61); Sambi Lokonga (Xhaka 61), Elneny, Vieira (Marquinhos 81); Saka (Smith Rowe 75), Nketiah, Martinelli.

Unused subs: Hein, Partey, Odegaard, Butler-Oyedeji.

Booked: None.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire)

Attendance: 11,538 (visitors TBC)