Jack Wilshere goal sends Arsenal through in replay

Arsenal put in a spirited performance on Wednesday night as they beat Swansea 1-0 in their FA Cup third round replay. The original tie had ended 2-2; however this match wasn't as exciting despite the amount of chances the Gunners created. The goal finally came 5 minutes from the end as Jack Wilshere hammered the ball home to make sure it would be Arsenal that played Brighton in the next round of the Cup. Arsene Wenger made quite a few changes to the side that were beaten by City as Mertesacker came in for the suspended Laurent Koscielny. Meanwhile Coquelin came in for Podolski as Cazorla played out wide. Wilshere was in the advanced midfield role which seemed to work a treat. Giroud also came in for Chamberlain as Walcott moved into the wide position.

Jack Wilshere capped off a brilliant display with a goal which sent Arsenal through

The first chance of the match came in the opening minutes as De Guzman slipped in Danny Graham but he blasted his shot wide.

Arsenal's first chance fell on five minutes as Walcott managed to get round Tiendalli before reaching the byline and picking out Giroud. However he couldn't direct his header and it went wide.

Francis Coquelin then had a chance to grab his first Arsenal goal as the ball came out to him from a corner but his driven shot was straight at Vorm.

Kyle Bartley, the former Gunner, then hit the bar for the second game in a row against his ex-colleagues as Routledge's ball found him but his header crashed against the frame of the goal.

It was end to end in the first half and Theo Walcott almost put home a chance after great work from Wilshere but Tiendalli was in the way to block the shot.

Moments before the break Thomas Vermaelen had a fantastic chance to put Arsenal ahead. Theo Walcott's corner was headed away by Chico but only as far as Mertesacker. The ball then bounced off him and into the path of Vermaelen whose shot was brilliantly saved by the legs of Vorm.

The score at half time was 0-0.

The first opportunity of the second half fell Arsenal's way and it really should have found the back of the net. Diaby played a great through ball into Walcott who raced clear of the defence before dinking the ball just wide.

Minutes later the Gunners almost found the net through Cazorla as Wilshere layed the ball off to the Spaniard who cut inside before fizzing the ball over the bar.

Arsenal's next effort came from a corner as Walcott found Giroud at the near post but his header bounced wide.

Real pressure was being put on the visitors and the hosts almost put themselves in front once more. Jack Wilshere weaved his way past Bartley before forcing a save from Vorm. The ball then came out to Walcott whose shot was blocked on the line by Graham.

Giroud wasn't having the best of nights in front of goal as he then managed to work off a shot from outside the box. He turned away from his marker before firing right footed straight at the goalkeeper.

Walcott was also proving to be quite frustrating in front of goal as he wasted another chance after Wilshere had played him through.

Arsenal were desperately pushing for the goal that would send them through and their best player on the night, Jack Wilshere, then had a shot from outside the box which Vorm beated away.

With 10 minutes left to play Swansea finally had their first effort on goal in the second half. Ki got the ball on the edge of the area before driving the ball towards the far post but Szczesny was there to tip it wide for a corner.

The Gunners then hit the post as Walcott failed to make contact with Sagna's cross and the ball went all the way through to hit the wood-work.

The ball was then finally put in the back of the net, much to the relief of everyone associated with Arsenal. Giroud managed to lay the ball off to Wilshere who looked up and smashed the ball past Vorm to send Arsenal into round 4.

The final score finished Arsenal 1-0 Swansea.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin, Diaby(82), Wilshere, Walcott, Cazorla, Giroud. 
Subs: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Ramsey(82), Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski. 

Swansea: Vorm, Richards, Chico, Bartley, Tiendalli, Britton, Agustien(60), De Guzman(61), Routledge, Dyer, Graham(71).
Subs: Tremmel, Davies, Monk, Ki(61), Hernandez(60), Michu(71), Shechter. 

My man of the match: Jack Wilshere

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 58,359