Preston 1 Arsenal 2: WATCH HIGHLIGHTS – Olivier Giroud scores late goal to spare Arsene Wenger’s blushes after poor performance

OLIVIER GIROUD scored a late, late goal to send Arsenal into the fourth round of the FA Cup despite a terrible performance at Preston.

The Championship side took an early lead and should have had more after a gutless Gunners performance in the first half.

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Callum Robinson opened the scoring early for Preston, reacting fastest to a loose ball to finish.

Preston dominated the first half and should've had a bigger lead - but Robinson's cross for Jordan Hugill was just too strong, while Paul Gallagher had a shot cleared off the line by Nacho Monreal.

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Arsene Wenger's half-time team talk clearly lit a fire under the Arsenal players as Aaron Ramsey scored within a minute of the restart - firing in a powerful strike off the post.

The visitors struggled to create after, however, and looked to be heading for an embarrassing replay.

But Giroud latched on to a superb Lucas Perez backheel to bundle the ball over the line and send Arsenal into the next round.

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FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS

• 'Glory Days' by Bruce Springsteen played on the PA system before kick-off, offering a reminder that these two teams were once “Invincibles”
• Two club legends were pundits in the BT studio, with Ian Wright and Kevin Davies analysing the action.
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was back after four games out of the starting line-up through injury and selection.

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• The match went ahead despite the threat of fog during the afternoon in Preston.
• Shkodran Mustafi was starting his second game since returning from a hamstring injury – and Arsenal’s defence have looked shaky in both games.

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• Callum Robinson netted his sixth of the season when he broke the deadlock with his early strike.
• Ainsley Maitland-Niles against Aiden McGeady was a mis-match as the Preston winger had too much experience for the youngster.
• Arsenal’s record against lower league opposition in the FA Cup was one defeat in 36 ties ahead of this game.
• Arsene Wenger has still never lost an FA Cup third-round tie - but only just.
• One huge bit of good news for Arsenal fans was the return of Danny Welbeck, playing his first game in an Arsenal shirt since last May. He came on for the final 10 minutes.

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BIG PICTURE

SOCIAL SAYS

DREAM TEAM RATINGS

Preston North End: Maxwell 7, Vermijl 6, Clarke 6, Huntington 6, Cunningham 6, Gallagher 7 (Browne 60, 6), Pearson 7, Johnson 6 (Horgan 81, 5), McGeady 6, Hugill 6 (Makienok 75, 6), Robinson 7.

Subs not used: Lindegaard, Doyle, Spurr, Pringle.

Arsenal: Ospina 6, Maitland-Niles 7 (Holding 90, 5), Mustafi 7, Gabriel 6, Monreal 7, Ramsey 8, Xhaka 6, Perez 7 (Reine-Adelaide 90, 5), Iwobi 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Welbeck 83, 6), Giroud 6.

Subs not used: Jenkinson, Martinez, Da Silva, Willock.

WHAT THEY SAID

Preston manager Simon Grayson: "[The late goal is] a bit of a kick in the teeth."

"He went through a period where he was in discomfort. He kept focus, he has shown leadership and that's why I made him captain," Arsene Wenger on Olivier Giroud.