Arsenal edged through to the last-16 in the FA Cup as substitute Theo Walcott netted a late winner to secure a 3-2 victory at Brighton on Saturday.
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The Seagulls made a bright start against a much-changed Gunners line-up, with their fluent passing style pleasing on the eye.
Ashley Barnes almost broke the deadlock as he forced a fine save from Wojciech Szczesny, before the visitors sprung forward at the other end and Olivier Giroud gave them the lead by curling home a superb left-footed shot from just outside the area.
Brighton had an equaliser ruled out on the half-hour mark as Szczesny parried a cross from the right and debutant Leonardo Ulloa poked the loose ball home, only to be flagged for off-side.
However, the home side were level 12 minutes before the break as Barnes beat Szczesny to a ball in from the right from David Lopez to head into the unguarded net.
Eleven minutes into the second half Arsenal were back in front as Abou Diaby lofted a pass forward and Giroud took the ball down with a sublime touch before lashing it past the advancing Casper Ankergren.
Giroud almost completed a hat-trick on the hour, forcing Ankergren into a smart, low save, only for Albion to draw level again as Barnes crossed in from the right and Ulloa marked his debut with a close-range diving header.
Eight minutes from time Giroud shot over, but Arsenal did grab a winner soon after as Ankergren came and only half-cleared a corner, with Walcott's follow-up going in via a deflection.
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