As third-round ties go this went by the numbers. Oxford United gave Arsenal a game for an hour, without threatening to make things more interesting than that, and could draw on enough positives to hope for a bright end to their third-tier campaign. The Premier League leaders eventually bucked up and picked them off with three goals in 13 minutes, meaning this went down as a job well done and banishing the looming spectre of a replay.
All three of Arsenal’s goals were created by Fábio Vieira, whose display epitomised that of the collective. Nothing went right before half-time for the Portuguese schemer, who is expected to impress on his rare starting gigs as Martin Ødegaard’s deputy, but he was ultimately their matchwinner. A devilish free-kick delivery gave Mohamed Elneny the opener on a plate before two slide-rule passes let Eddie Nketiah put matters beyond doubt with the kind of finishes that are his stock in trade.
