Brighton vs. Arsenal: Winners and Losers from FA Cup Game
Arsenal squeezed through to the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
The Gunners raced into a two-goal lead through Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil, but Chris O'Grady pegged them back at the beginning of the second half to make it a game. A Tomas Rosicky stunner re-established the two-goal cushion before Sam Baldock grabbed a consolatory strike.
Here, B/R reveals its winners and losers from the game.
Winner: Theo Walcott, Who Found Sharpness and Form
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It took Theo Walcott just two minutes to find the net against Brighton on Sunday, firing a neat finish across the goalkeeper following good work from Calum Chambers.
He's missed several chances just like it since gingerly returning from a horrific ACL tear, and it seems as though the Englishman has finally found the appropriate intensity, pace and sharpness once again.
That's a big win for the player, and a big win for the club. The Gunners possess superb forward depth.
"It has been a while since I last scored. It has been a whole year," Walcott told BeIN Sports, per BBC Sport. "People will expect me to score every game now but it is not going to happen overnight. It is about building up fitness."
Winner: Mesut Ozil, Who Impressed Upon Returning
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In his first start in over four months, Mesut Ozil reminded us why he's such a precocious talent on the ball. Playing in his favoured No. 10 role, he impressed early on with silky, linking passes and scored the team's second goal to hammer home the advantage.
Ozil is a divisive figure in world football due to the fluffy nature of his game, but here he benefited from a dominant team and saw plenty of the ball. He created three chances for team-mates in the first half alone, per WhoScored.com.
Eighty strong minutes from the German.
Loser: Joe Bennett, Who'll Need an Ice Bath, Pronto!
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Spare a thought for Joe Bennett, Brighton's beleaguered left-back on the day. He'll need an ice bath and a recovery shake ASAP, because he was run into the ground this weekend.
He endured 70 minutes of Theo Walcott running straight at him. When the Englishman came off, Alexis Sanchez replaced him and continued the torture.
It was a rough day for Joe, who gave up a lot of ground in very understandable circumstances.
Winner: Chris O'Grady, Who Impressed for Brighton
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Chris O'Grady played in place of Craig Mackail-Smith up front for Brighton on Sunday and impressed the watching world. He began on the left but switched with Sam Baldock early, and his presence in attack was key to the Seagulls' fight-back.
He scored to open the second half in dramatic circumstances, drilling a low shot into the corner, and caused Nacho Monreal no end of issues over the shoulder and dropping off.
He also deflected a goal-bound Alexis Sanchez free-kick onto the bar whilst standing in the wall. An excellent all-round effort.
Winner: Tomas Rosicky, Who Was Man of the Match
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Tomas Rosicky has a reputation among Arsenal fans for dropping off, form-wise, between January and May. In the past it has infuriated the crowds; the 34-year-old rarely puts together a consistent season.
But he's playing superbly right now, and he was the best player on the park at the Amex Stadium on Sunday. His showboat passes, no-look deliveries and reverse balls flummoxed Brighton time and again.
He capped the day off with a sublime volleyed goal from outside the box after being teed up by Olivier Giroud. Remarkable.
