PNE - Arsenal review FA Cup 3rd round

A game of two halves with quality showing in the end. I thought PNE were superb first half, Johnson going close from range, Ospina looked shook up, Arsenal's defence looked week and Preston, time after time, kept springing the offside trap. They scored the first time with Hugill being pressured down and plays the ball to Robinson who taps in and then the other round minutes later with Robinson playing a low, quick ball across and PNE were so unlucky not to be 2 up by half time. Arsenal looked very uncomfortable but the second half they looked up for it. Time after time Arsenal looked for passes through the middle and time after time Pearson, Clarke, Huntington, Cunningham and Marnick Vermijl blocked and closed down. Ramsey round space, however, in the first minute of the second half and took a powerful shot into the post and into the net. A wonderful goal. Preston sat a little deeper than needed but the goal was good. Preston sat on the 1-1 then and never looked like scoring if I'm honest in the second half. Hugill and Makienok looked dangerous and bullied Arsenal's defence and bought fouls but the registered no shots and target in the second half and I don't recall seeing much of the wingers either. Horgan looked lively but Arsenal looked comfortable. They looked frustrated as the game went on that they were not winning and the thought of a replay but Perez's lovely back  heel and the PNE players looked square as Giroud saw a deflected shot go in. Unlucky but 2-1 Arsenal. 

Preston put up a good fight and were very unlucky. The game wasn't a classic but was a good match and with more quality and belief, they could have forced a replay and even won. But it's Arsenal who go back to fighting to a top 4 place in the PL and their CL efforts and the 4th round, but for PNE, it's a difficult period of fixtures in the league as they look to accumulate some more wins and points to stay up and look farther ahead to mid-table and the top half. I think the play-offs are just out of reach, the results against Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday at home over Christmas and New Year have shown they are a little bit behind them. But never say never, the Championship is very unpredictable. 

I will be previewing and reviewing the next City game away at Everton next Sunday then back to Spurs at home the week after whilst previewing and reviewing the PNE away match at Villa too that I'm going to. See you next week, have a good week and day everyone.