Arsenal enjoy Cup revenge over Liverpool

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LONDON: Arsenal knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday as they gained revenge for a humiliating loss to their Premier League title rivals.

Only eight days earlier Arsenal, who now face Everton, were beaten 5-1 by Liverpool at Anfield.

But Arsene Wenger’s men — who haven’t won a major trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 2005 — turned the table at the Emirates Stadium.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the Gunners a 16th minute lead when he followed up after Steven Gerrard blocked Yaya Sanogo’s initial shot.

Oxlade-Chamberlain turned provider in the 47th minute, outpacing Daniel Agger before a pull-back for Lukas Podoslki allowed the Germany star to fire them into a 2-0 lead.

But Liverpool captain Gerrard ensured a nervous finish for the London club when he scored from the penalty spot in the 59th minute after Podolski fouled Luis Suarez.

And Liverpool felt they should have had a second spot-kick moments later when Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to foul Suarez.

But Howard Webb, the 2010 World Cup final referee, dismissed their appeals.

“The intensity of the performance pleased me, I am very proud of the way we responded to the huge defeat that we had (at Anfield) last week,” Arsenal manager Wenger.

But Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers bemoaned the lack of a “blatant penalty”, after Arsenal denied his side a Merseyside derby quarter-final with Everton.

“I thought the best team lost,” he told BT Sport. “I thought the very least we deserved was a replay.

“We are bitterly disappointed not to get something and not to get another penalty, which I though was a blatant penalty.

“It was probably more clear and blatant than the first.

“Now we have got one competition to focus on for the rest of the season and have to really focus on these last 12 league games.”

Earlier on Sunday, Everton beat Swansea 3-1 at Goodison Park.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez, who won the Cup with Wigan last season, saw Lacina Traore, his loan transfer signing from Monaco in January, take just four minutes of his debut to give the Merseysiders the lead.

Jonathan de Guzman drew Swansea level in the 15th before second half substitute Steven Naismith put Everton in front again — with his fourth goal in six games — and then won the penalty from which Leighton Baines scored to put the result beyond doubt.

However, there was a worrying moment for Everton when, shortly before full-time, Naismith went off with concussion after being caught in the head by Jordi Amat.

“The draw hasn’t been too kind in terms of playing away from home, but we will embrace it and look forward to it,” Martinez told ITV Sport.

Sunday’s other Cup tie saw third tier Sheffield United beat second-tier Nottingham Forest 3-1.

United, managed by former Forest favourite Nigel Clough, could be involved in a derby quarter-final against Sheffield Wednesday if their city rivals beat Charlton Athletic in a re-arranged match.

Jamie Paterson headed Forest into an early lead before the on-loan Conor Coady drew the Blades level in the 66th minute.

And Chris Porter then sparked scenes of near delirium amongst the Bramall Lane faithful with two goals right at the end of the match.

He put them in front with a 90th minute penalty following Greg Halford’s hand-ball and then sealed victory in stoppage-time with a finish from close range.

The last eight line-up also saw FA Cup holders Wigan paired against Manchester City in a repeat of last season’s final. — AFP