Olivier Giroud grabbed a brace as Arsenal beat Everton 4-1 at the Emirates to progress to the Semi-finals of the FA Cup. Ozil opened scoring in the 7th minute from a Cazorla pass, before the Toffees equalized from a counter in the 33rd minute. Oxlade-Chamberlain won a penalty which was taken twice by Arteta to give Arsenal the lead in the 69th minute. Giroud came in for Sanogo and scored a brace in 3 minutes: a cutback from Sagna and an assist from Ozil.

Rested and Refreshed.

Ozil was in blistering form against Everton starting off with a well taken goal in the 7th minute and rounding up with an assist for Giroud’s 2nd goal. The German playmaker has been criticized in recent times for a lack in form which was epitomized by that penalty miss against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.

Wenger had to give Ozil a rest. He was off against Liverpool and came in as a sub against Stoke. The rest indeed worked wonders. Ozil was phenomena and Wenger had this to say:

Of course it’s important for him he took his chance because sometimes you want him to take the chance because he always looks for the good pass. I hope that will encourage him. What I liked with him is that physically he looked regenerated, having more power in his runs. As well I liked that he did a lot of dirty work for a player like him, that means he tracked back in the first half – especially on the counter attack he came back with long runs. When he behaves like that of course you have a better chance to win the game.

Super Sub, Super Double

Arsene Wenger brought on Giroud in the 61st minute before taking of the Ox for Rosicky in the 78th minute. Giroud would later on grab a brace to increase his goal tally of the season. At 2-1, Everton were still pushing on for an equalizer but Rosicky played Sagna down the Everton right, the France international got at the goal line and cut backed for Giroud to score at close range.

Arsenal 4th goal involved the pair of Rosicky and Giroud. Cazorla touched the ball to Rosicky who one-touched it to Giroud via Ozil. The goal was Ljunberg-Pires-Bergamkp-Henry-esque goal. One touch football!!

 FA Cup’s Closer and in London.

For the 1st time Wenger’s reign at Arsenal, Arsenal has had all their FA Cup pre-semi final games at home. Thus, the gunners will not leave London to win the FA Cup. The gunners will play their 28th Semi final at Wembley, in London.

The FA Cup is more closer than any other trophy for the gunners to get. With just two wins left to break Arsenal’s trophy drought, the gunners will need to put all their Arsenal to bring glory back to Ashburton Groove.

Tottenham’s 4-0 Comical loss to Chelsea didn’t help Arsenal’s Premier League challenge, leaving the gunners 7 points behhind the Blues with a game in hand and 10 games to play. The Premier League is important but the FA cup is much closer. As for the Champions League, can we have a miracle in Munich? Bayern Munich 6-1 won at Wolfsburg after going a goal down.

Boost For Munich?

This win should act as a boost for the Munich encounter.

It was important for us to win, to put us in a good mind on the psychological front. We can be inspired by our focus on the day, by our desire and go to Bayern with the same spirit. The statistics go against us when we go to Bayern, but let’s make sure that the performance goes for us. Then we have a chance. – Arsene Wenger.

It was a good response to the Stoke loss and should propel the gunners to a wonderful finish despite the loss of Wilshere.

In other news, the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League and the Major League Soccer has begun. Enyimba FC are out of the CAF Champions League on the away goal rule despite winning 1-0 at Bamako against AS Bamako. The aggregate score was 2-2. Nigeria now has no representative in the CAF Champions League. Bayelsea United are through to the next round of the CAF Confederation cup with 2-0 win over Kondzo FC.

What a Saturday.

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