Arsenal in FA Cup quarters

French striker, Olivier Giroud netted twice in three first-half minutes to ensure the Gunners' hopes of retaining the FA Cup trophy remain very much alive.

There was to be no repeat of Middlesbrough's FA Cup heroics as they were comfortably dispatched by Arsenal at the Emirates.

A first-half brace from Frenchman Olivier Giroud was enough to seal the Gunners' place in tonight's quarter-final draw.

Aitor Karanka's men never showed the same kind of intensity they displayed when they dumped Manchester City out of the competition in the fourth-round.

Chances for Boro were few and far between throughout the clash and Patrick Bamford and co rarely troubled Arsenal's backline.

Arsene Wenger's side took the lead after 27 minutes when Giroud capped off a fine team move with a simple finish.

Santi Cazorla picked out Kieran Gibbs down the left who fired in a low cross for Giroud to turn home from all of six yards.

Just two minutes later the Frenchman doubled Arsenal's lead with a fine piece of individual skill.

Alexis Sanchez whipped in a corner from the left-hand side for Giroud to volley home in immaculate style from a tight angle.

Arsenal's Chilean star Sanchez almost added a third after the break but was denied by a fantastic save from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tomas Mejias. — Mirror