Sports News of Thursday, 25 May 2017

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FA Cup: We would have gone out – Wenger admits

If we had come here in a relaxed mood, we would have gone out tonight because they produced quality. If we had come here in a relaxed mood, we would have gone out tonight because they produced quality.

Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger was relieved after his team recorded a hard fought 2-0 win over a non-league side, Sutton United on Monday night.

He, however, admitted they would have faced FA Cup humiliation had the players shown less application in their fifth- round victory.

The Gunners came out of Sutton’s 5,000-capacity Gander Green Lane ground vivtorious, but they were given a real run for their money by a team ranked 105 places below them in the English league system.

Goals from Lucas Perez and Theo Walcott, earned the visitors victory, but Sutton fought until the end, even hitting the wood work through Roarie Deacon.

When asked if it had merely been a case of ‘job done’, the French coach said, “ Yes, against a side that was astonishing.

“It is basically division five and they are 17 th out of 24 . I will never go down there [to manage] because it is too difficult!

“We had to keep our focus . I must give credit to the players who were professional and kept their focus.

“If we had come here in a relaxed mood, we would have gone out tonight because they produced quality.

“They kept going and we were never really in a position where we could afford to have a little breather in the game.

“We couldn ’t afford to go out tonight. We can never afford it.”

Aresenal will host another non-league side, Lincoln City, in the quarter -finals.