Emile Smith Rowe seals edgy win for Arsenal over ten-man Blackpool
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Arsenal made hard work of dispatching Blackpool in the Carabao Cup but the Gunners progressed as both sides finished with 10 men at the Emirates Stadium.
The hosts appeared to be coasting after Stephan Lichtsteiner's first goal for the club was added to by Emile Smith Rowe.
But Blackpool rallied and, after Matteo Guendouzi had been sent off for two fouls on Jordan Thompson, Paudie O'Connor reduced the arrears before also being dismissed as Arsenal secured a narrow 2-1 victory.
Unai Emery made nine changes but his side still featured the likes of Petr Cech, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey - the latter starting despite his future having reportedly been resolved during a meeting with the club.
The Wales midfielder said in Lisbon last week that he had received no explanation as to why a contract offer had been withdrawn but he now looks set to walk away for nothing when his current deal expires in the summer.
Carl Jenkinson also came in for Arsenal, making his first appearance for the club in 701 days as he was joined in defence by debutant Julio Pleguezuelo.
As expected the hosts had plenty of possession at the start of the game but did not test their former goalkeeper Mark Howard in the opening half an hour.
That changed, however, when Lichtsteiner slid in to connect with Guendouzi's fine, lofted pass into the box and put the Gunners ahead with their first shot on target.
Shkodran Mustafi then came close to adding a second but his close-range header was deflected behind before Guendouzi sent a low drive wide of the post.
The second goal came from a player some 16 years younger than Lichtsteiner, Smith Rowe turning home after Jenkinson's cross had been knocked into his path by Howard.
Blackpool almost halved the deficit when O'Connor rose to meet a corner, heading against the frame of the goal with Cech nowhere to be seen as he burst from his line.
Guendouzi, who had fouled Thompson in the first half to earn himself a booking, was given his marching orders after 56 minutes for pulling back the same player.
Blackpool needed just 10 minutes after the red card to bring themselves back into the game, O'Connor again rising for a header, this time unmarked, as the Leeds loanee grabbed his second goal for the club.
Cech had appeared uncomfortable with Emery's desire for his side to play out from the back, being caught out on numerous occasions during the early weeks of the season.
He returned here but was again left red-faced as he was challenged in the box by Blackpool captain Jay Spearing as Nathan Delfouneso turned into an empty net only to see the goal chalked out for offside.
Emery was suitably worried to introduce club record signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from the bench for the last 15 minutes.
Top goalscorer for Arsenal so far this season, Aubameyang had little chance to add to his tally but was hacked down by O'Connor as the defender was sent off with six minutes remaining.
PA
Hello, and welcome to our coverage of all the action from tonight's Carabao Cup fourth round fixtures. We'll bring you up to date team news as well as live coverage from all four games:
Arsenal vs Blackpool (7.45pm)
Chelsea vs Derby County (7.45pm)
West Ham vs Tottenham (7.45pm)
Middlesbrough vs Crystal Palace (8.00pm)
Arsenal vs Blackpool
A lot can happen in 8 years, read Luke Brown's story about Blackpool's last visit to the Emirates and the seeming decline that has happened to the club since.
Chelsea vs Derby
Frank Lampard and his Derby side came up against Jose Mourinho and Manchester United in the third round and brushed them aside with a spectacular performance.
Tonight Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge, can he inflict another upset but this time on his old club?
West Ham vs Tottenham
This is the second year running in which West Ham have faced Tottenham in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Last time they came from 2-0 behind to win 3-2 at Wembley. Have they got a repeat performance in store tonight?
Middlesbrough vs Crystal Palace
The facts make for interesting reading in this match up between North and South.
Middlesbrough have lost their last three matches against Crystal Palace, all of them in the league with the most recent coming in the 2016/17 Premier League season.
Palace also won the League Cup match up between the sides, in September 2011, winning 2-1 at Selhurst Park.
However they have reached the League Cup quarter-final just once in their last 15 attempts, doing so in 2011/12.
Roy Hodgson also has a poor record against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, he was never won there in three previous attempts, drawing once and losing twice.
Chelsea vs Derby
Who remembers this stunner from Derby's third round victory over Manchester United? Another one of these tonight could throw the cat amongst the pigeons...
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