By David Awopetu
Holders Arsenal needed extra-time as they booked their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium.
Substitute Emile Smith Rowe had a straight red card for a challenge on Sean Longstaff at the end of normal time downgraded to a booking by Chris Kavanagh after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor.
The youngster made the all-important breakthrough for the Gunners in the 109th minute before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (117) sealed his side’s place in Monday’s fourth-round draw.
Andy Carroll missed two golden chances in normal time, which could have sent Arsenal to a rare third-round exit.
The Gunners, who have won the FA Cup on a record 14 occasions, go into the fourth-round draw having being knocked out in the third round just once in the past 25 years.
But it could have been different had 32-year-old striker Andy Carroll been able to convert his opportunities, particularly the second, which came in the final minute of normal time.
Arsenal would have had little time to recover from that and they had keeper Bernd Leno to thank as he reacted quickly to spread himself to smother Carroll’s shot.
That chance came after former England striker Carroll had been unable to take another opportunity early in the second half, staying onside but sidefooting wide.
Instead, it was a player at the other end of his career who took the plaudits. Smith Rowe, with his energy and willingness to carry the ball, has added another dimension to Arsenal’s attacking play in recent weeks.
After an insipid first half, the England youth international was brought on as a 56th-minute substitute by Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta, and quickly became the game’s central character.
