LONDON — Arsenal was again indebted to Olivier Giroud after the Frenchman’s 89th-minute strike secured a 2-1 victory at second-tier Preston North End in the FA Cup third round Saturday.
Giroud has now scored four goals in his last four games including a late winner at West Bromwich Albion, an equalizer against Bournemouth in midweek and last weekend’s extraordinary “scorpion” volley against Crystal Palace.
His deflected effort at Deepdale was rough on Preston after the Championship side had bossed the first half and should have been ahead by more than Callum Robinson’s early effort.
Had another Robinson effort not been disallowed or Jordan Hugill got a touch when sliding in to meet a low cross with the goal at his mercy, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger might have suffered a first defeat in an FA Cup third round tie.
They improved after the break though and after Aaron Ramsey had scored his first goal of the season a minute after the restart the visitors looked the more likely winners.
Preston took the lead in the seventh minute when Aiden McGeady’s dazzling turn and pass was not dealt with by Arsenal’s defense and Robinson fired home.
However, Preston could not build on its lead.
Ramsey produced a stunning finish to level it up after halftime. Preston then mounted a rearguard action which deserved a replay until Giroud popped up to sweep home from close range after a neat back flick by Lucas Perez.
Four of Giroud’s last six goals have come in the 86th minute or later and he has scored in each of his past eight starts.
Draxler on target
Paris Saint-Germain got its French Cup defense off to a dream start Saturday with new recruit Julian Draxler scoring in a 7-0 rout of Ligue 1 rivals Bastia.
Unai Emery’s side thus advanced to the last 32 of a tournament.
Making his competitive debut 23-year-old winger Draxler completed the rout scoring the final goal three minutes from the whistle.
The German World Cup-winner completed his move this month from Wolfsburg for a reported fee of up to 42 million euros ($45 million).
PSG captain Thiago Silva opened the goal fest with a header on 30 minutes with Adrien Rabiot firing in the second from 25 metres out just before the break.
It was all one-way traffic in the second half with goals Christopher Nkunku, Thiago Motta, Angel Di Maria and a Lucas penalty humiliating the visitors before Draxler struck.
Five other Ligue 1 sides also competing on Saturday advanced.
Lille ended the adventure of minnows AS Excelsior 4-1, as Guingamp beat Le Havre 2-1.
Monaco Friday advanced past second division AC Ajaccio 2-1.
Tonelli hits dream winner
Luca Tonelli completed a dream debut for Napoli by hitting a last-gasp winner in a 2-1 defeat of ten-man Sampdoria Saturday that closed the gap on leaders Juventus to four points.
Napoli looked to be heading for only a share of the points at the San Paolo stadium when Manolo Gabiadini came off the bench to hit a late leveler after Elseid Hysaj’s own goal gave a dogged Samp a surprise 1-0 lead on the half hour.
But Tonelli, making his first start for Napoli since arriving from Empoli six months ago amid the absence of Algerian Faouzi Ghoulam at the Africa Cup of Nations, sparked wild celebrations in the fifth minute of added-on time when he fired Ivan Strinic’s cutback from the left past keeper Christian Puggioni and into the roof of the net.
Earlier a late penalty from veteran striker Massimo Maccarone condemned struggling Palermo to a 1-0 defeat at Empoli. — Agencies
