Man United, Arsenal progress in FA Cup

LONDON: Jack Wilshere’s late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 FA Cup third-round replay win over Swansea City and Wayne Rooney’s first goal in over a month earned Manchester United a 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Wednesday.

Thursday, January 17, 2013
Jack Wilshere.

LONDON: Jack Wilshere’s late strike gave Arsenal a 1-0 FA Cup third-round replay win over Swansea City and Wayne Rooney’s first goal in over a month earned Manchester United a 1-0 victory over West Ham United on Wednesday.Arsenal wasted a hatful of good chances before sealing the win over Swansea thanks to midfielder Wilshere’s sublime left-foot strike past Michel Vorm four minutes from time following relentless pressure from the home side.Rooney’s routine finish after nine minutes proved good enough for 11-times winners United to move into the fourth round but the England striker also missed a late penalty to make the Premier League leaders sweat in the closing stages.Arsenal, 10-times Cup winners, will travel to Championship (second division) Brighton and Hove Albion in the fourth round on the weekend of January 26-27 and United host Premier League rivals Fulham.Wilshere, after scoring his first goal for Arsenal since November, said he was delighted with the connection he made with the ball following Olivier Giroud’s superb layoff."I don’t think I’ll ever hit another one like that in my life. It was a great set up by Olivier. It’s lucky I was there, we couldn’t put it in,” he told ESPN.