The Gunners look intent on retaining their trophy.
Arsenal were in no mood to give Middlesbrough a chance of an upset as they beat their opponents 2-0 up in their FA Cup fifth round tie.
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A lovely move involving Santi Cazorla and Kieran Gibbs was then finished off by Olivier Giroud to open the scoring.
Giroud then bagged a brace within two minutes with a wonderful finish from a corner to give the Gunners a commanding lead at the Emirates.
It looked like the North Londoners would stroll to victory, but Boro regrouped and were kept in it by goalkeeper Tomas Mejias who denied Mesut Ozil and then Alexis Sanchez.
Kike gave the hosts a later scare as his header cannoned off the post, but Arsene Wenger’s men never looked too troubled and now look in a good position to defend their title.