Arsenal
Injuries cost us in cup - Emery
Arsenal boss Unai Emery bemoaned injuries for upsetting their rhythm in the home FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.
The two most successful sides in the competition's history played out an entertaining Friday night game, as United secured a 3-1 win for an eighth straight victory.
Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard had set the visitors on course for victory before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled a goal back for the Gunners, only for substitute Anthony Martial to wrap up a comfortable win with a late strike.
Arsenal's chances were hampered by injuries to defenders Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Laurent Koscielny, who has a suspected broken jaw.
"I think they weren't big injuries for Sokratis," boss Unai Emery said. "Maybe Laurent Koscielny is going to hospital to [analyse] what injury he has. Maybe he's broken his jaw, but I hope not.
"I'm happy because I think our work is good, but the result is bad. Today it's the result and the injuries.
"They don't help us to be in the match, maybe when the result's 1-2. In this moment we had the possibility to grow and to win, but these injuries - especially the one to Koscielny - didn't help us because our rhythm went down.
"Also, we needed to change different players to play at centre-back. They were very clinical today and in the moments when we attacked, we got into the box but couldn't produce the last action to score.
"We deserved more but we played against Manchester United, who are in their best moment of the season, and they have a lot of players to make the difference. (Marcus) Rashford and Martial came on as well."
Nick Harris is a long-standing journalist who specialises in football and rugby league. An avid golfer, Nick also follows the major boxing fights closely.
