Giroud at the double for the Arsenal

It was a good Sunday for Oliver Giroud

Olivier Giroud struck twice in quick succession as Arsenal stormed into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough.

Having shocked Manchester City at the Etihad in the fourth round, Middlesbrough were presented with another difficult looking task as they travelled to in-form Arsenal.

Looking to avoid a possible shock, Arsene Wenger selected a very strong starting lineup at the Emirates with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud making up an impressive looking front four.

Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has his side flying high in the Championship and on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford, who scored in the previous round, started again but the youngster rarely looked like troubling Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. The visitors were immediately put on the back foot as Arsenal came out of the blocks with all guns blazing and they simply never recovered.

January signing Gabriel made his first start since his move from Villarreal and acquitted himself well, but all the action was at the other end of the field as Arsenal looked to put the game beyond doubt in the first half.

Sanchez had already gone close, as had Welbeck and Santi Cazorla before the hosts forged ahead on 27 minutes. The opening goal was a thing of beauty with all 11 Arsenal players having at least one touch of the ball as pulled the visiting defence from pillar to post to create the decisive gap. Cazorla played the all-important pass into the feet of an overlapping Kieran Gibbs who found himself with acres of space to square for Giroud to slot beyond the helpless Tomas Mejias.

The former Real Madrid goalkeeper was beaten again two minutes later as his defence switched off and allowed Giroud in for a second. Ryan Fredericks battled with Sanchez and as he, and his team mates, contested the award of the corner Cazorla delivered to the near post and Giroud got in front of everyone to sweep home a superb flying volley from the corner of the six yard box. No chance again for Mejias and a mountain to climb for Boro.

The visitors couldn't get on the ball for long enough to build any pressure and all too often they found the likes of Sanchez driving at the heart of their defence. The Chilean nearly added a third before the break but saw his shot swerve wide of the far post, while Welbeck was unable to sort out his feet when presented with a good chance right on half time.

Karanka and his side did show more after the break as they looked to start a shock comeback but again they just couldn't get their strikers into the game and Lee Tomlin and Bamford were hooked before the hour mark.

It was at the other end where all the action was truly happening and Mejias made not one, but two, stunning saves to stop Arsenal stretching their lead. The first denied Sanchez again after the former Barcelona man had driven through the heart of the defence but the young keeper stood firm in the one-on-one situation. The second, was superb. A Cazorla free kick was flicked on by a combination of Giroud and Jelle Vossen but the keeper managed to react and dive low to his left to tip the ball between the post and the onrushing Laurent Koscielny.

There was one glimmer of a consolation for the hosts in second-half injury time as Kike rose highest at the far post but his powerful header was clawed out by Szczesny. It could have created a grandstand finish but, all in all, it was always going to be Arsenal's day as they produced a thoroughly professional display that saw them dominate from start to finish.

The Gunners storm into the FA Cup Quarter Final draw full of confidence and belief that they can reach Wembley once again and retain the trophy they won last May.