FA Cup fifth round as it happened: Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough

That's it, Arsenal's quest to retain the FA Cup goes on and Middlesbrough return to their battle for promotion to the Premier League. On a day where Bradford City caused another cup shock in beating Sunderland, the Gunners ensured things went according to plan at the Emirates with a dominant display.

FULL TIME

Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough

Boro hit the woodwork! Kike rises above Gabriel to meet a cross in from the right with a firm header that beats Szczesny, but can't beat the post. Would have been colsolation for Boro more than a late come back, we are almost done here.

Albert Adomah moves into space down the right before cutting inside and letting fly with a vicious effort that rattles the side netting.

Mejias with another fine save! Ozil plays a delicious ball through to Walcott who takes it brilliantly in his stride. Coming in from the right, he looks for the bottom corner but the Boro keeper keeps him out.

And here is, Akpom replaces Giroud for the final ten minutes of the game.

Giroud has a half chance to complete his hat-trick but can't quite work the room inside a crowded six yard area. It might be his last chance; Chuba Akpom is getting ready to come on.

Arsenal defend a corner and counter, moving the ball at pace from left to right. Giroud tries to play the ball back across goal where Cazorla is approaching the edge of the box. The pass takes a slight deflection but the Spaniard takes the shot on anyway, and lashes an effort narrowly over the bar.

Couple of changes here for Arsenal, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott are on for Alexis and Welbeck.

Boro have the chance to launch the ball into the Arsenal box from a free kick but waste it and Welbeck ventures forward on the counter. Ozil is ahead of him and makes a clever run in behind his man but Welbeck's pass is over hit.

A terrific stop from Mejias keeps Arsenal from adding a third. Another corner comes in from the left which Alexis meets with a low glancing header towards the bottom corner. The former Real Madrid 'keeper is equal to it, getting down to palm it around the post.

Alexis and Giroud combine before slipping a ball through for the onrushing Gibbs. He absolutely hammers it on goal but Mejias makes a decent save, and does likewise to stop Giroud's header from the resulting corner.

Not much happening at the minute, Arsenal are keeping the ball without doing much with it. Boro do look to get forward when they do get the ball back, but are yet to pose any real threat.

Leadbitter takes the free kick but can only drill it into the wall and Arsenal clear. It was a terrible attempt at a cross field ball from Alexis that allowed Boro to counter in the build up to that, by the way.

Arsenal are caught on the break and Adam Reich, just on from the bench, advances dangerously on goal before he is firmly and cynically stopped by Gabriel, who stepped right across his path. The Brazilian accepts his booking.

Ozil meets Alexis' pass with a wonderful first touch and turns his man on the edge of the box. He advances a drills a powerful effort on goal but it's straight at Mejias. Boro clinging on.

Arsenal twice attack down the right in search of a third. First it is Chambers who shows great strength to fight his way down the byline but his ball into the box is scooped clear. Not for long, however, as Welbeck is soon racing down the inside right but there is no one in the middle to meet his clipped cross.

Alexis works the ball onto his right foot and proceeds to lift it out of the stadium with a woeful effort from range. Aside from that, it's been much the same from Arsenal at the start of this half. Boro still chasing shadows.

And we are back underway for the second half.

No danger of another FA Cup shock happening today. That's what Arsenal's absolute dominance of the first half suggests, anyway. The Gunners have been playing at their vibrant best and Middlesbrough have not been able to get close to them. Only something spectacular will prevent them from booking their place in the quarter-finals.

HALF TIME

Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough

Ozil sees a shot on target deflected high into the air but Welbeck brings it down wonderfully before skipping past his man. He tries the shot from a tight angle but can only smash it into the side netting.

Arsenal are cruising in the final five minutes of the half with Cazorla and Sanchez breaking out the party tricks early doors. The closest Boro have got to Arsenal all afternoon is when they lined up next to them in the tunnel.

Boro register their first shot of the half as Albert Adomah drives a low one on target, but it is a comfortable save for Szczesny.

Welbeck, under pressure from Omeruo, goes down out on the left. It looked like he clipped his own leg on the replay, but Arsenal win the free kick. Cazorla whips one in but Mejias confidently catches.

Almost a third for a Arsenal! Middlesbrough briefly get a few minutes of respite but lose it and Sanchez drives up the pitch before slipping a through ball in for Ozil, who is the furthest man forward. He clips the ball around Mejias but his effort on goal is booted off the line by Clayton.

Arsenal are in the mood today. Middlesbrough aren't organised quickly enough as Cazorla swing a free kick into the near post. Giroud runs across to meet it and connects with a wonderful volley, leaving Mejias with no chance! Outstanding technique from the Frenchman.

Goal! Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough (Olivier Giroud)

A very slick goal from Arsenal has given them the lead. Sanchez worked hard to find Cazorla who played a neat one two with Welbeck on the edge of the box before slipping a wonderful ball down the inside left channel for Gibbs. His cross into the six yard box is met by Giroud who caps a wonderful move by drilling home.

Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Middlesbrough (Olivier Giroud)

The pace in Arsenal's game has dropped off somewhat in the past few minutes. Expect that to change again soon, though.

FULL TIME

Bradford 2-0 Sunderland

That's it then. A miserable week for Sunderland continues as they are dumped out of the FA Cup by Bradford whose incredible cup run continues.

Arsenal again pass their way through Boro at ease and sigh with relief as Giroud slightly overhits his through ball for Welbeck, who had sprung through their back line.

You feel it's just a matter of time for Arsenal now. Giroud this time tries to curl one into the top corner from 20 yards only for Mejias to palm it wide. Sanchez is on the rebound but can only fire into the side netting.

Welbeck retrieves a loose ball inside a crowded six yard box and neatly back heels into the path of Sanchez. Just as the Chilean is about to pull the trigger, however, he is stopped by a delightfully clean challenge from Omeruo.

Boro venture into the Arsenal box for the first time as Fredericks looks to the far post for Kike but he can't get past Koscielny.

Gibbs is almost in again as he makes a neat diagnoal run in behind the Boro back line to get onto Cazorla's through ball but Mejias is out quickly to gather.

It's early days, but there is little indication of Arsenal struggling today. Another move almost comes off as Sanchez slips a delighful ball down the inside left channel for Gibbs to race onto. His cross however isn't as good.

Cazorla takes the free kick and bends one up and over the wall but the goalkeeper gets down well to his bottom corner to make a decent save.

Really positive start from Arsenal, they've immediately gone on the front foot looking for an early goal. Olivier Giroud has won a free kick just on the edge of the D after the Frenchman was felled by Clayton. Welbeck tries to take a quick one, but the referee pulls play back.

And we are off and underway at the Emirates.

Goal! Bradford 2-0 Sunderland (John Stead)

Bradford have done it again! Adam Johnson gets his clearance all wrong, slicing the ball into the path of James Hanson who tees up Stead inside the box. He makes no mistake with the finish, slotting it underneath Mannone.

The second half is just underway at Valley Parade meanwhile where Bradford lead Sunderland 1-0. The Bantams looked at ease coping with the Black Cats in the first half, whose long ball approach failed to trouble the League One side. Connor Wickham is on for the second half to try and change things.

Is that a risky line up from Arsene Wenger? The Gunners boss has spoken of two major issues in the past days, Gabriel Paulista's lack of English that he admits is a 'problem' and Alexis Sanchez's fitness. The Chilean limped off with a knock to the knee five days ago but comes straight back into the XI today. Mathieu Flamini also comes in for the in-form Francis Coquelin.

BREAKING: On-loan Chelsea pair Kenneth Omeruo and Patrick Bamford start for Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough team to face Arsenal: Mejias; Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter, Tomlin, Adomah; Bamford, Kike

Subs: Ripley, Nsue, Husband, Vossen, Reach, Whitehead, Woodgate.

Gabriel Paulista also makes his full debut for the Gunners.

BREAKING: Alexis Sanchez passed fit after suffering knee problem mid-week and starts for Arsenal.

Arsenal team to face Middlesbrough: Szczesny, Chambers, Gabriel, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Ozil, Alexis, Giroud

Subs: Martinez, Mertesacker, Monreal, Rosicky, Walcott, Coquelin, Akpom

We will have confirmed XIs from both Arsenal and Middlesbrough any moment now. While we wait, here's what Arsene Wenger had to say about the FA Cup this week.

Our basic is always to finish in the top four and then win a trophy on top of that."We want always to be in the Champions League and this season it will be very difficult, because it's very tight if you look at the table - every game now becomes a cup game.

We have won the FA Cup five times during my period here. Nobody has won it more in the last 18 years, so we have always taken the competition seriously.

Middlesbrough meanwhile are without cup-tied duo Adam Forshaw and defender Daniel Alaya, while Tomas Kalas, on loan from Chelsea, is also a doubt.

Wojciech Szczesny is also expected to return to the Arsenal starting XI this afternoon. The Pole has was preferred in his side's last cup outing against Brighton and with David Ospina's performance against Leicester falling under some scrutiny, he will have his opportunity to wrestle back the number one spot.

Today, Arsene Wenger has spoken of Alexis Sanchez and the injury he suffered in the 2-1 win over Leicester City on Tuesday. The Gunners boss said the Chile international 'is not himself' after suffering the knock but does expect the player to return for Arsenal's next game against Crystal Palace next week should today come too soon for him.

Elsewhere, Gabriel Paulista could make his debut for the club this afternoon despite Wenger admitting his lack of English is a 'problem'.

Already this afternoon, Aston Villa have beaten Leicester City 2-1 to advance into the quarter finals in front of their new manager Tim Sherwood. Elsewhere, Bradford City are at it again. the Bantams have taken an early lead at home to Sunderland with John O'Shea diverting a cross into the back of his own net.

Yesterday, Liverpool came from behind to defesat Crystal Palace to seal their place in the next round, as did West Brom, Blackburn Rovers and Reading.

Having already dismissed Premier League champions Manchester City in the previous round, Middlesbrough are looking for their second huge scalp of the competition at Arsenal this afternoon.