Premier League trio avoid fresh FA Cup shocks

Holders Arsenal won through to the last 16 of the FA Cup with a hard-fought 3-2 victory away to Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday as West Ham and Aston Villa also avoided the embarrassment of becoming the latest Premier League clubs to be knocked out by lower league opposition.

English football was still reeling from a sensational Saturday that saw Premier League leaders Chelsea beaten 4-2 by third-tier Bradford City at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough.

But Diafra Sakho's header nine minutes from time was good enough to see West Ham to a 1-0 win away to third-tier Bristol City, for whom striker Matt Smith went close on several occasions.

"I knew it was going to be a tough game and it was exactly that," Hammers manager Sam Allardyce told the BBC. "Bearing in mind what has happened this weekend, it is a big result for us."

Meanwhile second-half goals from Carles Gil and Andreas Weimann secured a 2-1 victory for Villa at home to Bournemouth, the leaders of the second-tier Championship.

Spanish winger Gil put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute at Villa Park with a stunning first goal in English football.

He received the ball out wide on the right, cut inside the full-back and lofted the curling effort into the top corner from at least 25 yards out.

Villa have been struggling for goals this season but Weimann scored the Birmingham club's second 19 minutes from time.

Leandro Bacuna found Alan Hutton on the right, and his clipped ball was turned in, left-footed, by Weimann.

Callum Wilson pulled a goal back for the Cherries in the 90th minute and the south coast club nearly had an equaliser in stoppage-time when Ashley Westwood's low shot was well-saved by Lee Camp.

"We needed to try to get through," said Villa manager Paul Lambert. "After seeing yesterday's (Saturday's) results, we had nothing to gain."

Lambert added: "Carles Gil is lighting the place up and it was a world-class goal."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe defended his decision to make eight changes by saying: "We were hampered by injuries but I have no qualms playing those I did today."

"I don't enjoy losing...It was a fantastic goal by Carles Gil.

"That is the quality of the Premier League, they had two moments of the highest class, otherwise our keeper had nothing to do."

Arsenal survive Seagulls' scare

The third of Sunday's three ties saw Arsenal, the joint-record 11-times FA Cup winners, take fewer than 90 seconds to open the scoring away to Championship club Brighton when Theo Walcott, played in by Calum Chambers, struck a powerful shot from 12 yards out.

Arsene Wenger's men, fresh from their league win away to champions Manchester City, were cruising at 2-0 in the 24th minute when when Germany World Cup-winner Mesut Ozil scored just his second goal of the season.

Brighton, after a lacklustre first half, gave themselves a 50th-minute lifeline when Chris O'Grady held off Mathieu Flamini and shot low into the bottom corner.

However, Tomas Rosicky restored Arsenal's two-goal lead in fine style when, after an exchange of passes with Olivier Giroud, his 59th-minute volley was too hot for Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale to handle.

But the Seagulls refused to be cowed and Chris Hughton's men set up a grandstand finish when Sam Baldock expertly chipped the bsall over Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny 15 minutes from time.

With Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton -- defeated 3-2 by top-flight rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday -- all beaten, none of the Premier League's top three remained in the FA Cup.

Swansea and Tottenham also failed to make it into Monday's fifth-round draw.

Manchester United, fourth in the Premier League, face a replay against fourth division Cambridge after a goalless draw on Friday.

The same scoreline also saw Liverpool held by Championship club Bolton at Anfield on Saturday.

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