Arsenal put five past Lincoln City to make semi-finals

Arsenal booked a place in the semi finals as they put an end to Lincoln City's fairytale FA Cup run with a convincing 5-0 victory that will come as a welcome boost to the under-fire Arsene Wenger.

The Imps were the first non-league side in over a century to reach the last eight, but couldn't pull off what would have been arguably the greatest shock in the competition's history as the Gunners eventually made their superior class count at Emirates Stadium.

Danny Cowley's underdogs frustrated the hosts and were unlucky not to go in level at the break as Theo Walcott's composed finish lifted the mood amongst the home support, who once again flashed banners calling for their manager to bring his long reign to an end prior to kick off.

Second-half goals from Olivier Giroud, Luke Waterfall (og), Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey completed the job as the gulf in status between the teams finally told.

The intense glare of a negative media spotlight has been focused firmly on Wenger in recent weeks, with the manner of their annihilation in the Champions League last 16 heaping more pressure on the Frenchman. Any slip against the National League hopefuls would surely have been the final nail in his managerial coffin, but in the end the Premier League side eased into an FA Cup semi final for the third time in four seasons.

Lincoln's Wembley dream may be over, but they can now focus their attention on clinching promotion and an FA Trophy semi final with York City under the leadership of an impressive young manager in Cowley.

This was a potential banana skin, but it was also the ideal home draw for the Gunners. Wenger has endured a tough time this season, but can at least look forward to another trip to Wembley now. Arsenal need to batten down the hatches, pull together and start getting their league campaign back on track.

A top four finish and another FA Cup triumph would be a successful season for most clubs, but some Gooners feel they are underachieving and that has resulted in something of a civil war. It may not be enough to save his job, but lifting the trophy would still be a great way to sign off by anyone's standards.

Theo Walcott (Arsenal): The forward always looked the most likely source to break Lincoln's resistance, and took what was a crucial first goal well. He also hit the post and was composed on the ball throughout.

ARSENAL: Cech 7, Bellerin 7, Gibbs 7, Mustafi 7, Koscielny 6, Ramsey 6, Xhaka 6, Walcott 8, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez 8, Giroud 6. Subs: Ozil 7, Coquelin 6, Lucas 6.

LINCOLN CITY: Farman 8, Wood 7, Habergham 7, Waterfall 7, Muldoon 7, Power 7, Rhead 7, Hawkridge 7, Raggett 7, Arnold 7, Woodyard 7. Subs: Margetts 7, Ward 7, Marriott 7.

14' - ARSENAL CHANCE! Walcott cracks a volley from the edge of the box that Farman does well to parry onto the post.

29' - LINCOLN CITY CHANCE! Nathan Arnold surges into the right of the area. He jinks inside Koscielny and fires a shot towards the corner that Cech just about manages to push to safety. So close for the non-league side!

45+1' - GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 LINCOLN CITY. Relief for Wenger. Walcott coolly passes the ball into the corner after Gibbs had shown good composure to touch it back into his path. Lincoln pay the price for failing to clear the left wing corner.

51' - ARSENAL CHANCE! Farman produces a great save to keep out Giroud's low drive from the left of the area. Walcott rescues it and crosses for Gibbs, who someone heads way over the top.

53' - GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 LINCOLN CITY. It's two and surely curtains for Lincoln. Bellerin exchanges a one-two with Sanchez and cuts it back for Giroud to fire into the corner.

58' - GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 LINCOLN CITY. Arsenal are on their way to the semi finals. Sanchez feeds Gibbs on the overlap and Waterfall can only prod the left back's cutback into his own net.

73' - GOAL! ARSENAL 4-0 LINCOLN CITY. Sanchez makes it four. He skips beyond a challenge and curls it into the far corner from 20 yards.

75' - GOAL! ARSENAL 5-0 LINCOLN CITY. Sanchez picks up a terrible pass on the left of the area. He bewitches two before crossing for Ramsey who walks it in at the far post.

86' - ARSENAL CHANCE! Sanchez curves the free kick from just outside the area against the crossbar.