Arsenal began their defence of The FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Hull City at the Emirates Stadium.
Captain Per Mertesacker opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a header, before Alexis Sanchez secured the win eight minutes from time with his 16th goal of the season.
FA Cup Third Round
Round-up
Arsenal 2-0 Hull
Stoke 3-1 Wrexham
Chelsea 3-0 Watford
The Chile international was undoubtedly the star man as Hull and Arsenal met for a reunion of last year’s Final.
After being caught flat-footed at Wembley last May, Arsenal clearly made a point of starting this reunion on top.
They got the goal their opening deserved when Mertesacker headed home Sanchez’s corner after out-jumping Curtis Davies.
That rocked the visitors and Arsenal should have doubled their lead moments later when Sanchez rounded Steve Harper – only for Paul McShane to quite brilliantly clear his effort of the line.
The only for worry for Wenger was that Arsenal’s domination had brought only one goal, and the Gunners were given a reminder of their slender lead as Harry Maguire’s header drew a good save from David Ospina.
As the game moved into the final 10 minutes, Arsenal secured their passage to the Fourth Round as Sanchez finally got the goal his play deserved.
The former Barcelona striker received the ball on the edge of the box, before rolling his marker and knocking the ball into the bottom corner.
Elsewhere, Stoke City scored three goals in the final 12 minutes to spare their blushes and see off Wrexham at the Britannia Stadium in the Third Round of The FA Cup.
Mark Carrington had given Conference side Wrexham the lead in the 73rd minute, but Marko Arnautovic’s goal and Stephen Ireland’s brace denied the visitors an FA Cup giantkilling.
Wrexham's Mark Carrington gave Stoke a shock
Backed by over 5,000 away fans, Wrexham were good value for a share of the spoils but it is Stoke who are in the hat for the next round.
Seven-time FA Cup winners Chelsea had to rely on some Brazilian magic in their 3-0 win over Watford.
Jose Mourinho's men were frustrated for large periods of an absorbing Cup tie against the Championship side at Stamford Bridge but second-half substitute Willian struck the opener from range.
Kurt Zouma powers home Chelsea's third goal against Watford
Chelsea boss Mourinho sent on the cavalry in the form of Brazil international Willian and top goalscorer Diego Costa at half-time, and the two combined to break the deadlock on 58 minutes.
Loic Remy then doubled Chelsea's lead with a well-timed volley on 69 minutes before defensive powerhouse Kurt Zouma added a third two minutes later to end Watford's hopes of a fightback.
Watch the highlights from the Emirates Stadium
