A weak effort by Holding on the edge of the Doncaster box rolls slowly into the hands of Lawlor. The goalkeeper tries the play the ball out quickly but it falls to an Arsenal player and finds himself straight back under pressure. Arsenal play the ball around the box before Iwobi tries a driven effort from the right of the box. Lawlor does well to parry it clear.
90' +2
Mandeville plays a good ball towards the edge of the box for Rowe. The midfielder takes on two defenders as he tries to create space to cross before running out of room and knocking the ball out of play. Very little time left for Doncaster to rescue an equaliser.
90'
The fourth official has indicated four additional minutes of stoppage time.
89'
Wilshere is left with plenty of space on the Doncaster box and tries his luck from ranged. It is a good effort but Butler throws his body in the way to prevent an Arsenal goal.
88'
Sanchez chips the ball towards the back post for Giroud. The Frenchman hits it first time with a left-footed volley but can only find the side-netting.
86'
The second corner comes to nothing and Arsenal get possession back. Nervy moments for Wenger's men as Doncaster are looking the far more threatening side in these dying stages of the game.
85'
A brilliant solo effort from Mandeville, who beats two Arsenal players in the box before firing a shot on goal. It takes a deflection off Mertesacker and out for a corner. His cross from the corner then finds a Doncaster head which is looping towards the right post. Ospina looks beaten but it bounces off the crossbar before being cleared for another corner.
84'
J. Willock enters the game and replaces R. Nelson.
Final Arsenal change. Reiss Nelson is replaced by Joseph Willock.
83'
Good defending from Holding. Doncaster come forward on the left wing and swing in a dangerous cross along the face of the goal. Holding just does enough defensively to knock the ball out of reach of the Doncaster forwards.
80'
Maitland-Niles saves Arsenal's skin once again. This time Marquis breaks forward but lacks the pace to get in on goal. Maitland-Niles races back to once again rob the Doncaster player of the ball and clear up the danger.
Minute
Description
79'
Arsenal break forward in numbers and Iwobi has space to shoot. It takes a little nick off a Doncaster defender and hits the side netting. First real chance for a while for Arsenal there.
78'
Sanchez beats his marker on the left of the box and fires a pass to the edge of the six yard box.It's a good pass but Lawlor is quick off his line to claim it.
77'
Marquis's first involvement in the game see's him fire the ball high over the bar after good build up play between him and the impressive Kongolo. Doncaster have not given up on finding an equaliser here and rightly so. They have looked the more threatening of the two sides in this second half.
76'
J. Marquis enters the game and replaces A. May.
A. Iwobi enters the game and replaces T. Walcott.
Final substitution for Doncaster. A like for like change as Alfie May is replaced by fellow forward John Marquis.
Arsenal make their second change of the night. Goalscorer Theo Walcott is off in place of Alex Iwobi.
75'
Another Arsenal attack comes to nothing and Sanchez shows his frustration by bringing down Kongolo as he tries to bring the ball out. Both sides lacking any real threat in attack at the moment. The game has gone a little flat.
73'
A corner for Doncaster now however as Sanchez clears the ball out after chasing Blair down the wing. Mandeville's corner is swung in towards the back post. Andy Butler is there to meet it but the centre-back cannot keep his header down. A let off for Arsenal.
69'
Arsenal playing themselves in to trouble. Holding gives the ball away outside the Arsenal box, suddenly putting Doncaster on the front foot. Kongolo plays the ball to Mason on the right of the box who chips it in first time. It's a good little cross but none of his teammates read it and Ospina claims it.
68'
N. Mason gets yellow.
Niall Mason picks up the first yellow card of the game for a late lunging challenge on Giroud.
65'
Arsenal have suddenly turned it up a notch. Giroud works to the byline on the left and crosses it towards the back post. Walcott can't get his head to it but it falls to Nelson, who's driven effort is saved by the diving Lawlor.
64'
Wilshere looks to create something from nothing and does brilliantly to turn his marker inside the Doncaster box. He has space to shoot but he opts to pass instead, sliding the ball beyond the three waiting Arsenal players and hacked clear.
63'
Arsenal lacking the cutting edge in the final third they had in the first-half. They are struggling to break through this Doncaster side now.
62'
L. Mandeville enters the game and replaces J. Coppinger.
C. Alcock enters the game and replaces J. Houghton.
Jordan Houghton makes way for Craig Alcock in Doncaster's second change.
Darren Ferguson makes his first changes of the night. James Coppinger making way for Liam Mandeville is the first one.
59'
May looks to be in the clear! He bears down on goal with the Arsenal defence trailing in his wake, but Maitland-Niles shows incredible power and pace to race back and wrestle the Doncaster striker off the ball.
57'
Mertesacker's pass back towards Ospina is a difficult one and Ospina is under a lot of pressure from May. The Arsenal keeper twists and turns to beat the Doncaster striker. Good work from the Colombian.
55'
A sustained spell of pressure from Doncaster now. They work the ball around the Arsenal half and get it on the right wing to Kongolo again. It looks like the away side have identified that wing as Arsenal's weak spot.
52'
Doncaster corner on the right. Kongolo shows good strength to fight off Dasilva on the wing but the midfield gets back to block the cross. The following corner comes to nothing but Doncaster retain possession.
51'
Maitland-Niles gives the ball away on the right of the Arsenal box. Doncaster pass around and try to work the ball back onto the wing but Maitland-Niles makes up for his mistake by intercepting the pass. Good recovery by the Arsenal man.
49'
The Doncaster free-kick is something off the training ground and doesn't come off right. It allows Arsenal to break forward on the counter-attack, two against one. Giroud finds Walcott in the centre and he has plenty of space to aim at. He only has the goalkeeper to beat but fires it just over the bar. That should have been two.
47'
Nelson is allowed to dribble into space outside the Doncaster box. He fires in a right-footed curling effort towards goal but it flies high over the bar.
Kongolo has now won a free-kick on the edge of the Arsenal box. Another chance for Doncaster to test this Arsenal defence on the set piece.
46'
J. Dasilva enters the game and replaces C. Chambers.
Arsenal get us back underway! Arsene Wenger made one change at half-time.
45' +1
The fourth official has indicated one additional minute.
45'
A first real chance for Doncaster after a poor header by Mertesacker. The ball goes behind the German defender and into Kongolo in plenty of space on the edge of the Arsenal box. He rolls the ball into the path of May on the right of the box who unleashes a powerful right-footed drive, which hits the side-netting.
43'
Doncaster look content to try and see this out until half-time now. Sanchez tries a pass towards the left of the box for Nelson, but Kongolo holds the Arsenal winger off to shield the ball out for a goal kick.
42'
A promising Doncaster attack breaks down with a poor pass by Houghton behind the run of Kongolo.
40'
Andy Butler attempts a very long ranged pass towards the run of May behind the Arsenal defence, but the Doncaster striker is getting nowhere near it.
38'
Doncaster are showing signs they can get at this Arsenal backline. Coppinger and Kongolo work together to break into space down the left of the Arsenal box. Coppinger's cross is whipped in with plenty of space but Rob Holding does well to prevent it reaching May.
37'
Elneny tries a half-volley from 30 yards out. It has very little power on it though and glides straight into the arms of Lawlor.
34'
Nelson gives the ball away on the edge of the Arsenal box but Doncaster fail to make the most of it. The ball falls back to Nelson who does well to find Walcott on the right wing. The Arsenal counter-attack is on but Sanchez's final pass just has a little too much pace on it to find the run of Walcott.
32'
Sanchez shoots. It is very poor. The ball is rising high from the off and looked likely to end up closer to the top stand than the back of the net in the end.
31'
Sanchez is pulled back on the edge of the box. A free-kick in a dangerous position with Sanchez standing over it.
30'
The corner is swung towards the front post and Arsenal struggle to get it clear. Niall Mason turns inside the box to shoot but it is blocked and eventually hacked clear by the Arsenal defence.
29'
Doncaster with a spell of possession and Blair bursts into space down the right wing after outwitting Maitland-Niles. His cross is blocked and out for a corner.
25'
T. Walcott has scored a goal for Arsenal! Assist by A. Sánchez.
Alexis Sánchez finds Walcott with a brilliant chip towards the right of the box, before the England winger controls it well on his right foot and chips it into the back of the net.
Just as Doncaster look like they are dealing with this Arsenal attack, it is picked apart by a brilliant ball by Sanchez. The Chilean chips the ball towards the run of Theo Walcott on the right of the box, who does well to bring the ball under his control on his right foot before chipping it beyond Lawlor and into the back of the net. A goal Arsenal's dominance has deserved.
23'
Wilshere swings the free-kick towards the back post but it is well defended by Doncaster. The away side then try to break forward on the counter-attack but Maitland-Niles did well to get back and clear the danger.
22'
Walcott finds himself on the corner of the Doncaster box and tries to wiggle into space. He is brought down by James Coppinger and this could be a chance for Arsenal now, barely 20 yards out.
20'
Some nice one touch football on the edge of the box between Wilshere and Sanchez. Wilshere then plays the ball into Elneny who has space on the right of the box. Elneny swings a cross towards Giroud at the back post, who climbs high to get his head to it but it just flies narrowly over the bar. Lovely stuff from the Gunners.
18'
All Arsenal at the moment. They are looking impressive on the front foot so far tonight and Doncaster are having to settle for firing the ball long towards May.
16'
Per Mertesacker brings down May 30 yards from the Arsenal box in an aerial challenge. A chance for Doncaster on the set piece but the cross is poor and easily dealt with by the Arsenal defence.
13'
A lengthy spell of possession from Arsenal on the edge of the Doncaster box. Elneny chips it out wide to Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the left of the box. He is left in space and is allowed to drive to the byline and fire a low cross across the face of the goal. Giroud cannot get on the end of it but that is the third time that kind of cross has been allowed to make its way to the centre of the box.
9'
Sanchez is over an Arsenal free-kick 30 yards from goal. He gets it over the wall and it bounces just in front of the goal, but Lawlor dives well to parry it clear.
8'
Walcott shows great pace on the right wing to turn Rowe and dart towards the box. His cross towards the face of goal is cleared away but Arsenal still get it. The ball is then fired dangerously across the six-yard box from the other wing but there is no Arsenal shirt to get on the end of it. Looking dangerous when they come forward at the moment Arsenal.
6'
Spectacular effort from Giroud and so so close to opening the scoring. Reiss Nelson plays the ball towards the edge of the box for Wilshere, who chips it into the right of the box for Giroud. The Arsenal frontman has his back to goal but shows brilliant ability to pull off a fierce left-footed overhead kick, which beats Ian Lawlor in the Doncaster goal but strikes the upright.
5'
Arsenal gain a measure of control over the tie as they look to slow things down a little. Doncaster drop deep and Calum Chambers tries to chip the ball forward. Nothing comes of it.
3'
Giroud granted half a chance from a poor header by Matty Blair. It drops right into the path of the Arsenal striker and he allows it to bounce once before attempting to unleash a volley towards goal, which was blocked right in front of him.
2'
Doncaster are straight on the front foot. A little fortune allows the ball to fall into space and into the path of Rodney Kongolo. He drives towards the edge of the box before firing a low effort towards the bottom left of the goal. David Ospina is equal to it though and claims the ball comfortably.
Right up the other end and Mohamed Elneny slips the ball into the feet of Walcott in the Doncaster box. His shot is blocked well however and the away side breathe again. Quick start from both sides so far.
1'
Doncaster Rovers get us underway! Kicking right to left.
Arsenal continue to be on the up after that demoralizing opening day Premier League defeat to Liverpool and progress in tonight’s cup tie will help to keep that momentum flowing. The Gunners performed well against a strong Chelsea team at the weekend and surely the belief will be flowing through this side now.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s round three EFL Cup game between Arsenal and Doncaster Rovers at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsène Wenger will be without Danny Welbeck after the striker picked up an injury in the goalless draw with Chelsea. Mesut Ozil, Francis Coquelin and Mathieu Debuchy are also expected to miss this tie.
Doncaster Rovers will be well aware they face a tough test to take on this Arsenal side tonight but it will be a challenge they will be ready for. The two sides last met in the same competition in 2005, where Doncaster took Wenger’s men all the way to penalties in the quarter-final before eventually losing out 3-1.
Doncaster are struggling in League Two at the moment, picking up only six points from their first eight games. The EFL Cup will be a welcome distraction for Darren Ferguson’s men and they have the welcome news that midfielders Tommy Rowe and Jordan Houghton are fit again.
There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this afternoon…
Arsenal XI (3-4-3): Ospina; Holding, Mertesacker, Chambers; Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Wilshere, Nelson; Walcott, Giroud, Sanchez.
Arsenal Substitutes: Macey, Monreal, Willock, Dasilva, Iwobi, Nketiah, Akpom.
Arsenal make a number of changes from the side that drew with Chelsea at the weekend. Jack Wilshere makes his first start in 16 months for the club. Wenger has also gone with a strong attacking front line of Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott, replacing Welbeck, Lacazette and Iwobi.
Doncaster Rovers striker John Marquis drops to the bench with Alfie May on in his place. Jordan Houghton also starts, replacing Andy Williams.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 DONCASTER ROVERS
Arsenal have controlled the tie as many would have expected coming into this tie and deservedly took the lead when Walcott chipped in Sanchez's delightful pass. Arsenal continued to push and probe for a second goal but it was Doncaster who had the better of the half after the goal, with Coppinger and Kongolo performing well to bring their team back into the tie. A goal to the good for Arsenal at the break but Doncaster have shown enough to suggest they are not finished yet.
Calum Chambers is replaced by Joshua Dasilva at half-time.
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 DONCASTER ROVERS
A lively and energetic first-half from both sides was followed up by a tame second-half display. Arsenal showed a lack of cutting edge in the final third after the break to make the most of their attacks and had to be rescued on two occasions by the pace of Maitland-Niles after poor backpasses allowed first May then Marquis to run clean through on goal. Doncaster looked the more dangerous side throughout the second-half, with Kongolo in particular looking impressive but in the end it was Theo Walcott's goal that settled this tie in Arsenal's favour.
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