Iheanacho’s goal rescues Foxes

Kelechi Iheanacho spared Leicester City from a potential FA Cup giant-killing once again yesterday as his second-half goal saw the Foxes beat fourth-tier Walsall 1-0 and progress to the fifth round.

Leicester, who beat fourth-tier strugglers Gillingham also by a single Iheanacho goal last time out, faced a stern test from a hard-working, high-energy Walsall side eager to shut out their top-flight opposition.

It took 30 minutes for the Foxes to get a shot on target, and a frustrating afternoon was made worse as Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans’s powerful effort from the penalty spot struck the post after Patson Daka was fouled inside the box.

But second-half substitute Iheanacho rescued Leicester’s afternoon when his effort from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off the back of Walsall defender Brandon Comley, turning it into a curling, dipping ball that proved too much for the goalkeeper to handle.

Fellow Premier League side Leeds United beat lower-division opposition in yesterday’s other early game as they triumphed 3-1 over Accrington Stanley to reach the fifth round for the first time since 2016.

Goals from Junior Firpo and Luis Sinesterra after a stellar first-half Jack Harrison strike from distance saw Jesse Marsch’s top-flight strugglers ease past League One Accrington, despite the hosts pulling one back late through Leslie Adekoya.

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake struck in the second half to earn a hard-fought 1-0 victory over visitors Arsenal on Friday.

The top two teams in the Premier League cancelled each other out in the first half, with Erling Haaland twice going close for City while pacesetters Arsenal forced home goalkeeper Stefan Ortega into two fine saves to keep them at bay.

City’s Pep Guardiola brought Julian Alvarez off the bench early in the second half, with the Argentina striker playing a big part in the winner, firing against the post before Ake slotted home from the follow up in the 64th minute.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta rang the changes in search of a leveller but they could not break City’s resistance as the hosts progressed and remain in the hunt to win the domestic trophy Guardiola has claimed just once during his time in England. “Tight game, second half was better,” Guardiola told ITV Sport.

“Really difficult opponent. There is not one person in the locker room that is not very happy for him (Ake).

We are happy for the goal and how he controlled one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League now in (Bukayo) Saka. As a manager you want players like Nathan. He deserves all the good things in life.”

Despite making six changes to the side that beat Manchester United last weekend, with a first Premier League title in almost 20 years in sight, Arsenal started the brightest at the Etihad.

January signing Leandro Trossard from Brighton & Hove Albion looked lively, setting up an early opening for Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was denied by Ortega.

With their main attention clearly elsewhere, Arsenal did not offer enough to find an equaliser. With the Premier League the priority, fewer games in a congested season could benefit the London side’s quest for the big prize.

“I think we could have got much more out of the game,” said Arteta, who was Guardiola’s assistant at City before taking the Arsenal job.

“One action changed it all. It is really difficult to win against this team but we went headto-head with them. In the big moments, in big matches you have to make the difference. That is how you win these games.”

In other results: Accrington Stanley 1-3 Leeds United; Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Fleetwood Town; Fulham 1-1 Sunderland; Southampton 2-1 Blackpool; Bristol City 3-0 West Bromwich Albion; Ipswich Town 0-0 Burnley; Luton Town 2-2 Grimsby Town; Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Birmingham City.