Theo Walcott (right) fires FA Cup holders Arsenal ahead against Brighton, yesterday.

Holders Arsenal were made to sweat by Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion before eventually prevailing 3-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup yesterday to ensure they did not fall foul of another upset.

A day after Chelsea and Manchester City were stunned by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively, Arsenal resisted Brighton’s charge as goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Tomas Rosicky helped them to victory.

Arsenal fans would have been forgiven for feeling a little uneasy at a trip to the south coast after watching Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City fall in round four.

But their nerves were calmed just 89 seconds in when Walcott neatly controlled Calum Chambers’s cross and fired a shot past David Stockdale to score his first goal in over a year after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle problem.

Arsenal continued to pin Brighton back in their own half and German World Cup-winner Ozil, making his first start since October, doubled the Gunners’ advantage when he collected Rosicky’s pass and slid the ball into the net.

Brighton gained a lifeline when Chris O’Grady held off Mathieu Flamini’s challenge and kept his composure to strike the ball past Wojciech Szczesny.

Rosicky restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage with an exquisite volley from the edge of the box but Brighton striker Sam Baldock set up a nervy finish for the holders when he delicately clipped the ball over the on-coming Szczesny.

Earlier, substitute Diafra Sakho scored late on to help West Ham United beat third tier Bristol City 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round and ensure the Premier League side did not fall foul of another upset.

With time running out Sakho connected with Andy Carroll’s cross and headed in off the underside of the crossbar to secure West Ham’s place in the fifth round.

West Ham improved in the second period and Sakho’s arrival sparked life into the Hammers as he went close with a half-volley before heading home Carroll’s cross in the 81st minute.

Aston Villa, hoping the FA Cup would provide welcome respite from their Premier League struggles, also secured their place in the next round thanks to a 2-1 victory over Championship leaders Bour-nemouth.

Carles Gil, who signed from Valencia earlier this month, scored a stunning effort to put Villa in front on 51 minutes before Andreas Weimann added a second goal.

Callum Wilson scored a late consolation for Bournemouth, but Villa stood firm to deny the Championship side a replay.

Fourth round

Aston Villa 2
Gil 51; Weimann 71;
Bournemouth 1
Wilson 90;

HT: 0-0. Att: 27,415.

Brighton 2
O’Grady 50; Baldock 75;
Arsenal 3
Walcott 2; Ozil 24; Rosicky 59;

HT: 0-2. Att: 30,278.

Bristol City 0
West Ham 1
Sakho 81;

HT: 0-0. Att: 12,682.

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