<p>Arsenal's miserable week got worse on Saturday when they were knocked out of the FA Cup in a 2-0 fifth round defeat at Sunderland.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Three days after a 4-0 Champions League defeat at AC Milan that manager Arsene Wenger branded their ‘worst performance in Europe’, Arsenal's sloppiness was back as Kieran Richardson's strike and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's own goal sealed their fate.<br /><br />Sunderland were joined in the quarterfinals by Everton and Bolton Wanderers.<br /><br />Arsenal's day at the Stadium of Light started badly when they lost Francis Coquelin to a hamstring injury with less than 10 minutes gone. Arsenal went behind five minutes before half time after giving away a free-kick. Djourou had pulled back Craig Gardner needlessly to concede the kick, which Seb Larsson delivered only for Arsenal to half-clear straight into the path of Richardson, who blasted the ball into the back of the net thanks to a deflection off Squillaci.<br /><br />Wenger's side allowed their hosts to go further ahead in the 78th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain sent the ball into his own net after Larsson had hit the post.<br /><br />On Sunday, favourites Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0-0 draw at third tier Stevenage but Liverpool laid their claim to be the real frontrunners with a 6-1 fifth-round thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion. <br /><br />Liverpool, whose win came thanks to an early Martin Skrtel goal, a neat Andy Carroll finish, three own goals and a late Luis Suarez header, next host last term's runners-up Stoke City in the quarterfinals after they prevailed 2-0 at Crawley Town. <br /><br />Spurs, third in the Premier League and with coach Harry Redknapp tipped to take over England, produced a lethargic display with three centre backs and had to settle for a replay at White Hart Lane next month. </p>
<p>Arsenal's miserable week got worse on Saturday when they were knocked out of the FA Cup in a 2-0 fifth round defeat at Sunderland.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Three days after a 4-0 Champions League defeat at AC Milan that manager Arsene Wenger branded their ‘worst performance in Europe’, Arsenal's sloppiness was back as Kieran Richardson's strike and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's own goal sealed their fate.<br /><br />Sunderland were joined in the quarterfinals by Everton and Bolton Wanderers.<br /><br />Arsenal's day at the Stadium of Light started badly when they lost Francis Coquelin to a hamstring injury with less than 10 minutes gone. Arsenal went behind five minutes before half time after giving away a free-kick. Djourou had pulled back Craig Gardner needlessly to concede the kick, which Seb Larsson delivered only for Arsenal to half-clear straight into the path of Richardson, who blasted the ball into the back of the net thanks to a deflection off Squillaci.<br /><br />Wenger's side allowed their hosts to go further ahead in the 78th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain sent the ball into his own net after Larsson had hit the post.<br /><br />On Sunday, favourites Tottenham Hotspur were held to a 0-0 draw at third tier Stevenage but Liverpool laid their claim to be the real frontrunners with a 6-1 fifth-round thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion. <br /><br />Liverpool, whose win came thanks to an early Martin Skrtel goal, a neat Andy Carroll finish, three own goals and a late Luis Suarez header, next host last term's runners-up Stoke City in the quarterfinals after they prevailed 2-0 at Crawley Town. <br /><br />Spurs, third in the Premier League and with coach Harry Redknapp tipped to take over England, produced a lethargic display with three centre backs and had to settle for a replay at White Hart Lane next month. </p>
