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FA CUP WRAP - 5TH ROUND: Arsenal, Aston Villa through as Bradford stun Sunderland

Arsenal are safely through to the FA Cup quarter-finals after comfortably beating Middlesbrough 2-0 on Sunday.

The Gunners, who won the famous cup competition last season, have retained the chance to defend their title courtesy of a first-half brace from Olivier Giroud at the Emirates Stadium.

The French striker opened the scoring in the 27th minute when coolly slotting home Kieran Gibbs' cross from the left before doubling the advantage less than three minutes later with a neat glancing finish from a corner.

League One club Bradford City continued their giant-killing form when defeating the Premier League's Sunderland 2-0 at Valley Parade to back-up their 4-2 come-from-behind triumph over Chelsea in the fourth round.

John O'Shea's own-goal in the third minute, via Billy Clark's effort, gave the Bantams an early lead before Jon Stead kept up his run of scoring in every round of the cup this term when pouncing on an error from Adam Johnson to slot home in the 61st minute.

The win allowed Phil Parkinson's side to book their spot in the FA Cup quarters for the first time since 1976 and leaves them as the lowest ranked team in the competition provided Preston North End do not beat Manchester United on Monday night.

Aston Villa finally experienced some joy in the wake of Paul Lambert's midweek sacking by beating Leicester City 2-1 at Villa Park to ensure their path through to the sixth phase.

Caretaker manager Scott Marshall, who had newly-appointed boss Tim Sherwood watching over his shoulder, rallied his side at the break which prompted goals from Leandro Bacuna and loanee Scott Sinclair before Andrej Kramaric pulled back an injury-time consolation.

Monday night's fixture sees the League One Lilywhites host 11-time winners United at Deepdale which will take place after the quarter-final draw.

2014/15 FA Cup - fifth round

Aston Villa (PREM): 2 (Leandro Bacuna 68', Scott Sinclair 89') Leicester City (PREM): 1 (Andrej Kramaic 90+1') Villa Park, Birmingham - 28,098

Bradford City (L1): 2 (John O'Shea (og) 3', Jon Stead 61') Sunderland (PREM): 0 Valley Parade, Bradford - 24,021

Arsenal (PREM): 2 (Olivier Giroud 27'/29') Middlesbrough (CHA): 0 Emirates Stadium, London - 59,823

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