Two first-half goals by Olivier Giroud were more than enough to see Arsenal beat Middlesbrough at the Emirates Stadium and progress to the last eight in the FA Cup. Boro never looked like pulling off a shock in north London

Two left-footed finishes on the half-turn in quick succession from Giroud during the first period ensured that the Championship’s second-placed club would not pose the Gunners any great problems.

Arsenal largely controlled matters in the second half at the Emirates Stadium but were unable to add to their lead, before Boro’s Kike hit the woodwork with a header very late on.

The Gunners dominated from the off, threatening the Middlesbrough target relentlessly.

The hosts eventually moved ahead when, at the conclusion to a fine move, Santi Cazorla played a pass left to Kieran Gibbs, who centred low for Giroud to force a finish past Tomas Mejias with 27 minutes on the clock.

The visiting goalkeeper had almost kept out the Frenchman’s effort from six yards but was given no chance two minutes later, as Giroud powerfully met Alexis Sanchez’s delivery at the near post while Boro’s defenders bemoaned the award of the corner kick.

Sanchez almost made it three, chasing and getting a touch to Mesut Ozil’s through-ball. Mejias managed an important contact, allowing Adam Clayton to clear the danger.

The Gunners were comfortable in the second period, going extremely close to adding to their lead when Mejias made a fantastic save to keep out Sanchez’s flicked header from an in-swinging Cazorla free-kick.

Middlesbrough tentatively threatened one occasion, but Arsenal looked far more likely to net the next goal, with only less-than-clinical play in the final third keeping the visiting side in the clash.

At the death – it would have been too late to facilitate the realistic possibility of a replay – Boro came within inches of scoring, as Kike headed Grant Leadbitter’s floated cross off a post.

As it was, Arsenal secured what was a well-deserved two-goal triumph.