CC: Arsenal 1-0 Doncaster Rovers

Theo Walcott's first-half goal was his first for Arsenal in 10 matches

Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the game as Arsenal edged past League One Doncaster in the EFL Cup third round.

Gunners’ boss Arsene Wenger changed his entire starting XI for the tie at the Emirates Stadium and they were almost caught napping in the first minute when Rodney Kongolo tested David Ospina with a decent effort, but the home keeper got down and made the save.

Arsenal responded and Walcott was played through inside the area only for Ian Lawlor’s outstretched boot to prevent his right-foot effort from finding the net.

On six minutes Jack Wilshere chipped the ball into the area and found Olivier Giroud who produced an acrobatic scissor kick which thumped off the crossbar.

Arsenal continued to look the more likely and Giroud went close again on 20 minutes but sent his header just over the top.

The Gunners made their pressure count on 25 minutes when they took the lead as Walcott brought down a wonderful pass from Alexis Sanchez inside the area and coolly dinked his effort past the advancing Lawlor.

Wilshere almost doubled the lead three minutes later but dragged his effort just wide form the edge of the area.

Doncaster looked devoid of ideas until the final minute of the half when Kongolo teed up Alfie May down the right of the area and his angled strike hit the side-netting as he looked to beat Ospina at his near post.

Walcott should have doubled the Gunners’ lead on 49 minutes when he raced through to the edge of the area and lifted his effort over the advancing Lawlor but watched as his shot cleared the crossbar.

Arsenal struggled to find that killer second goal and it was Doncaster who came to life as the second half wore on.

John Marquis went very close on 77 minutes with an effort which dropped just wide of the upright.

On 85 minutes Liam Mandeville brought the ball down the left side of the Arsenal area and created an opening for himself, but his effort was deflected just wide of the far post.

From the resulting corner Matty Blair saw his looping header tipped over by Ospina as the hosts held on for the win.