Football news - Joe Willock stars as Arsenal coast to victory in Blackpool

Joe Willock hit a brace as Arsenal eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win against troubled League One side Blackpool.

The talented 19-year-old opened the scoring after just 11 minutes, reacting quickest after Aaron Ramsey’s free-kick came back off the frame of the goal to slot past Mark Howard.

There were few Blackpool supporters inside Bloomfield Road as the protest against the club's owners - the Oyston family - continues to rumble on, but the hosts played good football at times and applied some pressure on Unai Emery's side.

The stuffing was knocked out of the home side in the 38th-minute, however, as Willock bagged his second when he snuck in at the far post to tuck home Carl Jenkinson's cross.

Terry McPhilips's charges gathered themselves after the restart and asked a couple of questions of Arsenal, but Alex Iwobi wrapped up the game in the 82nd minute with a goal that probably should have been chalked off for offside.

Laurent Koscienly - who has just returned after a seven month lay-off - had been selected to play but was injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Carl Jenkinson just before kick-off. It will come as a huge blow to Emery, who is already missing Konstantinos Mavropanas and Rob Holding to injury, while Shkodran Mustafi also struggles to shake off a niggle, leaving the Spaniard with only one fit centre-back.

Stephan Lichsteiner was forced to move into the unfamiliar role of centre-half, but Emery's makeshift defence never really looked like conceding as the Gunners sealed their place in the fourth round to add to an already hectic fixture list.

With options running out at the back, will Emery be provided with the funds to bring in defensive cover during the January transfer window?

The talented Welshman conjured up yet another fine driving performance as he continues to underline his quality to some of the world's biggest clubs sniffing around hoping to snap him up as a free agent.

Blackpool: Howard 7, Nottingham 7, Daniels 5, O’Connor 5, Bola 5, Spearing 7, Guy 5, Taylor 6, Feeney 5, Delfouneso 6, Gnanduillet 5. Subs: Mafoumbi 6, Pritchard 5, Davies N/A.

Arsenal: Cech 6, Lichtsteiner 6, Jenkinson 7, Sokratis 7, Kolasinac 7, Elneny 6, Ramsey 8, Maitland-Niles 7, Willock 7, Iwobi 7, Nketiah 6. Subs: Medley 5, Saka N/A, Lacazette 5.

3' - ARSENAL SHOULD SCORE! A lovely forward pass from Ramsey finds Maitland-Niles who in turns sets up Nketiah up on a plate but somehow he drags his shot from point-blank range into the side-netting.

7' - ANOTHER BIG MISS! Nkeitah blows another golden opportunity for Arsenal. He is left unmarked at the far post to meet Maitland-Niles' precise cross but somehow he pokes it wide. Usually so prolific in front of goal, the youngster will be kicking himself.

11' - GOAL! Blackpool 0-1 Arsenal: Ramsey strikes the frame of the goal with the resultant free-kick and Willock reacts quickest to meet the loose ball, finishing with a stooping header to put the Gunners ahead.

38' - GOAL! Blackpool 0-2 Arsenal: Iwobi appears to control the ball with his hand but play continues and he feeds Jenkinson on the overlap. His cross is flicked on by Nketiah and finds Willock at the far post who slots the ball home from a tight angle.

57' - GREAT CHANCE FOR BLACKPOOL! Nottingham spurns a great opportunity for Blackpool. He receives a square-pass from Bola and has time to pick his time and spot. However, he skies his effort from the top of the box.

82' - GOAL! Blackpool 0-3 Arsenal: The travelling supporters sing the name of Iwobi who is left with a simple tap-in, pouncing after Mafoumbi saved Ramsey's toe-poked effort. The goalscorer looks offside but no flag is raised and it's going to count.