Holders Arsenal won through to the FA Cup last 16 with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Brighton on Sunday as West Ham and Aston Villa also avoided the embarrassment of becoming the latest Premier League clubs to be knocked out by lower league opposition.

English football was still reeling from a sensational Saturday that saw Premier League leaders Chelsea beaten 4-2 by third-tier Bradford City at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough.

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It took Arsenal, the joint-record 11-times FA Cup winners, fewer than 90 seconds to open the scoring away to Championship club Brighton when Theo Walcott, played in by Calum Chambers, struck from 12 yards out.

Arsenal were cruising at 2-0 in the 24th minute when when Germany World Cup-winner Mesut Ozil scored just his second goal of the season.

South coast side Brighton gave themselves a 50th-minute lifeline when Chris O'Grady held off Mathieu Flamini and shot low into the bottom corner.

Nevertheless, Tomas Rosicky restored Arsenal's two-goal lead at the Amex Stadium in fine style with a 59th-minute volley that was too hot for Brighton goalkeeper David Stockdale to handle.

Meanwhile second-half goals from Carles Gil and Andreas Weimann saw Aston Villa beat Championship leaders Bournemouth 2-1.

Spanish winger Gil put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute at Villa Park with a stunning first goal in English football.

He received the ball out wide on the right, cut inside the full-back and lofted the curling effort into the top corner from at least 25 yards out before Weimann rounded off a neat move to score the Birmingham club's second 19 minutes from time.

Callum Wilson pulled a goal back for Bournemouth in the 90th minute but it was all too late for the Cherries.

West Ham won 1-0 away to third-tier Bristol City thanks to Diafra Sakho's header nine minutes from time.