Meridian Berkshire

Tomas Rosicky scored one and set up another as Arsenal held off a second-half rally from Brighton to win 3-2 and book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Arsenal looked to be cruising to victory at the Amex Stadium after Theo Walcott's opener after 90 seconds and Mesut Ozil's close-range finish put the holders two up at the break.

Brighton, however, twice reduced the advantage to one in the second half as Chris O'Grady and Sam Baldock both found the net either side of Rosicky's superb volley to give the home side hope.

The Seagulls poured forward late on and could have had a penalty when Calum Chambers handled in the box with five minutes to play, but the Gunners were spared and it was the holders who sneaked into the next round.

The home fans had barely taken their seats before Walcott latched onto Chambers' driven cross and fired a low shot into the far corner for his first Arsenal goal since New Year's Day 2014.

In the 24th minute, Arsenal doubled their advantage as Rosicky ghosted inside from the left and as Brighton worked out who should close down the midfielder, he slid in Ozil, who tucked the ball home from close range.

Arsenal cruised into the break relatively untroubled, but four minutes into the second period the contest was sparked into life.

Chambers failed to clear the ball on the edge of the box and O'Grady seized the opportunity, rolling Mathieu Flamini and driving low past Wojciech Szczesny to give his side a lifeline.

Brighton's goal injected belief and tempo into the home side's play and suddenly it was Arsenal who looked rattled.

The Gunners had a penalty appeal when Gordon Greer appeared to handle Giroud's flick before Brighton were crying foul at the other end when Inigo Calderon took a tumble after a tangle of legs in the box with Koscielny.

Just as Brighton looked to be gaining momentum, however, Arsenal struck again.

Rosicky recovered possession outside Brighton's box, beat two players before playing a disguised pass left to Giroud. The striker chipped the ball back into Rosicky's path and the Czech volleyed past David Stockdale to restore the two-goal advantage.

Arsenal tried to establish some control over the tie but Brighton continued to rally and in the 75th minute, they again pegged their opponents back.

Danny Holla collected possession 25 yards out and the midfielder played a beautifully weighted pass into Baldock, who lifted the ball over Szczesny and into the net for 3-2.

Sanchez hit the crossbar with a bending free-kick with six minutes to play but Brightoncame again and could have had a penalty when Adrian Colunga's cross hit the arm of Chambers.

Michael Oliver, however, waved away the appeals and the Gunners held on to book their place in the next round.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a 25-year-old woman from Corfe Castle have seized her car, and are appealing to anyone who may have seen it in the days before she disappeared.

A man who knew the mother-of-four is still being questioned on suspicion of her murder.

Samantha Henderson was reported missing on Thursday 22 January 2015.

Police added that Samantha’s disappearance is completely out of character as she has never gone missing before leaving her four young children.

A cruise ship which sailed from Southampton,carrying more than 1,000 people, was left without power off the coast of Morocco, after a fire in the engine room.

The ship listed for a short time but is now fully stable, and the fire has been put out.

Boudicca is carrying 784 guests and 356 crew on board and the firm said today it has kept everyone informed of the situation.

The ship is now on the move again near Casablanca, with three auxillary engines and two main engines running.

No one was injured in the incident.

The ship left Southampton on Tuesday and sailed from Cadiz in Spain, yesterday.

It is scheduled to arrive at Arrecife in Lanzarote, tomorrow.

The Boudicca is one of four cruise liners owned by the UK-based, Norwegian-owned company Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Two teenage girls who went missing from Oxford yesterday have been found.

Danica Du Plooy, aged 14 and Andrayah Corfield, aged 15, were located safely by police this morning.

Police are appealing for witnesses to a crash on the A34 yesterday evening, in which a man died.

It happened at around 5.45pm on the northbound carriageway near the Tufton crossroads.

A Vauxhall Zafira collided with an HGV lorry which had initially been travelling in the same direction.

The front seat passenger of the Vauxhall Zafira, a 53-year-old man from Swindon in Wiltshire, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 40-year-old man, and two rear seat passengers (a 13-year-old girl and 38-year-old man) sustained minor injuries.

The driver of the HGV, a 48-year-old man from Poland, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for the public’s help in finding two teenage girls missing from Oxford.

Danica Du Plooy, aged 14, and Andrayah Corfield, aged 15, have been missing since 9pm yesterday evening and are thought to be together.

Danica (right), is white, around 5ft3ins, of medium build with brown hair. She was last seen wearing black and white leggings, a pink hooded top, a navy blue coat, with an ankle brace and is using crutches.

Andrayah (left) is white, 5ft6ins, slim with blonde hair. She was last seen wearing black leggings, a light blue jumper, black coat with leopard print inside, grey Puma trainers and carrying a pink shoulder bag.

Police are concerned for their welfare due to their young age and the amount of time they have been missing.

It is thought that they may be in either Oxford or have travelled to Bicester.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses following a report of an assault in Whitstable.

Shortly before 3am on 24 January a man reported that he was assaulted by two men as he walked along the A290 between the Clapham Hill and Long Reach roundabouts in Whitstable.

The victim, aged 21 years-old, received facial injuries but has since been discharged from hospital.

The first suspect is described as being of mixed race, with dark hair, a London accent and wearing a hoody. The second suspect is described as being a white man in his mid-twenties, unshaven and also wearing a hoody.

Operation Stack has been lifted and the M20 motorway is now fully open to all traffic.

An earlier ‘up and over’ system that had remained in place at junction 8 was removed shortly before 9pm on the evening of 24 January.