Arsenal ended Lincoln City’s romantic FA Cup run this season with a ruthless performance at the Emirates on Saturday that cared little for anything but progress to the semi-finals of the competition.

Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey were all on target in a 5-0 win that ensured that a tough couple of weeks for the Gunners didn’t get much, much worse.

Arsene Wenger’s side are still in with a very good shout of significant silverware this season. Despite their season going off the rails in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, an FA Cup win would be nothing to sniff at and now they are in the final four, lifting that trophy seems like a very achievable goal.

The non-league visitors gave a great account of themselves, especially in the first half and despite the heavy defeat can hold their heads high. In the end it felt very harsh as the Gunners racked up the goals at their expense.

Here are the FIVE lessons we learned from the 90 minutes…

Magic vs Reality only sees one winner

Football is cruel. For all the hope it inspires, for all the storylines it naturally creates, for all the dreaming it causes, at the end of the day reality almost always comes back to bite the idealists. Even Lincoln’s incredible run under the guidance of the Cowley brothers eventually hit a wall.

Arsenal were in the end just too strong for the non-league outfit highlighting that as we reach the tail-end of the competition, it’s the big teams in England that are likely going to be competing for the trophy most regularly.

It’s a harsh reality but also a reminder of the challenges Lincoln faced to get to this stage of the competition and that should be applauded.

Despite 5 Arsenal goals, Lincoln take the plaudits

Despite Arsenal’s dominance, the majority of the viewing audience outside of Gunners supporters were firmly behind the non-league side and they drew plaudits for their determined performance, especially in the first half.

They at least ensured they would leave the Emirates without any regrets having given every bit of themselves in search for an unlikely result.

Football fans all over the country have taken a keen interest in the Imps’ cup run and for a brief period in the first 45 minutes it seemed like they might actually pull off the impossible.

In the end, as expected, Arsenal’s quality shone through but Lincoln can hold their heads high.

Xhaka’s indiscipline continues

Granit Xhaka has now picked up cards in each of his last six matches stretching all the way back to January and it seems like the discipline issues that have dogged him all season show no sign of going away anytime soon.

He’s picked up eight yellows and two reds across the season and although Arsenal definitely need players in midfield with an edge to their game, his combative style isn’t even particularly effective in taking control of matches.

He was perhaps even lucky not to receive a harsher punishment for his lunge on Matt Rhead and if he wants to remain a trusted figure at the Emirates he needs to rein in his poor tackling.

Giroud should start more games

Olivier Giroud scored his 7th goal in 12 appearances for the Gunners, maintaining a healthy goal average in recent months and showing he’s probably worthy of more Premier League starts than he is currently getting.

He’s only made 7 league starts this season but with Alexis Sanchez looking just as effective on the left hand side perhaps it’s time to make Giroud the focal point of the Arsenal attack permanently.

He always looks able to get onto the end of something in the box and with talented teammates running around him is always likely to find himself with the opportunity to get shots away at goal.

Despite problems, Arsenal must be considered cup contenders

Whether he admits it or not, Arsene Wenger must be feeling the weight of the Arsenal support on his shoulders after a fairly disastrous few months for the club. It had all been going so well up until the Christmas period but seems to have gotten worse and worse as the weeks roll on.

Even if he does leave this summer, securing the FA Cup as a parting gift to the club would be a fitting end to his reign as Arsenal boss and you certainly can’t count them out.

They are formidable opponents in the competition and will likely give whoever they face at Wembley in the semi-finals one of their toughest games of the season.