OXFORD United’s glamour tie against Arsenal in the Emirates FA Cup showcased the need for the club to find a new home, U’s boss Karl Robinson and pundits said.

The eyes of the world were on the Kassam Stadium on Monday night as United welcomed the Premier League leaders.

While Robinson’s side more than held their own for the first hour, Arsenal showed their class with three goals in 13 minutes to seal the tie.

Tickets for the game sold out weeks before, with the final ones snapped up within an hour of going on general sale.

United remain on the search to build a new stadium with The Triangle – south of Kidlington Roundabout – set to be discussed by Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet later this month.

A decision on whether to enter formal negotiations regarding leasing council-owned land at The Triangle, for the development of a new stadium, will be made on January 24.

Robinson highlighted how crucial the hunt for a new stadium is.

He said: “We forget that football is at the heartbeat of every community across our country.

“The reason why you come to watch the greatest teams in the land is because we love football.

“Within heartbeats of communities, you have to have a central focus point. Nine times out of 10, that’s a football stadium.

“For us, not to have a home that we can call ours is something that becomes very difficult.

“We have to make a stadium our home and our focal point.

“We want to find a way of this being the centre of our community, we’re the only professional sport team in the county.

“From that point of view, we’ve got a massive job on our hands to make sure we have a stadium.”

On the support his team got from fans on Monday, Robinson added: “They never let us down and you certainly wouldn’t expect them to when you’ve got a club the level of Arsenal coming here.

“We’ve had Newcastle, Man City twice, West Ham and now Arsenal come here in the last three or four years, and we’ve always sold out.

“You expect that when the big boys come to town.”

READ MORE: Ian Wright delivers verdict on Oxford United’s display against Arsenal

United’s licence agreement at the Kassam is set to run out in 2026, after which point the club could find itself homeless.

The situation was discussed during ITV’s live coverage of the Arsenal fixture.

Presenter Mark Pougatch said: “There’s a good catchment area, we had over 10,000 here.

“They need to be in control of their own future and their own finances, which is why they need a stadium that they own.”

Former England player Karen Carney said: “How do you get your own revenue when you keep paying out to the former owner on the lease?

“It’s tough and I’m sure they’ll find out more at the end of the month, fingers crossed for the community and the football club.”

Ian Wright, Arsenal’s second highest goalscorer of all time, said that with revenues from their own stadium, Robinson would be better supported to drive the U’s forward.