Leeds United 1 Arsenal 3: match report
Read a full match report of the FA Cup third round replay between Leeds United and Arsenal at Elland Road on Wednesday Jan 19 2011.
As this pulsating FA Cup tie drew to a close, as Arsenal finally ended the magnificent resistance of Simon Grayson's men, Elland Road reverberated to a chorus of "we're Leeds and we're proud of it".
Whatever the disappointment of bowing out of the Cup, particularly after Bradley Johnson's stunning strike had made it 2-1, a performance full of belief should give Leeds hope for the future. They stood toe to toe with a real Premier League heavyweight, absorbed painful combinations and punches, and kept coming back for more.
They refused to surrender when Samir Nasri, again outstanding, and Bacary Sagna, giving one of his finest displays for Arsenal, drove Arsenal into a seemingly untouchable lead. They revelled in the thunderbolt unleashed before half-time by Johnson, a sweet moment for the Hackney-born midfielder having been released by Arsenal as a teenager.
They forced Wenger to send on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, who headed in Nicklas Bendtner's excellent cross and the great escape was over. Arsenal's class had told. Surely now Elland Road would fall silent.
No chance. Like their fans, Leeds refused to go quietly. The final minutes were pure helter-skelter, pure drama as Max Gradel, Jonny Howson and Robert Snodgrass tried to find a way through. Kasper Schmeichel even echoed his dad by storming upfield, like a blond thunderbolt, attempting to score from a corner.
The mission proved impossible but their guts and stamina against Arsenal will provide warming memories for Leeds in the vital months ahead. Next stop Portsmouth. Another challenge on the road to the promised land of the Premier League, meeting Nasri, Van Persie and company on a more regular basis.
Arsenal were worth their win because of the quality of their football, particularly in the first half, much of it emanating from Nasri, who was applauded from the field by Leeds fans. Arsenal now face Huddersfield Town in the fourth round, doubtless stirring plenty of Herbert Chapman retrospectives.
For the 3,000 Arsenal supporters who made the journey north, there were the encouraging signs of Wojciech Szczesny's promise in goal, of Bendtner putting in an increasingly influential shift on the right and a thrilling reminder of the class of Nasri, who took his season's tally to 14.
On the debit side for Arsenal was another off-colour contribution by Andrei Arshavin, whose shooting was wayward at best. If anyone in the Beeston area of south Leeds discovers a stray ball nestling in the shrubbery of their back-garden, please return to A Arshavin, c/o Arsenal FC, The Emirates, London.
Watching a Premier League star sending a shot spiralling out of the ground triggered much mirth amongst the locals, and surely some belief. For all the hype of the Premier League, even such luminaries as Arshavin can struggle for form, although Arsenal should be worried about the length of the Russian's poor run.
Arshavin had started on the left of Wenger's attacking quartet, attempting to join the central Nasri and right-sided Bendtner in supporting Marouane Chamakh. Until Johnson's sensational 30-yarder, Arsenal were in total control with Nasri running the show.
Within five minutes, Arsenal were sweeping the ball between receptive feet, building towards their opening goal. Kieran Gibbs, Arshavin and Chamakh were all involved, working the ball to Nasri. The Frenchman glided through before rolling the ball past Schmeichel.
Arsenal were bewitching, Leeds bewildered. After Sagna was tugged back, Nasri whipped over a free-kick that Chamakh met with a strong, downward header, drawing a magnificent right-handed save from the Leeds keeper. Chamakh v Schmeichel was not Pele v Banks but it wasn't far away.
The atmosphere was electric. Leeds fans became particularly enervated when Arshavin went to ground far too easily, prompting chants of "are you Walcott in disguise?". Then they began twirling white scarves above their heads, generating a marvellous sight to accompany the unebbing noise.
Walcott's place on the right was taken by Bendtner, who failed to turn in an inviting ball from Sagna. "That's why you're 52," chorused the Leeds supporters. Arsenal's fans responded, taunting the club of Lorimer, Hunter and Gray with chants of "You're not famous any more".
Arsenal's control was soon confirmed with a second goal. As Chamakh and Bendtner carried the ball into Leeds' box, Sagna moved up on the right. As Andy O'Brien's clearance dropped his way, Sagna pounced. Steaming in at pace, Sagna arrived like a latter-day Carlos Alberto, belting the ball past Schmeichel.
It seemed all over. The presses prepared to roll on the obituaries of Leeds' Cup fortunes for another year. The ball seemed to belong to Nasri. But Grayson's passion-players, marvellously, had other ideas.
Willed on by their fans, who certainly never accepted Arsenal's superiority, Leeds embarked on what appeared a rescue mission. First, though, they had to make the acquaintance of the ball.
Howson, a local lad responding to the adrenaline shots pumped from the terraces, never stopped believing. Nine minutes before the break, Leeds captain laid the ball off to his accomplice in central midfield, Johnson. His response was majestic, the ball drilled past a startled Szczesny.
Game on? Elland Road was convinced. Gradel and Snodgrass began making good ground down the flanks but how Leeds missed Luciano Becchio, who failed a fitness test on his back before kick-off.
As Grayson replaced Billy Paynter with Davide Somma in attack, Wenger was sending on his A-listers. "Who needs Cesc Fabregas? We've got Rob Snodgrass" came the instant response from the Leeds lyricists.
Even with Fabregas now involved and Nasri still influential, Arsenal could never relax. Not with Howson in midfield. Not with Snodgrass looking to make bustling little breaks. But then Fabregas found Bendtner, who hoisted a superb cross to the far-post. Van Persie leapt high and headed in a a header that Frank Stapleton or Alan Smith would have been proud of. A lot of pride swirled around Elland Road last night, amongst victors and vanquished alike.
