Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 09 January 2011 16:17

A replay at Elland Road against Leeds United in the FA Cup it is then? Where have I heard that before?

We have had many epic battles with Leeds United under George Graham in the early 90's and now almost twenty years later the two teams play out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates meaning that our already congested fixture list will have to part itself just a little more to include another clash with the Yorkshire club.

It could have been very different and instead we could be complaining about being knocked out of the cup in the first round as Leeds held the Gunners until the final minutes of the game before Walcott was tugged down to the floor.

Before that, Arsene made the obvious mass changes to the team but kept part of his spine. Johan Djourou continued at center back and Alex Song surprisingly continued in the heart of midfield. The rest of the team was pretty much as most expected. All top quality players as far as I am concerned but like I have said previously, they lack the continuity and momentum of Arsene's 'first team 11'

We started the game with most of the possession but we gave the ball away with alarming regularity. We could not build up from the back because our combination play was just not clicking and it invited our opponents onto us and to hit us on the break.

Andrey Arshavin had a typical Arshavin game, frustrating with sloppy passes going astray, inconsistent with his work back to help his full back, tracking back in the beginning and then slowly giving up on the idea as the game went on. Yet, he proved to be our biggest threat, his speed got him behind the Leeds United defence following a superb Tomas Rosicky through pass but Arshavin ran through on goal only to shoot at the goalkeeper.

I was sat in the west stand row 33, right at the very top, which almost gave me a birds eye view on the game such was the height of my seat and I noticed how Arshavin runs with his head down at his feet, it was something that I noticed a few weeks ago. He seems to only look at the goal at the last moment and has had a recent habit of shooting at the keeper when lifting the ball over or picking out corners would have been the better option. He did the same at Wigan when we were 2-1 up, played through against the goalkeeper but struck the midriff of the keeper instead of lifting the ball over the diving keeper.

Nicklas Bendtner had a shot saved following a near post corner from Arshavin. I noticed Bendtner whisper something in Arshavin's ear as the corner was awarded. Bendtner then whispered to a few of his team mates in the box. Every Arsenal player started at the back post and Bendtner darted to the near post to meet the dropped in corner. Interesting to see these things that are often missed by the television cameras.

We improved as the half progressed and the players started to find their passing range but when it came to the final third we lacked the combination speed of our passing and we lacked movement from the front players. When you have a side that contains both Bendtner and Chamakh then you have forwards who want the ball played into their feet or come to the ball. I remember a few occasions when they both stood still when the likes of Rosicky or Denilson had the ball outside of the penalty area.

Leeds stretched us on the break without really causing us a great deal of problems, much of that was due to Johan Djourou. He is fast becoming one of the best players in the team. Regardless of what team he features in. He appears to have an unbelievable calm when the ball is near his feet. He almost swats forwards away by spinning in a half circle with the ball stuck to his feet, arms stretched out to his team mates as if to say, it's all under control. He was fantastic throughout the whole game and could give us the calmness and footballing ability that Rio Ferdinand has given Manchester United during their stronger years.

In the second half Leeds were given a great opportunity to take the lead when Gradel was strangely allowed to waltz into the penalty box without anyone picking him up and Denilson stuck out a leg which tripped up the Leeds player. Even an away side would have got that one at Old Trafford. Snodgrass fired his kick beyond Szczesny via his outstretched hand.

Alex Song was shortly replaced, unsurprisingly he wasn't at his best after playing so many games in the last few weeks. Captain Cesc Fabregas was called on to rescue the situation and his impact was almost instant.
Becchio could have scored the second for the away team but Szczesny produced a marvelous one handed save to keep Arsenal in the game.

Theo Walcott had replaced Chamakh which I thought was quite interesting, especially as we were chasing the game. I thought that Tomas Rosicky would have been the obvious choice, changing the formation to 4-4-2 but instead we kept the same system with Bendtner as the lone forward supported by Walcott and Arshavin.

We turned on the heat, and Leeds were penned back into their penalty box. Walcott had a penalty which was interrupted by a linesman's flag a minute before a Leeds United player tugged back Walcott before he had a shot.

Cesc fired in the penalty in the last minute of the game to spare our blushes. Bendtner and Denilson could have won it in stoppage time but for wild finishing and great goalkeeping.

And that was that, a dominating yet disjointed performance that lacked the spark to finish off our opponents but they had the fight to snatch a draw at the death and should have won it late on.

Wenger's collection of squad players will have to sharpen up and quickly, perhaps the upcoming games against Ipswich as well as the return game at Leeds will help with just that.

Szczesny (7)

Eboue (6.5)

Djourou (8)

Squillaci (6.5)

Gibbs (7)

Denilson (7)

Song (6)

Rosicky (6)

Bendtner (6)

Chamakh (6)

Arshavin (6)

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Comments (4)

• 10-Jan-2011 11:30 | | Waterboy
  

  Good report ML!
  
  Djourou was outstanding yet again! I can’t wait for Vermaelan’s return and those two pairing up. That said, Kossie has been playing really well of late which doesn’t bode well for the likes of Bartley or Miquel.
  
  I felt Song (largely due to fatigue) and Denilson seemed to struggle to play penetrating balls through to Rosicky, who I thought played too far away from Chamack, which reduced our central striker's effectiveness.
  
  I can’t understand why Wenger persist with playing either Chamack or Bendtner on the wing (aside from simply wanting to give these players some game time). Neither has the trickery, speed nor off the ball movement to be effective in that area.
  
  I my view, if Wenger wants to play Chamack or Bendtner in the central striker role, Arsenal's wingers and full backs really need to provide service from wide areas. I think that would play more to the strengths of the likes of Chamack and Bendtner.
  
  I agree with your
  
  Interested to hear your thoughts about Wenger potentially moving for another Central Defender if Squillaci injury is longer term?
  
  Personally I would recall Bartley from his loan spell at Sheffield Utd to provide back up rather than make a rash purchase.

• 10-Jan-2011 11:59 | | dkgooner  - Walcott penalty
  

  "Walcott had a penalty which was interrupted by a linesman's flag ..."
  But it wasn't a penalty ML - Walcott has admitted that he dived. And apologised for it, saying he didn't want that sort of thing in his game - to his great credit. Maybe he could have a quiet word with Eboué who is still a total disgrace. Breathe on him and he goes down like he's been hit on the back of the head with a baseball bat. If I was a referee, I'd give him a yellow just for running on the pitch.
  And on the same issue, I see that Berbatov has said that "people know I don't go down easily." What a sense of humour the man has! Only at least three times every game, Dimitar.
  Back to the game. No, we just didn't click again with so many changes. Not surprising really. And I think Cesc should be sparing with his criticism of Denilson's naivety in giving away the penalty. Who was it now who stuck his hand up in the wall? Oh. We all make mistakes. But Cesc and Theo came off the bench and between them turned the game around and we got the equaliser we deserved. Now I hope AW plays a stronger starting 11 at Elland Road and puts this out of sight by half-time. Huddersfield at home will also be an opportunity to rotate.
  I see the Mersacker/Jagielka/Gary Cahill rumours are rife again. AW has said that he's waiting to see how things go with Vermaelen this month before taking any decision, but I can't imagine it's going to be anyone so high-profile who would demand an instant first team spot. We have two excellent centre-backs with TV and JD, good cover with Koscielny and OK-at-a-push with Squillaci. He looked better earlier in the season when he first came so we know he's capable of better.
  Same as with Arshavin, who seems to have a real crisis of confidence. Let's hope he can get back to his brilliant best soon. The goal he scored against Wigan was one that few players have the technique to score, but there is no consistency in his game at present. His head seems to drop very easily. He's not one to make up for lost form with more effort like Rosicky. Or keep it simple when he has a chance to do something spectacular. When he's on song, he's a match winner, and I guess Arsene just has to persist with him in the hope that he comes good again.

• 10-Jan-2011 12:17 | | dkgooner  - Diouf
  

  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/10/blackburn-rovers-qpr- fa-cup-third-round
  
  When will this guy be asked to leave the country?

• 10-Jan-2011 12:24 | | CHgooner
  

  Denilson 7 ????? Hahahaha funniest thing I've seen since Fawlty Towers that one. This player is COMPLETE AND UTTER CACK. If he was English he would have been outed a long time ago but because Wenger paid £5m for him and pays him £60k a week he is still there disgracing our club every time he plays. You may note a little thread here: Chelsea (h) (Denilson not playing) Wigan (a) Denilson playing Birmingham (a) Denilson not playing) Man City (h) Denilson not playing, Leeds United (h) Denilson playing.
  
  Strange....

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