Arsenal defeat Leeds in FA Cup replay

January 19, 2011

Samir Nasri (far right) celebrates his opening goal in Arsenal's 2-1 FA Cup third round replay win at Leeds United.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Premier League giants Arsenal are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup
• Goals from Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Rovin van Persie send Arsenal through
• The result means The Gunners are through to face Huddersfield Town in the next round

(CNN) -- Premier League giants Arsenal are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a hard-fought 3-1 replay win at Championship side Leeds United.
Arsenal started strongly and took the lead with a superbly worked goal in just the fifth minute.
Andrey Arshavin's pass was dummied by Marouane Chamakh and Samir Nasir ran through, skipped a challenge, before sliding the ball past goalkeeper Kaspar Schmeichel, the son of former Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel.
Schmeichel junior then produced a save his father would have been proud of, somehow stretching to keep out Chamakh's unmarked downward header from a corner.
Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner both then went close to extending Arsenal's lead, just failing to convert tempting crosses into the Leeds area.
But eventually Arsenal's pressure paid off and they doubled their advantage in the 35th minute when a poor defensive clearance fell to right-back Bacary Sagna, who lashed the ball home despite Schmeichel getting his hands to the shot.
However, just two minutes later, Leeds were back in the match with their first serious effort on goal.
Arsenal failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to midfielder Bradley Johnson, who took aim from 30 yards out and fired a stunning strike into the corner of the visitors' net, giving goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny no chance.
The Gunners nearly added to their tally in the first minute of the second half when Schmeichel was again on hand to deprive Alex Song from close range.
Both sides made changes as the game wore on and Leeds substitute Davide Somma wasted a great chance for the home side, firing wide from close range soon after coming on.
But it was an Arsenal substitute who eventually made the game safe, with Robin Van Persie on hand to head home Bendtner's inch-perfect 76th-minute right-wing cross.

The result means Arsenal will now play host to another Yorkshire-based club, Huddersfield Town -- who play in the third tier of English football -- for a place in the last 16 of the competition.