LEEDS 1 - ARSENAL 3 - ARSENE WENGER WINS AN ELL OF A CRACKER

LEEDS 1 - ARSENAL 3 - ARSENE WENGER WINS AN ELL OF A CRACKER

LEEDS 1 - ARSENAL 3 - ARSENE WENGER WINS AN ELL OF A CRACKER
ROBIN VAN PERSIE came off the bench to sink brave Leeds last night.

The Arsenal striker rose in the box to head home a Nicklas Bendtner cross after 76 minutes to secure the Gunners an FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Huddersfield on Sunday week.

The match was full of action, especially when Bacary Sagna unleashed a first-half thunderbolt to stun the Elland Road fans.

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The Arsenal defender powered a stunning strike past Kasper Schmeichel on 35 minutes as Arsene Wenger’s men took control of this third-round replay.

Samir Nasri had fired the Gunners ahead after just five minutes before Sagna doubled the advantage.

But battered Leeds refused to lie down and hit back with a blistering effort of their own on 37 minutes thanks to Bradley Johnson’s 35-yard piledriver.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger resisted the temptation to field his strongest side, despite having seen the Gunners taken to the limit in the 1-1 draw at the Emirates when they survided thanks to a last-gasp penalty.

With forthcoming games against Wigan and then Ipswich in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg, Wenger decided to rotate his squad.

He chose to leave Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere on the bench.

Yet the Gunners still had enough fire-power in the line-up to overcome the challenge of Grayson’s underdogs.

Bendtner and Marouame Chamakh were recalled in attack while Andrey Arshavin was also handed a start.

Walcott was spared dogs’ abuse from home fans by staying on the bench.

The winger had admitted to diving in the first clash and had been warned to expect a hostile Leeds reception.

Denilson didn’t do his popularity in the dressing room much good by claiming Fabregas was not a leader but Wenger still recalled the Brazilian for the replay.

Leeds, meanwhile, were dealt a blow when leading scorer Luciano Becchio was ruled out with a back problem.

Billy Paynter was given the job of filling his boots in what was the biggest game of his career.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson had warned the Gunners to expect fireworks from the start but his only problem was they came at the wrong end.

Max Gradel pounced on a mistake from Sagna and shot just wide to offer Leeds some hope.

But Wenger’s men took less then five minutes to silence home fans as they made the perfect start.

Arshavin was the supplier with a dangerous ball in from the left.

And Nasri, skipper for the night, ghosted on to it before brushing aside two feeble tackles and beating Schmeichel with a cool finish. Leeds were in danger of being dead and buried before half time as the Gunners threatened to run riot.

Schmeichel produced a stunning save to keep out Chamakh’s header on 11 minutes before Arshavin fired over.

Leeds survived again on 20 minutes when Arshavin somehow failed to convert Chamakh’s cross from point- blank range at the back post.

Schmeichel was having a busy night and did well to tip wide a dipping drive from Arshavin on 22 minutes.

Leeds were being opened up at will but somehow the score remained 1-0.

Alex Song set up another chance when he burst into acres of space down the right and crossed for Bendtner but he failed to convert.

The inevitable second goal finally arrived 10 minutes before half-time.

Bendtner lost control but Andy O’Brien’s poor clearance went straight to Sagna, who thumped home an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

But Leeds gave themselves hope when all looked lost as Johnson’s piledriver stunned Wenger’s men just two minutes later. But the Gunners continued to have the upper hand and came close to making it 3-1 straight after the re-start.

Alex Song broke through but saw his shot well blocked by Schmeichel, who also kept out a free kick from Nasri soon after.

And it took a goal-saving tackle from Robert Snodgrass on 54 minutes to prevent Arshavin from restoring his side’s two-goal lead.

Just after the hour Gradel set up a great chance for Leeds to level it when he hit a low cross in from the right but Paynter just failed to connect — just like Bendtner had for Arsenal earlier.

Then substitute Davide Somma knocked it high and wide with his first touch after replacing Paynter in the 68th minute.

Cesc Fabregas came on for Chamakh and Van Persie for Arshavin after 71 minutes. And Fabregas soon fired a free-kick just wide of the upright.

But up climbed Van Persie five minutes after coming on to head home the clincher.

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