Arsenal – Leeds United

So, an unfamiliar Arsenal take to the stage as Leeds hope to repeat their success of a year ago in taming one of the giants of English football. Leeds, of course, used to be a big beast themselves.

Chances for the likes of Bendtner and Gibbs, and Sanchez Watt of Leeds is actually on loan from Arsenal.

Ref Phil Dowd gets us underway.

Leeds gain some early possession, but their route one approach sees the ball drift out behind Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal attack as the ball is switched from Rosicky to Bendtner. His run is blocked.

Snodgrass on the burst. Nice ball in is just cleared.

<i>Opta Stats: </i> Arsenal have never lost to lower league opposition in the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger.

Chamakh's hair? What is going on there?

Sanchez Watt shows a neat turn of foot but his run is stopped by Squilacci.

Lovely backheel from Bendtner, but it was in the corner, and the move came to naught.

Chaos in the Arsenal ranks allows Becchio a clear strike on goal. To say he wasted that would be an understatement.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">Alex Bruce cleans out Arshavin with a tackle daddy would be proud of.

Arsenal yet to show much in the way of a pattern or tempo.

Long ball for Becchio but Wojciech Szcz&#281;sny comes across.

Oof, nasty tackle from Sanchez Watt on Rosicky. No booking though.

Leeds will mostly be taking long kicks through Kaspar Schmeichel.

And again from Kaspar...

Arsenal clean through. Rosicky carves it wide to Arshavin, who was alone. And Schmeichel gets in the way.

Good save from the young Dane. Too much deliberation from the Russian.

Gibbs tries to get the ball in but wins a corner.

Handball from Denilson means that Arsenal's attack is over, and Leeds can breathe after a period of pressure.

Rosicky loses it. Through ball finds Becchio but the Italian's strike is as poor as his previous effort. Szcz&#281;sny did well to block that.

Howitzer from Watt flies into the cheap seats behind the goal.

Leeds corner is cleared to Arshavin. Rosicky passes poorly and Johnson gets it away.

"Leeds are not doing too badly", admits a pained Dale Johnson. Agreed. Arsenal have not found it easy.

Arsenal pass the ball calmly, but Leeds hold firm and break up play.

Song finds scant space but the ball is with Rosicky, Bendtner is next to be hassled.

Gradel slashes clear. Becchio handles and his defensive team-mates must do it all again.

Eboue makes a nice run but runs into a wall of blue shirts.

Gradel outnumbered, but when the ball goes to Chamakh, he too is surrounded. Leeds are up for this.

Phil Dowd gets in the way. Chamakh is the target for a lofted ball but cannot get to the ball. Leeds still holding firm.

Sanchez Watt on the wing, booed by Arsenal fans who think that Chamakh has been fouled. Alex Bruce made another agricultural challenge. He's on sudden death already and may not last the match.

Gunners get back underway, but Leeds again thwart their patient play. It's just a pity they cannot hold on to it.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Parker booked for tripping Eboue.

Chamkah nods down for Arshavin who slashes a volley. Great move but Schmeichel was behind it all the way.

Chamakh and Bruce collide and a corner is conceded by Leeds.

What a game of pinball in the box, and Leeds get it clear. Denilson fires in a shot that Schmeichel palms behind. Howson and Becchio both defended well in a sequence of dogged last-ditch stuff from Leeds.

Offside from Leeds. Becchio wasted another chance to make an attack.

Eboue on the wing. Arsenal pressure building up here.

Leeds need a breather. Arsenal are exerting their superiority rather too much.

Bendtner's touch is heavy, to say the least.

Bendtner was through but Alex Bruce made a great tackle to deny him. A mate of mine used to deliver pizza to his house. His dad always gave a good tip.

Eboue caught in possession and falls to the floor. But Arsenal recover, and then complain that Eboue was fouled.

Leeds are less pressured at the moment, and Arsenal's possession has been in their own half. That's call the pressing game.

Arshavin looked to be through but Chamakh was ruled to have handled the ball.

Arsenal build patiently, but Bendtner gets greedy and hasty and smashes over. Not very impressive.

Arsenal's passing seems to break down every time they get to the edge of the Leeds box.

Watt bundled by Rosicky, after some great speed. The Gunners skipper is booked for his cynicism. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">

Arshavin runs into a Leeds wall. There has been some fine defending on show. Alex Bruce is looking injured though.

It doesn't look good for Bruce, but like his dad he's not one to stop playing when injury strikes.

Bendtner fires in a shot from a wide angle. Schmeichel smothers it well. And keeps hold of it too.

Alex Bruce is attended to. I doubt he will be back in the second half. He's played very well here.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0108/robertsnodgrass,nicklasbendtner20110108_275x155.jpg"> Robert Snodgrass clashes with Nicklas Bendtner

Last chance for Arsenal to get a shot on goal. Chipped free-kick from Arshavin and Squilacci heads the ball off. For a throw in. Oh dear.

And that's the half-time whistle. Leeds have held their line well and Arsenal were frustrated. Judging by some of the language in this office, so are some of their fans.

Back underway, and the Gunners take the kick off.

They need an improved display, though Leeds need to attack more.

Song made a fine burst down the left flank, hits the by-line but hits his pass behind everyone. Penetrative.

Snograss pivots and turns but his pass is not aimed in any particular direction and drifts behind.

Arshavin crowded out as he tried to cut in. Bendtner's ball is headed behind by Bruce.

Leeds are not for playing the expansive stuff just yet.

Rosicky at the by-line but fires his pass too hard and high.

Another corner to Arsenal. More pressure. It's building and building.

Snodgrass plays in Gradel. Denilson hangs out a leg and, Gradel goes down. Awful tackle. Penalty!!!

Snodgrass takes. And smashes it into the right-hand bottom corner of the net. Szczesny got a hand to to it but it's 1-0 to Leeds!<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b>

So, Leeds look like they might repeat last year's heroics. Their defending is bound to be deep now.

Arsenal look frenzied. They have paid for their wastefulness. Leeds are "Marching On Together" in the stands.

Pat Rice and Arsene Wenger look rather angry. Becchio has possession in the box, but cannot find a team-mate. Cesc Fabregas is getting stripped.

Wenger really needs this one, so he's going to have to play his big Gunners.

Gradel on the left nearly escaped Eboue but the Arsenal man recovered.

Fabregas is now on. Song gone. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">

Szczesny has the freedom of his half to punt it long. 'Hoof' as those loveable Gooners would say.

Nice pass finds Eboue out wide. Chamakh's header was pitiful. He looked to duck out of it.

Bruce smashes behind as Rosicky charged through.

Rosicky's cross is overhit and behind.

Szczesny has to palm behind as Johnson's cross is deflected.

Becchio's header forces a great save from Szczesny, and Leeds were nearly two up.

Leeds now with the impetus. But Arsenal break with Gibbs.

Gibbs gets the ball out wide from Bendtner. And slashes behind. Oh dear.

Arsene Wenger is shrinking into his coat/sleeping bag/rapper's delight. Carling Cup or bust? That could the one if it stays this way.

Denilson fouls Snodgrass.

Fabregas fouled and Arsenal hurry up. Walcott on for Arshavin. Or is it Chamakh? <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> It's Chamakh, who's had a bad afternoon.

Bendtner's shot is blocked but Arshavin is found on the wrong foot by a pass from the Dane. Boos from the Gooners.

Free-kick for a foul on Becchio by Djourou. Squilacci had nearly caught out Szczesny.

Snodgrass' shot found Szczesny all at sea but is just wide. Very close.

Walcott on the charge and then Bendtner goes down in the box. Looked like a penalty conceded by O'Brien but only a corner.

Leeds get that clear. Boos as Arshavin's pass is off. He's not popular any more, the Russian.

Walcott's shot was wide. To say the least. Poor effort.

Rosicky fouls Bruce. The Czech could have been booked, for a sending off but escapes.

Sanchez Watts goes off. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> On comes Leigh Bromby.

Howson made a rather hard tackle on Fabregas. Booked. Rightly too. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">

Waste from Fabregas. Arsenal lacking spark here.

Foul by Denilson on Snodgrass. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">

Rosicky off. Vela on. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">

Fabregas to boom in a free-kick from the right. Bendtner nods over. It was a good chance.

Arshavin carves through but O'Brien gets in the way.

Schmeichel punches clear.

Gibbs ball in. Schmeichel catches first time.

Bentdner's shot is blocked by Alex Bruce, and Schmeichel collects it.

Gradel down the left gets the ball across and Arsenal were panicking as Becchio lurked. Djourou smashes away.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Becchio off. Davide Somma on.

Becchio milked that one. Arsenal fans not well disposed to his lap of honour.

Arsenal need to build momentum, which has been lacking for them.

Arshavin's touch is off again. More boos for him.

Penalty to Arsenal???

No, the ref changed his mind. Bendtner was offside as he was fouled. Chaotic scenes.

Penalty this time. Walcott was fouled as he ran through. Parker pulled his shirt.

Fabregas in the last minute saves the day for Arsenal. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b>

Fabregas kept his cool and played it down the middle. Arsenal needed a miracle and got it.

Four minutes of added time...

Arsenal chase a winner. They don't want a replay.

Bendtner has the chance to win it. But fires wide with a very poor shot indeed.

Leeds hanging on more than they were when they were ahead.

Schmeichel made a tremendous save from Denilson. Great football all round. This has been a great cup tie!

Not long to go now.

Arsenal want a winner. And may not fancy Elland Road and the hosting of Chairman Ken Bates.

Denilson fouled. Long ball to be pumped in.

Bruce heads away. Walcott comes to it and shoots. The net ripples but the ball has gone behind.

That's it. Leeds have a great result but could have had more. Arsenal were struggling for long periods. Back to Elland Road we go. Join us.