Dominant display fails to deliver decisive blow.

Arsene Wenger has never lost to a lower league team in the FA Cup but, for 36 minutes, those present at the Grove thought that the team’s profligacy would cost them this time.

Niklas Bendtner and Andrei Arshavin were particularly guilty of wasting chances in the first half and Denilson’s clumsy trip on Gradel in our penalty area gave Leeds the opportunity to take advantage. Snodgrass, a Leeds United player straight from the mind of Roald Dahl, dispatched the penalty and the record breaking travelling support sensed another unlikely victory in the FA Cup third round but, unlike their visit to Old Trafford last season, their hosts conjured an equaliser.

Rosicky, Denilson, Arshavin, Chamakh and Bendtner were all so disappointing that it is a shame only 3 substitutions are allowed. Wenger chose wisely though by throwing on Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott for Song and Chamakh respectively and in the last ten minutes our star duo ripped open a Leeds defence that had been marshalled so well by two very familiar names, Bruce and Schmeichel.

Yet we still wasted an inordinate number of openings and had to wait for a penalty of our own in the 90th minute to finally force the replay. A minute before the equaliser Walcott had a penalty award reversed after an offside was wrongly flagged, (an incident which Theo has now admitted was a dive) but he burst through into the box again and this time was hauled down just before he could get his shot away. There was no debate over the decision to give us a penalty and the captain stroked the ball into the centre of the goal. Fabregas was still desperate for a win but unfortunately some of his deputies, who were given the opportunity to impress, were not able to reach the necessary standard.

One player who did excel was Johan Djourou and all Arsenal fans will be desperate for him to maintain his fitness as he has quickly established himself as our most reassuring defender. There were no other standout performances and there would be few upset faces at the Grove if any one of Bendtner, Denilson or Rosicky were moved on to pastures new this month. We now face a tricky trip to Elland Road next week at a time when our squad could do with a breather, particularly when our supposedly experienced replacements are so unproductive.

Photo: Action Images

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