Championship Leeds United frustrated Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, holding them to a 1-1 draw with both sides scoring second half penalties.
After a goalles first half, dominated by Arsenal who had two attempts cleared off the line, Leeds took the lead after 54 minutes when Max Gradel was tripped in the area, Robert Snodgrass converting from the spot. Arsenal were level, however, when Ben Parker was pulled up for a tug on Theo Walcott, substitute Cesc Fabregas slotting the penalty home.
Arsene Wenger made nine changes to his starting line-up, the only players to survive from Wednesday's draw at Manchester City being Johan Djourou and Alex Song. Cesc Fabregas dropped to the bench while Aaron Ramsey made his first appearance in an Arsenal squad since his horrific double leg break against Stoke in February.
In the Leeds team top scorer Luciano Becchio returned to the starting XI as did Alex Bruce. Sanchez Watt, on loan from the Gunners, recovered from a head injury to play against his parent club.
There was a late change in the shape of the referee, Phil Dowd taking over from Chris Foy, who was unable to attend the game for personal reasons.
The first effort on goal came from Luciano Becchio. After Alex Song misplaced a pass in his own half the Argentine picked the ball up and turned down the chance to play a ball wide to Sanchez Watt, instead screwing his shot well wide of the goal.
That was to be the only shot on goal from the first ten minutes as Arsenal showed the passing ability their squad possesses and it wasn't too long afterwards that they produced the first big goalscoring oppurtunity, Tomas Rosicky playing an inch perfect through ball which Andrey Arshavin raced onto, only to find Casper Schemichel standing tall in the Leeds goal, and put his shot straight at the Leeds stopper.
There was to be a scare at the other end for Arsenal as they lost the ball once again in their own half through Tomas Rosicky and when through on goal Luciano Becchio saw his shot smothered by Wojciech Szczesny.
A bursting run from Nicklas Bendtner saw the forward push the ball out wide to Rosicky who in turn crossed over a teasing ball towards the Dane, only to see it headed out of the area.
The first yellow card of the game was awarded to Leeds defender Ben Parker for clipping the heels of Emmanuel Eboue when the utility man was pushing forward into enemy territory.
Soon after Andrey Arshavin caught a ball perfectly as it bounced up but his strike was straight at Casper Schmeichel who parried the ball away.
An inswinging Arsenal corner saw the ball drop at the feet of Bendtner who scraped a shot away which was cleared off of the line by Jonny Howson. Moments later it was Schmeichel's turn to keep out the Gunners as Denilson drove towards his goal but the 'keeper comfortably kept the ball out of the net. The pressure, however, wasn't over as from the resulting corner Becchio was forced into a goal lince clearance from Sebastien Squillaci's header.
As the half went on Arsenal kept the pressure up and another Arshavin corner found the head of Marouane Chamakh who planted his effort straight at Schmeichel.
A blatant shove in the back of Sanchez Watt saw captain for the day Tomas rosicky become the first Arsenal player to end up the the referees notebook.
There was to be more work for Casper Schmeichel before half time as Nicklas Bendtner forced his way past Ben Parker and Max Gradel before putting his effort straight at his fellow Dane in the Leeds goal.
At half time it was clear who was the better team, the home side well on top in terms of possession and shots on goal but it was Leeds goalkeeper and a pair of off the line clearances that kept the Whites in it.
Seconds into the second half Arsenal, through Alex Song, got in behind the Leeds defence but his cut back couldn't find any of his teammates and was easily cleared out of danger.
Arsenal had started the half well, pressing Leeds and forcing their defence back but the United defence was holding strong and were not easy to break down as first Bendtner and secondly Arshavin found out but the drama was to come at the other end.
After some tight work down the left by Sanchez Watt Denilson felled Max Gradel in the Arsenal area and Robert Snodgrass stepped up to smash the ball through the outstretched left hand of Szczesny to give United the lead in front of their travelling support.
The pressure mounted on Arsene Wenger and not long after the goal he brought on one of his bug guns in the shape of Cesc Fabregas who replaces Alex Song after 58 minutes.
Arsenal got straight back on the front foot and substitute Fabregas poked a ball out wide for Emmanuel Eboue and the Ivorian clipped a ball across the Leeds goal where Andy O'Brien got the lightest of touches with his head, that was, though, enough to keep the ball away from the forehead of Marouane Chamakh.
Leeds were still in it, however, and Bradley Johnson's cross took a deflection which forced Szczesny into pushing the ball over the bar for a corner and from the resulting set piece Luciano Becchio forced the Arsenal goalkeeper into a diving one handed save in order to make sure the game didn't get away from the Londoners.
With just over twenty minutes left in the game Arsenal needed an impetus and Wenger sent on Theo Walcott in the hope that he would be the one to provide it.
Leeds gradually grew into the game and as the pressure intensified around the ground there was more space to be found for the away side and after a foul by Johan Djourou Robert Snodgrass looked to double his tally as he swung a free kick wide of Arsenal's right hand post.
Cesc Fabregas has the ability to change a game and this was recognised by Leeds who seemed to be intent on fouling the influential midfielder, eventually resulting in a yellow card for United captain Jonny Howson.
There was to be one more throw of the dice for Arsenal as the young Mexican Carlos Vela came on in place of Tomas Tosicky.
With ten minutes left Arsenal won a free kick for a foul on Eboue and from it Fabregas swung a ball into the area and found Nicklas Bendtner but he was unable to keep his header from sailing over the bar.
There was slick passing to be seen from Arsenal but it was Leeds game to defend and they did so, not allowing any final balls into dangerous areas and Arsenal were becoming increasingly frustrated.
Leeds almost stole a second goal as Max Gradel ran into the area but his ball, attemptedly squared for Luciano Becchio, could only find the feet of Sebastien Squillaci.
The pace of Theo Walcott is something to be feared and it nearly caught out Leeds as Andrey Arshavin clipped a delightful ball of the top but the winger could only strike his first time volley straight at Schmeicehel.
There was to be more controversy though as first Theo Walcott spun in the area and was tripped up only for the linesman to signal for offside, but that wasn't the end of it and just a minute later Arsenal were awarded a penalty, again for a foul on Walcott as Ben Parker pulls at his arm when through on goal and it was the substitute Cesc Fabregas who stepped up to slot the ball down the centre and level up the tie.
Nicklas Bendtner had not had the best of matches but he had the chance to make amends as a ball over the top landed for him to volley but it veered up at him and ricocheted off of his toes and into the fans behind the goal.
As the game drew to a close Denilson saw a stinging drive from just outide the area superbly fingertipped wide by Casper Schmeichel and Theo Walcott swiped a shot wide from a tight angle but there was to be no more goals as Leeds, who finished with just 37% possession, held on to take their more illustrious opponents back to Elland Road for a replay that should be played on either Tuesday 18th or Wednesday 19th.
No comments:
Post a Comment