Cesc Fabregas Scores Late Pen As Arsenal Escape F.A Cup Giantkilling

The oldest club competition in football was here again, The F.A Cup was back, some say the passion/magic has been lost from Cup, and that the big Premiership sides do not take it seriously but todays game showed otherwise. Our featured player Nicklas Bendtner started in a right wing position, where he played some of last season, It’s not his favourite position but he is capable of playing their with his direct dribbling and link up play.

Leeds started well, Arsenal tried to get their usual passing game going but Johnny Howson and Bradley Johnson where pressing Arsenal along with on loan Arsenal youngster Watt and Max Gradel a tricky winger. First chance fell to Luciano Becchio but Arsenal Polish goalkeeper came out and spread himself to block the Argentine’s effort.

Andrei Arshavin then had a chance, The Leeds backline got caught quite high and Rosicky played a through ball that cut through the defence to set the Russain on his way but Kasper Schmiecel got his angles right and saved his effort. Bendtner then switched to the left, he made some clever contributions and cut in onto his right foot and hit an effort from about 25 yards but it sailed over the bar.

Arsenal fans were starting to get frustrated with the half time approaching, Leeds looked more up for it, Bendtner was back on the right, beating two players before firing low from a tight angle it was smothered by Young Dane Kasper Schmiecel.

Arsenal started the second half, and looked to get that first goal, upping the passing speed and movement of their play. But suprisingly, Leeds on the counter took the lead, the tricky winger Max Gradel recieved the ball on the left side before skipping past a couple of defenders and been brought down by the trailing leg of Denilson. Snodgrass made no mistake, it was 0-1 to Leeds, the Championship side. The travelling support where ecstatic, it was amazing scenes with thousands of white scarfs swinging in midair, could their be another F.A Cup shock from Leeds? . . .

Nicklas Bendtner again got involved with a nice bit of play, beating the Leeds full back before chipping a ball in that Chamakh couldn’t get to and The Yorkshire side held on again. Arsenal looked to Captain Cesc Fabregas as for some much needed inspiration. English speedster Theo Walcott was also introduced, Leeds had most of their players camped in Arsenal’s half and The Gunners where finding it hard to breakdown the Championship outfit.

Eboue then jinked forward before swinging it in to the near post, Bendtner beat his marker and back heeled to Theo Walcott but his effort was bravely blocked by the impressive Alex Bruce. Bendtner picked up the ball a long way out and played a good through ball into the path of Theo Walcott, who was threw on goal and appeared to be tugged back a penalty was awarded, Captain Cesc Fabregas stepped up and fired it home a sigh of relief from the Emirates crowd. With one minute left, it wasn’t finished yet though, the last chance fell too Nicklas Bendtner. Fabregas with a great ball, it was good movement from Bendtner, but he shouldv’e done better and showed his frustrations with the finish.

I think personally Nicklas Bendtner was one of our more promising players today and looked dangerous at times today with some nice dribbling from the right wing, and he played a big part in the equalizer with the through ball for Theo Walcott before he got brought down, admittedly he should have scored late on, the only fault i could say it was on his weaker – left side but overall it was quite a good game from the Big Dane’.