LEEDS – Samir Nasri helped Arsenal overcome a potentially tricky FA Cup third round replay as Arsene Wenger’s side defeated Leeds 3-1 on Wednesday to book a fourth round date with Huddersfield. After being held 1-1 by Simon Grayson’s Championship team at the Emirates 11 days earlier and losing to Ipswich in the League Cup semi-final first leg, the pressure was on Arsenal to avoid another embarrassing slip-up.
Nasri eased any nerves before Bacary Sagna doubled their lead at Elland Road. Bradley Johnson’s spectacular 30-yard effort before half-time lifted a 38,000 full house at Elland Road before substitute Robin van Persie killed the tie off just six minutes after coming on. “We wanted to start really strongly. We scored after five minutes and tried to play our game even though the pitch was a little difficult,” Nasri told ITV. “We want to win every competition and this cup is really important to us.” Johnson said: “We are disappointed but we gave them a good run for their money again and we’ll take a lot of positives from it.” Leeds, 22 places below Arsenal on the league ladder, had come within seconds of eliminating the 10-times FA Cup winners at the Emirates Stadium. But Nasri seemed determined to ensure there would be no shock on the cards this time as he beat keeper Kasper Schmeichel in the fifth minute with an 18-yard finish. The French international took his tally for the season to 14 after a delightful pass by Andrey Arshavin had left the Leeds defence in tatters and Nasri clean through. Arsenal are looking to avoid a sixth successive season without a trophy and Wenger’s side appeared anxious to kill this replay off at an early stage.
