Classy Arsenal knock out spirited Leeds

Leeds bowed out of the FA Cup when a classy Arsenal side proved too much in the replay.

Simon Grayson has made two changes from the side that defeated Scunthorpe at the weekend.

Ben Parker replaced the ineligible George McCartney and Billy Paynter came in for the injured Luciano Becchio.

Leeds started on the front foot and Max Gradel had the first chance of the evening when he shot wide from distance.

Arsenal took the lead in their first attack when Arshavin`s cross eventually fell to Nasri who picked his spot, giving Schmeichel no chance.

The goal settled Arsenal and they started to knock the ball around Leeds.

Arsenal had a great chance to double the lead when Chamakh found himself unmarked in the centre of goal but Schmeichel pulled off a fantastic save to deny the Arsenal striker.

The visitors were picking their way through Leeds and Arshavin was next to have a chance when he shot over the bar following a flowing move.

Another neat move by Arsenal eventually saw Chamakh cross into the middle and Arshavin couldn`t get on the end of his ball with the goal at his mercy.

Arshavin then forced Schmeichel into a good save down low to his left as it just looked like a matter of time before they increased their lead.

Another chance went begging when Bendtner failed to get on the end of a Sagna cross.

Robert Snodgrass had Leeds first effort on target on 32 minutes but his shot from distance was straight at Szczesny.

Arsenal eventually doubled their lead on 35 minutes when a poor clearance fell to Sagna and with the Leeds defence retreating, Sagna blasted past Schmeichel from a tight angle.

The goal was nothing more than Arsenal deserved but the comfort of a two-goal lead wasn`t to last for long.

Within two minutes, Bradley Johnson had reduced the deficit when his 35-yard shot gave Szczesny no chance in the Arsenal goal.

A minute later Gradel shot wide from distance as Leeds were well and truly back in the cup-tie.

Leeds went in trailing at half time by just the one goal but after the first 35 minutes, they would have been grateful to still have a chance in the cup-tie.

Arsenal almost caught Leeds napping in the opening twenty seconds of the second half when Schmeichel had to make a tremendous save to deny Song.

Two minutes later, Nasri forced Schmeichel into another save from a free kick.

Leeds first chance of the second half fell to Johnson but he couldn`t reproduce his effort of the first half when he scuffed his shot harmlessly wide.

It was a much more even second half and Leeds next chance fell to Paynter but he just failed to get on the end of a teasing cross by Max Gradel.

Leeds were forced into their first substitution of the game half way through the second half when the injured Andy O`Brien was replaced by Leigh Bromby.

Within two minutes they made their second change when Davide Somma replaced Billy Paynter in attack.

Somma missed a great chance to bring the tie level within seconds of coming on when he shot wide from a Connolly cross.

Arsenal made their first substitutions with just under 20 minutes remaining when Fabregas and Van Persie replaced Chamakh and Arshavin.

Fabregas had an early chance when he had Schmeichel at full stretch as his free kick just went wide of the post.

Arsenal finished the tie off on 76 minutes when Bendtner picked out Van Persie and he headed past Schmeichel.

The goal was to be the final meaningful action of the game as Arsenal wound down the clock.

Teams

Leeds
Schmeichel, Connolly, Bruce, O`Brien (Bromby 66), Parker, Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Gradel, Watt (Sam 79), Paynter (Somma 68)

Subs not used
Higgs, Hughes, McCormack, Collins,

Arsenal
Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Nasri, Arshavin (Van Persie 71), Chamakh (Fabregas 71)

Subs not used
Shea, Wilshere, Walcott, Miquel, Eboue,

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