Arsenal vs Leeds United - FA Cup 3rd Round Preview
January 6th 2012 13:53
My favourite competition returns this weekend. Most people would have their Champions League's and their Premier League's over this one, but there is one competition i've grown up loving, and that is the FA Cup. This competition is one that anyone can beat anyone on their day. You can have a tiny club getting their dream draw away to the big boys, and you can have your heavyweight clashes from the 3rd round onwards.
My team, Arsenal, are looking to win the competition for the first time since 2005 (or any competition for that matter). For the second year in a row, they face Leeds United on Monday night at the Emirates in what could be a potentially tricky tie.
Leeds have proven to be tough opposition in the past two seasons. Firstly, back in 2010, Manchester United were drawn at home to a then League One Leeds United team. Easy right?. Wrong. Leeds shocked the Old Trafford faithful by winning 1-0 against their rivals thanks to a Jermaine Beckford goal. This being one of the many FA Cup upsets in the competition's long history. Leeds weren't done for the year. In the next round they were drawn away to Tottenham Hotspur. Surely Leeds couldn't cause another upset?. Or could they?. In the 75th minute, Spurs took a 2-1 lead and looked to have killed off brave Leeds' challenge. But in the 6th minute of stoppage time, Beckford was fouled in the box, and won a penalty. The hero from the previous round was hero once more. He scored the penalty to send the tie to a replay, and netted his 2nd of the game. Tottenham won the replay 3-1, but Leeds proved to everybody that they were a team on the up, after a difficult few years.
A year later, Leeds were drawn in North London again, this time against Arsenal. Leeds had moved up a division to the Championship since their last Cup run, but had lost the hero of it too, as Jermaine Beckford had moved to Everton the previous summer. Could Leeds pull off another Cup shock?. The answer was no. But they they came very close. Arsenal started the game well, but couldn't break down the Leeds defence. Denilson conceded a penalty about 10 minutes into the second half, and against the run of play, Robert Snodgrass converted the spot kick. Luciano Becchio almost put Arsenal out of sight, but Arsenal threw everything at Leeds and the pressure eventually paid off. They had to bring on their star man, Cesc Fabregas, as well as Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela to get back in the tie. Indeed it was two of those substitutes that played a vital part in Arsenal's comeback. Theo Walcott was awarded a penalty late on, but the linesman flagged Nicklas Bendtner offside, and therefore the penalty was not given. It didn't take long for Arsenal to recover though, Walcott was fouled in the box again a couple of minutes later, and this time the penalty was given. Fabregas came to Arsenal's rescue, keeping his cool to slot away the penalty and send the tie to a replay at Elland Road. Wenger's substitutes had the desired impact, but Arsenal were so nearly embarrassed at home to Championship opposition.
Arsenal, like Spurs, won the replay 3-1 at Elland Road. Goals from Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna gave Arsenal a 2 goal cushion. 2 minutes later, a screamer from Bradley Johnson brought life back into the replay. 15 minutes from time, Robin Van Persie made sure it was Arsenal's name in the hat for the 4th round of the Cup.
Back to the game on Monday night, I went for my daily browse of the Arsenal website earlier this morning and I came across an article where Arsene Wenger claims he will field a strong side against Leeds. The sub-title said "Manager expects Chamakh and Park to face Leeds on Monday". If that's Wenger's idea of a strong strike force, then i'm worried. Chamakh is woefully out of form and looks nothing like the player he was when he first joined. I have no problems with Park playing. This is because he has barely played since signing from Monaco in August. I always see that when Park goes on international duty, he is a regular scorer and also the captain of the South Korean national team. Now admittedly, Park may not be playing great opposition when he plays for South Korea, but you still have to put the ball in the back of the net. I happened to be at the Carling Cup match in October against Bolton, where Park made a rare appearance, and I felt he played quite well. The goal that Park scored was very well taken, it reminded me a little bit of how Thierry Henry used to finish. We only have Park for 2 years, as he has to go off for military service in 2 years time. So we may as well give the guy a shot at playing, and if he's not going to play, then I have no idea why Wenger signed him in the first place.
I actually wrote a paragraph about how frustrated I was that we had failed to seal the deal to bring Thierry Henry back home to Arsenal. As it turns out, as I was writing that paragraph, Arsenal announced his return on their website. So all I have to say is, welcome back Thierry!. The love I have for that man will never die. I hope he plays against Leeds on Monday if possible. The last time Henry faced Leeds, he scored 4 in a 5-0 win at Highbury during the 2003/04 unbeaten season.
I think that we should win this game. Leeds are a very up and down team this year. I've noticed their results, sometimes they'll have a great result, and the next week they'll slip up somewhere they shouldn't. Sounds a bit like Arsenal, but their form is worse. It'd be a good way to bounce back from the defeat at Craven Cottage. I'm not suggesting that it's a certainty we will win. Leeds could be fired up for the Cup. They have a history of causing upsets in recent years, as discussed earlier. It's more than possible if Arsenal don't take them seriously, and field a second string line up, that Leeds could cause another upset. But I think now with the return of Henry (who knows if he'll start now?), that they'll be a real buzz in the team, both for this game and for the league games. Wenger suggested Park and Chamakh will start, so even if Henry came off the bench, the roar and excitement from the crowd would be amazing to hear. The team would have to be a lot stronger in other positions for that to be a strong line up. I'd like to see Benayoun and Oxlade-Chamberlain get chances though, and hopefully Sebastian Squillaci and Andrei Arshavin are as far away from the team as possible. Ignasi Miquel deserves a chance, and with all the injuries in our defence, he might just get it. I'd like to see him go for the Cup this year, realistically it's our best chance of silverware now having exited the Carling Cup, and we're too far away from the title. Although 2 of the English heavyweights exited the Champions League early, it's still tough to see us winning that.
I wouldn't be against Wenger playing the full team and going for it, just like he did last season with the Carling Cup and FA Cup. I don't see this "strong side" he claims he will field being as strong as he says they'll be. So we'll have to see what happens, and hope that we're in the 4th round draw (Preferably without having to play a replay at Elland Road this time!). One thing I do know is that either Manchester City or Manchester United will be out of the FA Cup by the time all the 3rd round ties have taken place. It's handy that those two have drawn each other, because whoever loses, a big team is out, which can only help Arsenal in their hunt for their first trophy in 7 long years.
My team, Arsenal, are looking to win the competition for the first time since 2005 (or any competition for that matter). For the second year in a row, they face Leeds United on Monday night at the Emirates in what could be a potentially tricky tie.
2005: Vieira lifts Arsenal's last piece of silverware to date
Leeds have proven to be tough opposition in the past two seasons. Firstly, back in 2010, Manchester United were drawn at home to a then League One Leeds United team. Easy right?. Wrong. Leeds shocked the Old Trafford faithful by winning 1-0 against their rivals thanks to a Jermaine Beckford goal. This being one of the many FA Cup upsets in the competition's long history. Leeds weren't done for the year. In the next round they were drawn away to Tottenham Hotspur. Surely Leeds couldn't cause another upset?. Or could they?. In the 75th minute, Spurs took a 2-1 lead and looked to have killed off brave Leeds' challenge. But in the 6th minute of stoppage time, Beckford was fouled in the box, and won a penalty. The hero from the previous round was hero once more. He scored the penalty to send the tie to a replay, and netted his 2nd of the game. Tottenham won the replay 3-1, but Leeds proved to everybody that they were a team on the up, after a difficult few years.
Hero: Beckford celebrates his winner at Old Trafford
A year later, Leeds were drawn in North London again, this time against Arsenal. Leeds had moved up a division to the Championship since their last Cup run, but had lost the hero of it too, as Jermaine Beckford had moved to Everton the previous summer. Could Leeds pull off another Cup shock?. The answer was no. But they they came very close. Arsenal started the game well, but couldn't break down the Leeds defence. Denilson conceded a penalty about 10 minutes into the second half, and against the run of play, Robert Snodgrass converted the spot kick. Luciano Becchio almost put Arsenal out of sight, but Arsenal threw everything at Leeds and the pressure eventually paid off. They had to bring on their star man, Cesc Fabregas, as well as Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela to get back in the tie. Indeed it was two of those substitutes that played a vital part in Arsenal's comeback. Theo Walcott was awarded a penalty late on, but the linesman flagged Nicklas Bendtner offside, and therefore the penalty was not given. It didn't take long for Arsenal to recover though, Walcott was fouled in the box again a couple of minutes later, and this time the penalty was given. Fabregas came to Arsenal's rescue, keeping his cool to slot away the penalty and send the tie to a replay at Elland Road. Wenger's substitutes had the desired impact, but Arsenal were so nearly embarrassed at home to Championship opposition.
Arsenal, like Spurs, won the replay 3-1 at Elland Road. Goals from Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna gave Arsenal a 2 goal cushion. 2 minutes later, a screamer from Bradley Johnson brought life back into the replay. 15 minutes from time, Robin Van Persie made sure it was Arsenal's name in the hat for the 4th round of the Cup.
RVP: Van Persie heads in Arsenal's third at Elland Road
Back to the game on Monday night, I went for my daily browse of the Arsenal website earlier this morning and I came across an article where Arsene Wenger claims he will field a strong side against Leeds. The sub-title said "Manager expects Chamakh and Park to face Leeds on Monday". If that's Wenger's idea of a strong strike force, then i'm worried. Chamakh is woefully out of form and looks nothing like the player he was when he first joined. I have no problems with Park playing. This is because he has barely played since signing from Monaco in August. I always see that when Park goes on international duty, he is a regular scorer and also the captain of the South Korean national team. Now admittedly, Park may not be playing great opposition when he plays for South Korea, but you still have to put the ball in the back of the net. I happened to be at the Carling Cup match in October against Bolton, where Park made a rare appearance, and I felt he played quite well. The goal that Park scored was very well taken, it reminded me a little bit of how Thierry Henry used to finish. We only have Park for 2 years, as he has to go off for military service in 2 years time. So we may as well give the guy a shot at playing, and if he's not going to play, then I have no idea why Wenger signed him in the first place.
Benchwarmer: Park has rarely featured since his summer move to Arsenal
I actually wrote a paragraph about how frustrated I was that we had failed to seal the deal to bring Thierry Henry back home to Arsenal. As it turns out, as I was writing that paragraph, Arsenal announced his return on their website. So all I have to say is, welcome back Thierry!. The love I have for that man will never die. I hope he plays against Leeds on Monday if possible. The last time Henry faced Leeds, he scored 4 in a 5-0 win at Highbury during the 2003/04 unbeaten season.
Henry: Comeback is official
I think that we should win this game. Leeds are a very up and down team this year. I've noticed their results, sometimes they'll have a great result, and the next week they'll slip up somewhere they shouldn't. Sounds a bit like Arsenal, but their form is worse. It'd be a good way to bounce back from the defeat at Craven Cottage. I'm not suggesting that it's a certainty we will win. Leeds could be fired up for the Cup. They have a history of causing upsets in recent years, as discussed earlier. It's more than possible if Arsenal don't take them seriously, and field a second string line up, that Leeds could cause another upset. But I think now with the return of Henry (who knows if he'll start now?), that they'll be a real buzz in the team, both for this game and for the league games. Wenger suggested Park and Chamakh will start, so even if Henry came off the bench, the roar and excitement from the crowd would be amazing to hear. The team would have to be a lot stronger in other positions for that to be a strong line up. I'd like to see Benayoun and Oxlade-Chamberlain get chances though, and hopefully Sebastian Squillaci and Andrei Arshavin are as far away from the team as possible. Ignasi Miquel deserves a chance, and with all the injuries in our defence, he might just get it. I'd like to see him go for the Cup this year, realistically it's our best chance of silverware now having exited the Carling Cup, and we're too far away from the title. Although 2 of the English heavyweights exited the Champions League early, it's still tough to see us winning that.
Oxlade-Chamberlain: Deserves a chance
I wouldn't be against Wenger playing the full team and going for it, just like he did last season with the Carling Cup and FA Cup. I don't see this "strong side" he claims he will field being as strong as he says they'll be. So we'll have to see what happens, and hope that we're in the 4th round draw (Preferably without having to play a replay at Elland Road this time!). One thing I do know is that either Manchester City or Manchester United will be out of the FA Cup by the time all the 3rd round ties have taken place. It's handy that those two have drawn each other, because whoever loses, a big team is out, which can only help Arsenal in their hunt for their first trophy in 7 long years.
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