Soccer:Thierry Henry may have initially enjoyed a watching brief at the Emirates but his introduction as a second half substitute on 68 minutes was to prove pivotal, as he scored the goal that guaranteed Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Leeds United and with it a place in the FA Cup fourth round.
The 34-year-old, starting a two-month loan back at the club, scored his 227th goal in 371st appearance, after having been promised some involvement by manager Arsene Wenger. The night belonged to the Frenchman in every respect almost as if a pivotal role had been preordained.
Arsenal captain and leading scorer Robin van Persie was rested, while Theo Walcott dropped down to the bench where he was joined by young goalkeeper Damian Martinez, who was given the nod as Wojciech Szczesny’s back-up ahead of Manuel Almunia.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson could not finding a starting place for Ross McCormack, whose winning goal against Burnley last time out ended a four-game winless run, with Luciano Becchio the sole starting survivor from when the two sides met at the same stage of the competition last season.
The Gunners were unable to find a way to break down Simon Grayson’s Championship side, though, who had one opportunity of note themselves when Luciano Becchio skewed over from six yards.
A delayed departure for the African Nations Cup ensured that Arsenal could also call on the services of striker Marouane Chamakh, and he laid on the first chance of the game, playing in Andrey Arshavin after four minutes, only for the Russian to skew his effort from the edge of the box high and wide.
With just Becchio in attack, Leeds saw little of the ball in the Arsenal half, with Tottenham loanee Andros Townsend their most potent attacking threat with a number of mazy runs from deep.
There was little goal threat from the visitors, though, and they were fortunate to see Sebastien Squillaci head Mikel Arteta’s free kick wide at the other end, before Aaron Ramsey fizzed a 20-yard drive just over Andy Lonergan’s bar and then had a close-range effort blocked by Danny Pugh.
Arteta then went close himself, drilling just wide from the edge of the box, before Leeds fashioned their first chance in the 24th minute.
Mika Vayrynen broke into the box and, after Laurent Koscielny cleared his cross, the ball fell to Becchio six yards out, but he drilled over when it was easier to hit the target.
Wenger, already short on recognised full-backs with Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Andre Santos all injured, lost Francis Coquelin to a hamstring injury on the half-hour mark, handing 18-year-old Nico Yennaris just a second career appearance.
Henry went out to warm up for the first time at the start of the second half and received a standing ovation from the majority inside the ground, while on the field, Oxlade-Chamberlain cut inside Aidy White and dragged a shot wide of the post.
While the young winger may have been unlucky to see his effort go wide, Arshavin was not so unfortunate moments later, the forward wastefully slashing wide after being played in by Miquel.
Arsenal were now getting in behind Leeds’ defence with some ease and Lonergan was forced into a fine save low to his left with 55 minutes gone, keeping out Arteta’s low shot after Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was mounting a one-man assault on Leeds, having a chip cleared off the line and seeing a shot saved by Lonergan, before he and Chamakh were withdrawn by Wenger with 22 minutes left, with Walcott and Henry — to much acclaim from the stands — coming on.
It took Henry just 10 minutes to guarantee the fairytale script when he spun away from the defence, timing his run beautifully and when played-in, calmly and accurately side footed the ball past Lonergan to give Arsenal the breakthrough they craved. It was just his fifth touch of the ball on the night but could not have been more decisive. The Frenchman ran down the touchline before jumping into Wenger’s arms.
Arsenal:Szczesny, Koscielny, Miquel, Squillaci, Coquelin, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Arshavin. Subs: Martinez, Park, Henry, Walcott, Benayoun, Miyaichi, Yennaris.
Leeds:Lonergan, Thompson, Lees, O'Dea, White, Townsend, Pugh, Nunez, Clayton, Becchio, Vayrynen. Subs: Taylor, Bruce, Brown, Sam, Forssell, Parker, McCormack.
Referee:Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
