Emirates FA Cup third round

Arsenal 1 (Nelson 55)

Leeds United 0

Arsenal: Martinez, Holding, Luiz, Sokratis, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ozil (Willock 77), Pepe (Saka 90+1), Nelson (Martinelli 67) Lacazette.  Subs not used: Leno, Ceballos, Mavropanos, John-Jules.

Leeds: Meslier, Ayling (Stevens 78), White, Berardi, Douglas, Phillips, Gotts (Dallas 60), Klich, Harrison, Alioski (Costa 61), Bamford.  Subs not used: Casilla, Cooper, Davis, Casey. 

Booked: Kolasinac (Arsenal), Klich, Dallas (Leeds)

Referee: A. Taylor

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Leeds United put in a performance to be proud of, but were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Cup third round.

Leeds made a bright start to the game, Kalvin Phillips delivered a neat free kick into the box, with Patrick Bamford’s flick on header going just wide.

Arsenal then gave the ball away to Mateusz Klich and he played in Bamford, who saw his strike well blocked.

Nicolas Pepe had Arsenal’s first chance of the game in the eighth minute, forcing debutant Illan Meslier into a decent stop from 25 yards.

Jack Harrison then put a cross into the Gunners box which was headed wide by Bamford, before Bamford returned the favour to tee up Harrison who was denied by a good stop from Emi Martinez.

Leeds came so close to a breakthrough in the 14^th minute, following some lovely build up, Luke Ayling played in Bamford, who saw his thunderous strike hit the crossbar.

Martinez again denied Harrison from the edge of the box as Leeds continued to press, whilst Ben White saw a header well saved following another Phillips free kick.

Fellow debutant Robbie Gotts then played in Ezgjan Alioski down the left and he saw his shot across the face of goal go just inches wide.

Harrison saw a volley denied by Martinez after he was picked out by Alioski, before a rare Arsenal chance saw David Luiz head just wide at a corner.

Ayling then delivered a fine cross from the right, finding Alioski, but he was somehow denied by Martinez, whilst the best chance of the half fell to Gotts after he was found in the Arsenal box by Mateusz Klich, but got under his first time strike, sending it over the crossbar.

Half time: Arsenal 0-0 Leeds United

Arsenal made a bright start to the second period, Reiss Nelson drove forwards and got past White, with only a last ditch challenge from Barry Douglas preventing the attacker from getting a shot away.

Granit Xhaka then won a free kick on the edge of the Leeds box and Alexandre Lacazzette saw his strike hit the crossbar.

Lacazette was played in on the Leeds goal in the 51^st minute, but a super Meslier save denied him, before Matteo Guendouzi struck just wide with an effort from 20 yards.

Bamford forced a good save from Martinez when he was teed up by Klich, but it was Arsenal who took the lead in the 55^th minute.  A Lacazzete low cross deflected off Gaetano Berardi and into the path of Nelson who converted from close range.

Leeds looked to hit back and three minutes later Phillips stole possession and laid the ball off to Gotts, but he couldn’t keep his attempt down.

Nelson saw an effort deflect wide, before Douglas tried his luck with a free kick from 25 yards, but couldn’t find the target.

Arsenal substitute Gabriel Martinelli then did really well to make room for a shot from the edge of the box, but once again he was thwarted by the impressive Meslier.

Kolasinac saw a shot well blocked by Berardi after he played a neat one-two and from the resulting corner Sokratis could only blaze over.

Leeds pushed forwards in the closing stages, but to no avail as Arsenal progressed to the fourth round.

Full time: Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United