Cesc Fabregas spared Arsenal's blushes with his late spot-kick
By Chris Bevan
Cesc Fabregas's 90th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Arsenal and denied Leeds a shock FA Cup victory.
The Gunners dominated for long periods but, against the run of play, Denilson fouled Max Gradel and Robert Snodgrass put Leeds ahead from the spot.
Luciano Becchio went close to making it 2-0 but late Arsenal pressure paid off.
Fabregas coolly slotted home after Ben Parker held back Theo Walcott and only a super Kasper Schmeichel save stopped Denilson winning it for the Gunners.
It was a dramatic finish to a thrilling third-round tie and means Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is still yet to taste defeat to a lower-division side in the Cup, and has not lost at home in this competition since Arsenal were beaten by the same opposition in 1997.
Leeds, who as a League One side famously beat Manchester United at the same stage of last year's FA Cup before taking Tottenham to a replay, have become accustomed to causing upsets since losing their top-flight status in 2004.
The Championship highflyers almost got their reward for a resilient performance on their first visit to the Emirates, surviving a flurry of first-half Arsenal chances before hitting back with a classic sucker punch.
Schmeichel was in fine form, rushing from his line to deny Andrey Arshavin, and also keeping out shots from Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner before the break.
And the Leeds defence, led by the impressive Alex Bruce, was also in determined mood. Jonathan Howson had to clear a Sebastien Squillaci effort off his line and Becchio was also in the right place to hack clear after a goalmouth scramble.
The Gunners continued to press after the break but it was Leeds who broke the deadlock in the 54th minute. There was no doubt about the penalty either, with Denilson clumsily fouling Gradel and Snodgrass stepping up to find the bottom corner of the net.
That left Arsenal more than 30 minutes to find an equaliser but initially they toiled and were grateful to their keeper Wojciech Szczesny for keeping out a powerful Becchio header.
Snodgrass also saw a free-kick swerve just wide before Arsenal, with Walcott and Fabregas by now off the bench, turned their vastly superior possession into chances in the closing moments.
Walcott was, briefly, awarded a penalty when he was upended in the box but referee Phil Dowd reversed his decision because Bendtner had been flagged offside.
Seconds later, Dowd was pointing to the spot again - this time without changing his mind - after Walcott was tugged back by Parker. Fabregas, cool as a cucumber, fired his penalty straight down the middle of the goal.
In a breathless finish Arsenal poured forward looking for a winner but Leeds held out for a deserved replay after Bendtner wastefully fired wide and Schmeichel acrobatically kept out Denilson's rasping effort.
90:00+4:25 Effort on goal by Theo Walcott from inside the box misses to the right of the target.
90:00+4:03 Robert Snodgrass challenges Carlos Alberto Vela unfairly and gives away a free kick. Francesc Fabregas takes the free kick.
90:00+3:30 Carlos Alberto Vela fouled by Jonathan Howson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Francesc Fabregas.
90:00+2:42 Neves Denilson takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel. Inswinging corner taken by Francesc Fabregas from the left by-line
played to the near post, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Nicklas Bendtner goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
90:00+1:51 Nicklas Bendtner has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.
90:00+0:24 Substitution (Leeds) makes a substitution, with Andy Hughes coming on for Max Gradel.
89:51 Ben Parker gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Theo Walcott. The assist for the goal came from Theo Walcott.
89:51 GOAL - Francesc Fabregas:Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds Penalty scored by Francesc Fabregas. Arsenal 1-1 Leeds.
87:53 The referee blows for offside against Nicklas Bendtner. Kasper Schmeichel restarts play with the free kick.
86:44 Theo Walcott takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel.
86:21 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sebastien Squillaci by Max Gradel. Free kick taken by Sebastien Squillaci.
85:02 Alex Bruce produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
84:14 The ball is sent over by Max Gradel, clearance made by Johan Djourou.
84:14 Substitution Davide Somma comes on in place of Luciano Becchio.
82:40 Theo Walcott delivers the ball, Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel.
81:13 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Francesc Fabregas, Kasper Schmeichel makes a save.
80:59 Andrey Arshavin takes a shot. Blocked by Andrew O'Brien.
80:26 Johan Djourou fouled by Luciano Becchio, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Wojciech Szczesny.
79:19 Foul by Max Gradel on Emmanuel Eboue, free kick awarded. The ball is crossed by Francesc Fabregas, Header from deep inside
the area by Nicklas Bendtner goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
78:09 Neves Denilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Bradley Johnson. Free kick taken by Andrew O'Brien.
78:09 Substitution Carlos Alberto Vela is brought on as a substitute for Tomas Rosicky.
78:09 Booking Neves Denilson shown a yellow card.
76:33 Jonathan Howson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francesc Fabregas. Francesc Fabregas takes the direct free
kick.
76:33 Booking Jonathan Howson is cautioned.
75:20 Substitution Leigh Bromby is brought on as a substitute for Sanchez Watt.
73:56 Tomas Rosicky concedes a free kick for a foul on Alex Bruce. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
72:58 Theo Walcott produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
71:36 Outswinging corner taken by Andrey Arshavin from the right by-line played to the near post.
70:10 Foul by Johan Djourou on Luciano Becchio, free kick awarded. Robert Snodgrass has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
68:59 Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Andrew O'Brien gets a block in.
68:03 Foul by Kieran Gibbs on Robert Snodgrass, free kick awarded. Paul Connolly takes the free kick.
67:09 Foul by Luciano Becchio on Francesc Fabregas, free kick awarded. Sebastien Squillaci takes the free kick.
67:09 Substitution Theo Walcott on for Marouane Chamakh.
66:54 Bradley Johnson concedes a free kick for a foul on Francesc Fabregas. Neves Denilson restarts play with the free kick.
66:07 Neves Denilson concedes a free kick for a foul on Bradley Johnson. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Bradley Johnson,
clearance made by Nicklas Bendtner.
62:59 Bradley Johnson crosses the ball, save by Wojciech Szczesny. Robert Snodgrass takes the outswinging corner, Luciano Becchio
takes a shot. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.
61:49 Corner taken right-footed by Tomas Rosicky, Luciano Becchio makes a clearance.
61:07 Header from deep inside the area by Nicklas Bendtner goes over the bar.
60:27 Tomas Rosicky takes a shot. Blocked by Alex Bruce.
59:21 Corner taken by Andrey Arshavin from the left by-line to the near post, Luciano Becchio makes a clearance.
58:19 Substitution Francesc Fabregas is brought on as a substitute for Alex Song.
55:37 Emmanuel Eboue produces a drilled right-footed shot from 25 yards. Blocked by Andrew O'Brien.
53:48 Max Gradel fouled by Neves Denilson, the ref awards a Penalty. Assist by Max Gradel.
53:48 GOAL - Robert Snodgrass:Arsenal 0 - 1 Leeds Penalty scored by Robert Snodgrass. Arsenal 0-1 Leeds.
51:33 Corner from left by-line taken by Andrey Arshavin.
51:21 Andrey Arshavin takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Connolly.
48:34 Corner taken by Andrey Arshavin, clearance made by Alex Bruce.
46:08 Luciano Becchio fouled by Johan Djourou, the ref awards a free kick. Ben Parker takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+2:33 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+1:23 Tomas Rosicky fouled by Robert Snodgrass, the ref awards a free kick. A cross is delivered by Andrey Arshavin, Sebastien Squillaci
has a headed effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
44:37 Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Save by Kasper Schmeichel.
41:50 Unfair challenge on Sanchez Watt by Tomas Rosicky results in a free kick. Paul Connolly restarts play with the free kick.
41:50 Booking Tomas Rosicky is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
39:36 Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
36:35 Marouane Chamakh handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
33:49 Max Gradel concedes a free kick for a foul on Emmanuel Eboue. Free kick taken by Sebastien Squillaci.
32:49 Corner taken by Andrey Arshavin from the right by-line, Marouane Chamakh takes a shot. Save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
30:18 The official flags Luciano Becchio offside. Wojciech Szczesny takes the free kick.
Correction - 27:34 Andrey Arshavin takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Neves Denilson takes a shot.
Save by Kasper Schmeichel. Corner from the left by-line taken by Andrey Arshavin, Alex Bruce makes a clearance. Sebastien
Squillaci takes a shot. Clearance made by Jonathan Howson.
27:34 Corner taken right-footed by Andrey Arshavin to the near post, Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Neves Denilson takes a shot.
Save by Kasper Schmeichel. Corner taken right-footed by Andrey Arshavin from the left by-line, Alex Bruce makes a clearance.
27:01 Volleyed left-footed shot by Andrey Arshavin. Save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
25:59 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ben Parker on Emmanuel Eboue. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Tomas Rosicky from
right wing.
25:59 Booking The referee cautions Ben Parker for unsporting behaviour.
20:16 Unfair challenge on Jonathan Howson by Marouane Chamakh results in a free kick. Kasper Schmeichel restarts play with the free
kick.
19:38 The referee gives a free kick against Luciano Becchio for handball. Sebastien Squillaci takes the free kick.
17:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Bradley Johnson on Nicklas Bendtner. Direct free kick taken by Wojciech Szczesny.
16:29 Luciano Becchio fouled by Johan Djourou, the ref awards a free kick. Paul Connolly takes the direct free kick.
15:38 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Robert Snodgrass, Nicklas Bendtner manages to make a clearance.
14:56 Sanchez Watt takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
13:40 Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save by Wojciech Szczesny.
12:51 The referee gives a free kick against Neves Denilson for handball. Kasper Schmeichel takes the free kick.
12:14 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Andrey Arshavin, clearance made by Luciano Becchio.
10:49 Andrey Arshavin takes a shot. Save made by Kasper Schmeichel.
9:36 Marouane Chamakh is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.
9:16 Sanchez Watt challenges Tomas Rosicky unfairly and gives away a free kick. Neves Denilson takes the free kick.
7:11 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sebastien Squillaci on Luciano Becchio. Kasper Schmeichel restarts play with the free kick.
5:08 Luciano Becchio has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
2:31 Emmanuel Eboue fouled by Luciano Becchio, the ref awards a free kick. Wojciech Szczesny takes the direct free kick.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
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