Arsenal continued their domestic cup problems against lower league opposition after they scraped a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield to reach the 5th Round of the FA Cup. Huddersfield can count themselves unlucky to not have secured a replay as the Gunners made hard work of the win.
Initially Arsenal started strongly, albeit not making the most of promising positions. But after Nicklas Bendtner's shot was turned in off the luckless Peter Clarke for an own goal, the result looked as if it would be a formality.
However, stand-in captain Samir Nasri needed to be substituted after an injury to his hamstring, which could have dire ramifications for the rest of Arsenal's season. Nasri has been the stand-out performer in the team, and there are fears that it could have a similar detrimental effect on the club as Cesc Fabregas's fragile hamstrings had on Arsenal at a similar stage last season.
With their goal lead, Arsenal lapsed into their maddening tendency to treat games against N-Power League sides as a training exercise. Huddersfield began to exploit the wide areas, with Anthony Pilkington giving Kieran Gibbs a roasting throughout.
As half-time approached, Jack Hunt went on a superb dribble, committing three Arsenal players, before being brought down by Sebastien Squillaci when clean through. Referee Mark Clattenburg (who had a good game) had no option but to send the Frenchman off.
Now down to 10 men, Arsenal completely ceded the initiative to their Yorkshire opponents. Manuel Almunia made an incredible save to deny Alan Lee. This was one of a number of chances Huddersfield had in a twenty minute spell where Pilkington made Gibbs look second rate. Eventually the pressure told, Lee heading in from a Pilkington corner to level the scores.
Once again, there was only one man for the occasion. Cesc Fabregas was summoned from the bench and made an instant impact, with his passing and leadership influence awakening Arsenal from their slumber. It seemed that Huddersfield were content to see the game out at 1-1. The momentum swung back the way of the home side, and after Fabregas caught Kevin Kilbane dwelling on the edge of his own penalty area, the Spaniard played Bendtner clear. Clattenburg caught the hitherto impressive Jamie McCombe tugging at the Dane's shirt and a penalty was awarded, but curiously enough, not a red card even though there was little difference between McCombe's offence and Squillaci's.
After a bit of kidology in his run-up, Fabregas converted the penalty to win the game as Arsenal saw out the final few minutes.
However, there is a lot to worry Arsene Wenger from this match. Once again, too many of his second string seem to lack focus and concentration. Fabregas was needed to get Arsenal out of a hole yet again - how many more times can he be expected to do that? And worst of all, the squad will now be sorely tested. After returning from injury, Squillaci will now miss games through suspension. Denilson also suffered a hamstring problem (and deserves credit for finishing the game in spite of it).
And then there's Nasri. He has been irreplaceable this season, but now Wenger will have to find a way to do just that as the diminutive Frenchman will be absent for at least a number of weeks - ruling him out of the upcoming Champions League games against Barcelona.
What should have been a routine cup tie has ended up giving Wenger a brand new set of headaches.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1)
Almunia - 6, Eboue - 6, Squillaci - 5, Koscielny - 6, Gibbs - 3, Denilson - 5, Diaby - 6 (Fabregas - 7), Bendtner - 6, Nasri - 6 (Rosicky - 6), Arshavin - 6, Chamakh - 6 (Song - 6)
