Arsenal 2-1 Huddersfield – 30/01/11 – (FA Cup) 31 January, 2011

I thought we’d have to endure two tricky Yorkshire cup replays in a row until Cesc Fabregas came on, took the team and the game by the scruff of the neck and literally dragged us into the fifth round. It didn’t look like it was going to be our day again but we finally got a break in the final five minutes when a penalty was awarded and Fabregas stepped up to make it 2-1.

We started well enough and opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Bendtner had just laughed off a horrible air-shot before he found himself in a similar position a few seconds later and finished in the bottom corner with the help of a deflection. It’s the mark of a goal scorer to get over a miss quickly and yesterday’s goal was a good sign for Nicklas. That’s two in two for him now and he’s on the right track.

However an injury to Samir Nasri just nine minutes after that goal destroyed our momentum. Samir limped off with a hamstring strain after half an hour and it’s now obvious that he has a Cesc-like impact on this team because our heads went down with neither him nor our captain on the field. Wenger said it was a bit of a risk playing him but he did not think Rosicky was completely ready. Well it backfired and Rosicky was brought on for the remainder of the game. That’s football I’m afraid, you can’t get angry with Wenger because you probably would’ve been upset had Samir not started. The initial report is that he could be out for around three weeks which would mean he misses the home leg against Barcelona. I don’t even need to say that would be a massive blow for both him and the team, but I will anyway. We’ll get a more accurate diagnosis of the strain this week so everybody fingers crossed please but don’t get your hopes up.

Huddersfield capitalised on our misfortune and had a go at getting level before half time. They came close on a couple of occasions but although they could not score they we’re probably pleased that they’d be playing against 10 men in the second half. About five minutes from the break Squillaci was shown a yellow card for deliberately blocking someone advancing towards our goal. You couldn’t have any arguments with it but what frustrated me the most was that just a couple of minutes later he did exactly the same thing but this time was shown a straight red for it.  The foul was more central to the goal this time and he was the last man so I don’t have a problem with the straight red being shown; Squillaci was punished for not learning his lesson. He didn’t have a good game at all to be honest, and at half time the back four was strengthened by having Alex Song alongside Koscielny; he came on for Chamakh who had another quiet performance.

The League One outfit carried on where they left off in the first half and immediately put us under pressure. We were pegged back and having to make some crucial blocks which was illustrated by a rare occurrence at the Emirates Stadium, Andrey Arshavin tracking all the way back to our box and making a late slide tackle. Well I never. Andrey had an improved game I thought, he was obviously hungry starving for a goal and came close a few times. It was obvious that he was actively trying to put on a better show and that was great to see. I have absolutely no problem with players who aren’t doing so well but if they show that they are trying then I’m perfectly happy. He needs to keep up that hard work and I’m sure it will pay off soon. Especially with Nasri out for a few weeks there is a spot opening up in our first team.

Almunia made a great save minutes later, not a powerful shot but one that was going in to his right but he made a great dive and clawed it out. As the Arsenal.com match report pointed out, not too dissimilar to David Seaman’s save against Sheffield United. I was surprised to see Almunia start but it was a welcome surprise and as I said in my match preview I was glad to see him play well. He had me a little bit worried with his constant leaving of shots, he seemed to know exactly where his posts were and rather than making a lot of saves he let them go for a goal kick. Very risky business and as a bit of a goalkeeper myself I know I would never trust myself to know where the posts are that well but fair play to him.

Reports are coming from Poland that Fabianski could have to undergo surgery and possibly be out for the rest of the season but more on that when we hear more of it. If true though, Welcome back to the squad Manuel.

We couldn’t hold on much longer after Almunia’s save and Huddersfield equalised in the 66th minute. Lee headed home from Pilkington’s corner and the inevitable arrived. We needed sorting out, we needed Cesc. Huddersfield fans might not like Fabregas too much after his cameo but what he did was deliver a professional, captain’s performance to take us through to the next round. Immediately he showed his talents playing two great balls over the top for Bendtner to run on to but those chances we wasted. It wasn’t just his through-ball ability but his team organisation and inspiration that took us through.

It was starting to look like it wouldn’t been enough when we got a life-saving penalty in the 86th minute. Cesc played a through-ball to Bendtner who seemed to be toppled right on the penalty spot. He was under pressure from Jamie McCombe behind him, although it might’ve looked a bit of a dive they were both off balance and desperate to reach the ball and a spot-kick was given. Cesc was went crazy at Clattenburg for not sending him off when he was clearly the last man. It’s bizarre that he didn’t especially as Squillaci went for the same circumstances; my only thought is that the ref thought ours was deliberate where McCombe’s probably wasn’t. The skipper took the penalty himself stuttering his run-up twice to confuse the ‘keeper before sending him the wrong way. He went straight for the ball and took it with him in his celebration to the corner flag. Cunty time wasting? Yes. Professional modern game tactics to see out a win? Yes, I’m afraid everyone does it.

There was time for one more dangerous free kick for the visitors but we saw the game out in the end and scraped a 2-1 victory. It wasn’t a win to be proud of but in the cup all that matters is that you progess, performances are forgotten and we’re through. We drew local rivals Leyton Orient in the next round which should be a great tie. More on that one in a few weeks.

It’s transfer deadline day today but I think everybody knows we won’t be doing any late business. Squillaci’s red card is only a one-match ban, which will come into effect tomorrow night against Everton. So even if we signed a defender today it would surely be too soon to bring him into the team. We have Djourou and Koscielny, it’s fine – let’s just hope Vermaelen isn’t too far away now. If anything we might withdraw players from loan if need be. We’ll leave the deadline day madness to the other teams as Chelsea try to enlist Fernando Torres to help their push back up the table and Liverpool look set to replace him by spending £35m on Andy Carroll from Newcastle. Thirty five million pounds? There aren’t words…

Right well I guess I’ll speak to you tomorrow to build up to the Everton match. The games are still coming thick and fast and I bet the players and indeed manager will be looking forward to next week when it’ll be our first week since before Christmas that we haven’t had a midweek match to play.

Thanks for reading.