FA Cup - Preview: Arsenal vs Leeds United
The last time Whites played a big game against top opposition from the Premier League in the FA Cup, they ran out 1-0 winners, knocking Manchester United out of last season’s competition. But since then, the goal scorer Jermaine Beckford has moved on to
Everton.
This time round, Whites face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and another away giant killing will be on the cards. That season, Leeds were down below in League One, and since have moved up to the Championship where they have been impressive, but still remain
firm underdogs against Wenger’s roster.
Arsene Wenger though has promised to ring the changes, as he looks to rest his first team players after a hectic Christmas schedule. The likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jack-Wilshere-c17463, Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas
will be left out to recuperate, while http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bacary-Sagna-c7148 starts the first of his three match suspension after he went rogue on Zaballeta in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City at the Emirates. And Zaballeta has since seen his red card retracted while Arsene Wenger
chose not to appeal after taking looks at the replay.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Aaron-Ramsey-c3065 has returned from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest and comes straight back into the squad after being named for the visit of Leeds. This will be the first time Ramsey dons the Red and white of the Gunners since breaking his leg in two places
back in February against Stoke City. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kieran-Gibbs-c20945 is back after his ankle injury and will play against the Championship side.
Since the start of the transfer window, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carlos-Vela-c8558 has been put up on the transfer list for a loan deal away from the Emirates as Wenger looks to buy his Mexican prodigy some valuable game time. But before Vela is sent off to one of a host of clubs vying
for him, he will be given a rare start at the Emirates alongside probably http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thomas-Vermaelen-c35002
still remain long term absentees.
This season, Wenger has been fighting on all fronts, and has not given preference to any competition over another, as he looks to end Arsenal’s five year trophy drought. And hence he has put out strong sides in every competition, including the Carling Cup
which has previously been a training ground to get his younger charges some valuable first team experience. But this year, only Arsenal of the big teams remain in the competition thanks to Wenger’s change in mentality.
So, the Frenchman will certainly look to have a good go at the FA Cup too. And thus expect to see some big names on the bench, like Cesc Fabregas and probably http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marouane-Chamakh-c24294 too. Leeds United's only FA Cup win came back in 1972 when they beat Arsenal in
the final to hoist the oldest footballing competition in the world. They will look to attain another scalp over the Londoners, but now the gap between the two has become too big, after Leeds were relegated from the top tier of English Football. Though, they
are on the right track, they still have a long way to go before they match the heights of the Leeds of old, but a win at The Emirates certainly won’t hurt.
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