Leeds United 1-3 Arsenal ... Top four quality shown as Arsenal mirror Spurs replay

Nasri ran Arsenal's game. I got sick of this sight last night!

Sat in traffic on the way to the ground, the early underlying optimism about the tie I'd garnered from some abject Arsenal performances of late - including rolling over at struggling Ipswich - was partially quashed as firstly the team news revealed Becchio didn't make the squad, and secondly Samir Nasri was going to start the game. Along with Sagna returning from suspension, these factors really did combine to cause us a massive hindrance all night. I thought to myself in the days leading upto the game that we had a chance if Wenger did start with either the team that we played at the Emirates or the team that played Ipswich, and I never envisaged him starting his best, and probably the Premier League's current best player - Nasri. When the team news was announced I did have a feeling of 'Spurs' about me - we did admirably away but you don't usually get a second chance against a class outfit.

What this shows us though, is that Wenger realised that we had enough to cause his side trouble and that alone was something to take from the two ties and shows where we currently stand in English football. It really is a positive sign that he had to use, and therefore risk Samir Nasri from the start as well as trying to put pay to any possible comeback on our behalf by bringing on his next two best players, Fabregas and the spearhead of the club's forwards that is Robin Van Persie.

The game quickly settled into a pattern of Arsenal passing that we managed to stifle so much better away at the Emirates. It could be said that we didn't close them down effectively enough, this sometimes was the case. It was made more difficult however by their defence-bewildering movement that they desperately lacked in the first leg. Their usual passing and movement mixed with invention was on show, which it definitely wasn't at the Emirates. Nasri, as expected, was the focal point of everything they did. He had almost a free role, drifting everywhere behind the front three when they were on the attack, picking the ball up from deep when in the defensive phase, and bursting through on goal when the opportunity arose, as he showed for their 1st. He was impossible to track, impossible to tackle and, I believe, was the reason they seemed more potent. Their midfield and forwards when building an attack over ran us, their know-how, movement and athleticism showed - but again the spark was from Nasri's inclusion in the 11. He was involved in everything they did.

What we should have done was get in amongst them, in their faces and put the boot in, so to speak. One early crunch in on Nasri could have made all the difference. It doesn't have to be a studs up, Wenger-moan-inducing cruncher, just a "let him know you're there" kind of tackle. Annoyingly, we seemed to prod a foot in with arms in the air, just in case we tripped an Arsenal man, rather than going into tackles with more purpose. To beat teams with such class hard tackling is almost a must unfortunately for Arsene.

This doesn't mean I thought we lacked spirit and commitment however, because we certainly did not. Jonny Howson was playing like a man possessed and showed a spirit that revealed just how much he wants the club - his club - to impress in these kind of ties. Johnson was similarly playing with his heart on his sleeve. The standout performer for me was Gradel. We all know "he's here, he's there, he's every F****** where" but last night he took the micky. He was immense. Even in the 90th he turned both Sagna and Djourou only to get tripped. He was full of energy, passion and showed buckets of ability, he impressed massively and it's pleasing to see just how far he's come.

The obvious lack of Becchio was frustrating and clear to see. Despite Paynter being in a similar mold, at least in Grayson's eyes, he showed just how far from Luciano his game currently is. Becchio looked far more assured, and less out of place against Spurs, "Scum", Arsenal and Liverpool. He won more of the ball, he put himself about more, and most importantly when the ball was at his feet he used it far better, and held it up more intelligently and when needed. Against an admittedly quicker Arsenal defence and starting eleven than probably most in the country, he looked like he was dragging an anchor with him. I could forgive some of the gulf in class, after all it was a Premier League team, but a few times he didn't seem to me as if he was going all out, like the rest of the team were. I'm not certain, and not trying to accuse, but the fans around me seemed to agree, there were several long balls where he left an Arsenal man a free header, despite being two yards away - and he was in the team to challenge in the air for us. He spent a lot of time ambling. Most annoyingly, when the ball was slide across the face of goal, into his path, he didn't even slide in. Again, I'm not certain it would have been a goal, and I'm trying not to be overly critical but surely, you throw yourself into that cross? Becchio certainly does, and Paynter left me feeling he has a lot left to prove - as Davide came on and did admirably in his place, as well.

(I'm not ruling him out and trying to be unfair to him, he hasn't had much game time and was playing against Arsenal here and to be honest, I probably expected too much of him. None of us truly know his capabilities, but currently, Becchio is a class above.)

Anyway... the game, starting with the defence. We seemed solid as we could be against the players in question, though their second and third goals came from small lapses, in my opinion. These lapses are more likely to be forced against class opposition and play however, and they didn't overly worry me. The first was a good ball into Nasri, maybe a better foot in but as he strode into the penalty area to score this would have been dangerous. It was class play from their difference maker on the night. Their second should have been closed down, no doubt about it. The originally good clearance from O'Brien went, unluckily, straight to Sagna, who was allowed to take two or three strides forward unchallenged as two Leeds men stood off, and probably unsighted Kasper if anything. Their third, Parker strode out of position into the centre of midfield, misplaced it, allowing a break into the void he left behind. Not a criticism here really though, as we were going for the equaliser. It was more pleasing to see the endeavour. Unfortunately for us, class players punish such things. Leigh Bromby completely lost Van Persie in that goal, though. Bruce and O'Brien again impressed as a partnership, and both looked assured.

I do sound critical here but we were pleasingly solid (realistically we couldn't have expected any more). I think Kasper had less to do than at the Emirates, even with Arsenal fielding a better side. Kasper made one absolute wonder-save from another good Chamakh run, he ran unmarked a couple of times in the first leg an he is noted for aerial threat. The save was not only full stretch and almost point blank, but he pushed the ball up and out of the danger area towards the edge of the box. Incredible.

In midfield, aside from perhaps being a little harder in the tackle and quicker to press, we did admirably. When we did press we marked every man and forced an error several times, but Nasri's invention and talents allowed play to be spread often faster than we could manage defensively. We did impressively, and they did the best they could. Because of the amount of defending we had to do, we didn't see Snodgrass as far up the pitch as we would probably have liked, taking on a full back but when he did get forward he made good use of the ball, linking up with Connolly well as we've seen often this season. "Who needs Cesc Fabregas, we've got Rob Snodgrass" was a good call.

Howson was brilliant, he showed excellent composure on the ball, created space for himself and used the ball wisely. He was the nearest thing to Nasri we currently could manage, and several times went on the break and created opportunities. Most notably, at 1-2 he so nearly rolled Max in for a one on one, were it not for Djourou's toe things could have been very different. The assist for Johnson was neat, and most impressively he managed to physically compete with, and outwit Premier League (including a Brazilian international) midfielders, turning them (sometimes two at a time), shielding the ball and pinging a pass off. For me, an exciting glimpse of what Howson might become as a footballer given time.

Johnson put in a good shift and scored a world class goal. It might be just me but despite him scoring two long range efforts this season, including one on Saturday against Scunny, I still get the "don't shoot" voice in my head when the ball is rolled to him. Despite flying off his boot, time slowed down as it arrowed into the top corner, the only place that would have beaten their 6ft 5" keeper. What a goal it was. The best I've seen for ages at Elland Road from a Leeds man.

Sanchez did OK. I can't say anything more than that. A few times he ran at the Arsenal defence but his pace and ability isn't enough to worry players like that, at this moment in time. It's a different story in the Championship for him, however as he seems every bit a bright prospect. He seemed fairly anonymous, but didn't play poorly by any stretch. It was a good effort. He managed far better at the Emirates.

Max was brilliant. I've said it above but he was Leeds personified last night. He is really developing and looked at home taking on top drawer defenders, making Sagna and others look silly on more than one occasion. He, like Howson, showed glimpses against better players of what he may become in the future. 

Up front, I've mentioned Paynter, who, I repeat wasn't bad and I'm by no means scapegoating but we missed Luciano it can't be argued against. I am glad that Simon decided to give Davide a go ahead of McCormack and probably leaving Paynter on. He did well, some class touches and turns and was unlucky not to score with his first touch.

Tactically, the team looked far better when we reverted to a 4-4-2 with Gradel playing off Paynter where possible. We needed the pace of Max on the counter as the long ball hold up play, making use of Paynter and what should have been an advancing midfield in the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation we started with and have used recently with success didn't pay off early on. The players adapted well to the change of outlook which is pleasing, as was Simon's continued willingness never to lie down - playing two strikers with two wingers at times when going forward.

O'Brien going off injured seemed bad at first, but apparently is only a tight hamstring, hopefully more precautionary.

Arsenal did have too much quality and did play very well, in the end and perhaps inevitably. But as two teams I don't believe we were played off the park by any means. We put in a tireless shift as a group and competed well, fashioning equally good opportunities as those that Arsenal managed - we each slid the ball across the goal mouth twice for example, with a striker narrowly missing out on a tap in. It was a performance to be proud of again and shows good progress. 

Nasri was certainly their key (just look at the News Now articles leading with Nasri in the title) in the change we saw in their performance from the Emirates (along with Sagna - an improvement on Eboue) rather than what they're coming out and saying was "hunger". Putting the current form player in England on against a Championship side is bound to have such an effect. Wenger knew this, respected us, and played him - getting his result without injury so credit to him for risking it and showing that respect that the majority of Premier League managers seem to currently lack. 

Excellent photo from kf_leeds on flikr

On their official site's headline, I've just read a Twitter post from a delusional fan: "Our football at times was out of this world". All very well and good against a Championship side, and without bitterness, an Arsenal friend who attended the game agreed with what I thought - They make too many wrong decisions and misplace the ball too often. Their goals came from quick incisive moves with few passes - breakaways really. The more they do this the better, as the greater the number of passes they strung together, the more likely we looked to get behind the ball and snuff out an opportunity by just stepping in and intercepting, or the more likely they looked to misplace the ball - which did happen fairly often - enough times to take note at least. They aren't out of the woods or out from under the microscope just yet. The mere fact they needed their big guns - bringing two World Cup finalists off the bench to see the game out and starting their form player, should be of slight concern to them, surely? And their real tests will come in the Premier League and Champions League. On the flip-side to that comment, it should be massively heartening for our club.

The Support

Fantastic, a classic Elland Road evening atmosphere. Roll on nights like these. ITV again made Arsenal sound loud on their coverage, lacking microphones in our areas a la the Spurs replay and no doubt due to the ITV chant we love so dearly. The truth is, the sang when 2 goals clear and after the scored. Other than that when they did chime up the Elland Road faithful mocked as they were that quiet the whole evening, despite a good performance.

Man of the Match

Again, everyone put in a tireless shift but the standout man was Max Gradel. He epitomised Leeds and what the fans love players to do last night - he managed to mix his work ethic and tirelessness with great talent - and that was most pleasing.