Samir Nasri helped Arsenal overcome a potentially tricky FA Cup third-round replay as Arsene Wenger’s side defeated Leeds 3-1 on Wednesday to book a fourth round date with Huddersfield.
After being held 1-1 by Simon Grayson’s Championship team at the Emirates 11 days earlier and losing to Ipswich in the League Cup semi-final first leg, the pressure was on Arsenal to avoid another embarrassing slip-up.
Nasri eased any nerves before Bacary Sagna doubled their lead at Elland Road.
Bradley Johnson’s spectacular 30-yard effort before half-time lifted a 38,000 full house at Elland Road before substitute Robin van Persie killed the tie off just six minutes after coming on.
Leeds, 22 places below Arsenal on the league ladder, had come within seconds of eliminating the 10-times FA Cup winners at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Nasri seemed determined to ensure there would be no shock on the cards this time as he beat keeper Kasper Schmeichel in the fifth minute with an 18-yard finish. The French international took his tally for the season to 14 after a delightful pass by Andrey Arshavin had left the Leeds defense in tatters and Nasri clean through.
INTER 3, CESENA 2
AFP, ROME
Leonardo recorded his fifth straight win as Inter boss as the champions beat Cesena 3-2 at the San Siro on Wednesday to go fourth in Serie A.
Christian Chivu was the unlikely match-winner after goals from Erjon Bogdani and Emanuele Giaccherini had canceled out Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito’s early strikes for the hosts.
Cesena finished the game with 10-men after Giaccherini was harshly dismissed 15 minutes from the end.
Inter are now just six points behind city rivals and leaders AC Milan, but with a game in hand.
LILLE 3, NANCY 0
AFP, PARIS
Lille pulled four points clear of Paris Saint Germain at the top of the French first division on Wednesday courtesy of a 3-0 win over Nancy, with Ivory Coast international Gervinho bagging a double.
Impressive in a 2-0 victory over Nice on the resumption after the winter recess last weekend, Lille, who have the best attack in the league, maintained their fine run to move on to 38 points with this their third win of the year.
For Nancy, this loss in a game held over from earlier in the season was their fourth defeat on the road, leaving them in midtable.
Nancy did well to go into the break on level terms, especially after Lille’s Yohan Cabaye had a 40th-minute penalty saved by Nancy keeper Damien Gregorini.
The spot kick was awarded after an ill-judged challenge by Nancy midfielder Pascal Berenguer on Florent Balmont.
Just as he had done on Saturday against Nice, Gervinho opened the scoring with the first leg of his brace seven minutes after the restart.
The omnipresent Ivory Coast star, set up for the opener by Cabaye, was at the heart of Lille’s second two minutes later when feeding Eden Hazard who did well to slip his marker.
And for good measure, Gervinho rounded off an encouraging night’s work both for him and his highflying club with his second just after the hour to seal Lille’s tenth win of the campaign.
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