Fabregas penalty sends Arsenal into last sixteen

A late penalty from skipper Cesc Fabregas put Arsenal into the last 16 of the FA Cup after a 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town at the Emirates. The other goal came from Bendtner as Huddersfield did not make it easy, especially near the end of the first half when Squillaci was sent off for being the last man. It also did not look as easy when Samir Nasri was brought off on just 32 minutes with an injury. The Arsenal lineup was of course changed and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia played in his first game since September because of injury. The likes of Arshavin, Nasri and Chamakh all started, with Fabregas, Walcott and Van Persie on the bench being rested.

The Gunners had an early chance to grab the lead through Bendtner after Arshavin found him with a deflected cross but the Dane could only manage to steer his shot wide.

Arshavin then managed to work a shot for himself after another good run down the left hand side. He shot inside the near post but Bennett in the Huddersfield goal got down well to keep the shot out.

Bendtner then really should have hit the target but he completely missed the ball after Nasri floated a ball into him.

Arsenal then took a deserved lead through Bendtner. Nasri playing the through ball for Bendtner to run on to and he got a shot out which would have probably been going miles wide but it took a huge deflection and went into the back of the net.

Huddersfield then should have got an equaliser as a lovely ball was fed across into the box but Lee flicked his shot wide.

They then had another decent chance to score as the ball was floated into the box and onto the head of Pilkington but once again the shot went wide.

Since the goal Arsenal had looked shaky and then a moment of lapse in concentration gifted Huddersfield a lifeline. Squillaci was sent off for bringing down Hunt after an amazing run from the youngster.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

Arshavin was looking much livelier than in previous weeks and managed to almost grab a goal as Rosicky found him darting down the left but he could only find the side netting with his attempt.

Huddersfield then thought they had an equaliser but an amazing save from Almunia kept Lee's header from finding the bottom corner of the net.

The underdogs then did grab a goal. Lee's header this time proving too powerful for Almunia and Huddersfield were right back in the game.

4 minutes from time Arsenal were awarded a penalty after McCombe brought down Bendtner before he had even had a chance to get to the ball. Fabregas stepped up to take and slotted the ball home to send Arsenal into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Huddersfield were not going out without a fight and they came close to leveling the scores once again from Roberts' free kick but the ball only just sailed over the bar.

The final score ended Arsenal 2-1 Huddersfield.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Almunia, Eboue, Koscielny, Squillaci, Gibbs, Denilson, Diaby(69), Arshavin, Nasri(32), Bendtner, Chamakh(46).
Subs: Szczesny, Song(46), Wilshere, Fabregas(69), Rosicky(32), Walcott, Van Persie.

Huddersfield: Bennett, Peltier, Gudjonsson, Clarke, Roberts, Pilkington, Clarke(60), McCombe, Lee, Kilbane, Hunt.
Subs: Naysmith, Kay, Arfield(60), Novak, Colgan, Atkinson, Chippendale.

My man of the match: Cesc Fabregas

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Attendance: 59,375