Undeserved victories are still victories, but while only one side will be happy about their performance today (hint: not Arsenal) it's the home side who will move on in the tournament thanks to a very late penalty won by Nicklas Bendtner and converted by Cesc Fabregas. It was a heartbreaking blow for League One Huddersfield, who played exceptionally well and were unlucky to score only once, with a host of chances going just wide and Manuel Almunia playing the occasional hero for Arsenal.
Arsenal FC Vs. Huddersfield Town: Arsenal Advance to Fifth Round, Beat Huddersfield Town 2-1
The game didn't look as though it would be controversial - Nicklas Bentdner got the Gunners an early lead via a deflected goal that left Ian Bennett completely stranded, and it looked like more were coming. Then things all went terribly wrong. Samir Nasri left the game with a hamstring injury shortly afterwards, probably the most important event of the day, but worse was yet to come as far as the game was concerned for Arsenal. Sebestian Squillaci, who hasn't exactly been a paragon of defensive fortitude, was rightly shown a straight red card for a professional foul against Jack Hunt, and with Arsenal down to ten men and without their best player Huddersfield were suddenly back in it with a chance, and their play suddenly became infinitely more fluid and threatening.
They took it in the 66th minute, thanks to an Alan Lee header. All of their good work was undone, however, when with less than five minutes to play Bendtner tumbled dramatically over Jamie McCombe, and Fabregas was on hand to fire the Gunners into the fifth round.
See More:
