Leeds United 1, Arsenal 3

Bradley Johnson rifled one of the best goals of his career but the Leeds midfielder could not prevent Arsenal from reaching the FA Cup fourth round for a 15th successive season.

United have never won an FA Cup replay against the Gunners, despite many attempts. And although they gave their all in a replay watched by a crowd of 38,232, Arsenal’s class was never in question as they earned a home fourth-round tie against Huddersfield on Sunday, January 30.

United made two changes from the side which trounced Scunthorpe 4-0 on Saturday, Billy Paynter replacing injured top scorer Luciano Becchio and Ben Parker returning at left back in place of the ineligible George McCartney.

As expected, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger – faced with heavy commitments in league and cup competitions – packed his bench with big names including Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue, whose combined weekly wages would be a king’s ransom.

Wenger is repeatedly reminded that Arsenal have not won a trophy for five years and he was confronted with a packed Elland Road crowd which provided the kind of deafening backing that has so often been Leeds’ 12th man.

They were almost celebrating a goal in the opening 34 seconds when Max Gradel cut in menacingly from the left and crashed his low shot just wide of the near post. But it was Arsenal who drew first blood through a mixture of sublime passing and abysmal Leeds defending.

The neat inter-play which has become the Gunners’ trademark under Wenger’s management was to the fore again and Samir Nasri was allowed to stroll through a huge gap at the heart of the Leeds defence before shooting clinically past stranded keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Six minutes later Schmeichel prevented his side from going further behind, bending backwards and just managing to keep out Marouane Chamakh’s powerful header from Nasri’s free-kick. The Dane was then needed again to turn Andrey Arshavin’s 25-yard drive round a post as the Londoners showed their class.

Leeds needed to get Robert Snodgrass into the game but Arsenal enjoyed so much possession that the winger was a spectator for long spells and Arshavin and Nicklas Bendtner were only a bootlace away from converting crosses into the danger zone.

Eventually, Snodgrass stung Wojciech Szczesny’s hands with a speculative angled shot but United could not produce enough penetration to cause Arsenal’s defence much anxiety and the second goal arrived in the 35th minute.

Bacary Sagna and Bendtner ran at the retreating Leeds rearguard and when Andy O’Brien’s clearance landed at the feet of Sagna, the right back – recalled after serving a suspension – wasted little time in pulling the trigger. Schmeichel got a hand to the ball but the pace of the shot beat him.

Just when it seemed United were in danger of being ruthlessly swept aside, Johnson gave them hope in spectacular fashion. Gradel and Jonny Howson combined tellingly and from Howson’s square pass 30 yards out, Johnson, who is refusing to sign a new contract, propelled a glorious left-footed drive into the top right corner amid a deafening roar.

Gradel almost provided a quick equaliser but, after a promising run through the centre, he shot high into the Arsenal fans behind the goal in the South Stand.

United deserved immense credit for clawing their way back into contention but just 21 seconds into the second half Schmeichel needed a fine save to deny Alex Song at the foot of the near post and soon afterwards Snodgrass made a goal-saving interception with Arshavin ready to pounce.

Arshavin then drew hoots of derision from Leeds fans when he lifted a shot high into the crowd from a golden chance 15 yards out.

There was a blow for Leeds in the 66th minute when former Bantam Andy O’Brien left the field injured, to be replaced by Leigh Bromby.

Billy Paynter gave way to Davide Somma two minutes later and immediately the South African striker wasted an excellent chance, shooting wide of the near post from Paul Connolly’s cross.

On 71 minutes, Wenger sent on the cavalry, Fabregas and van Persie replacing Chamakh and Arshavin – and five minutes later van Persie rose at the far post to head home Bendtner’s measured cross from the right to make it 3-1 and book Arsenal’s place in the next round.

There was still time for Leeds to replace Sanchez Watt with Lloyd Sam, while Arsenal took off the magnificent Nasri and sent on Clichy, but there was to be no storybook finish for United despite the encouragement of their hoarse supporters.