Fabregas glad Arsenal don't have to play extra FA game

Updated on: 31 January,2011 09:41 AM IST |
AFP |

Fabregas happy Arsenal don't have to play extra FA Cup game after beating Huddersfield 2-1

Ten-man Arsenal needed a late Cesc Fabregas penalty to overcome plucky Huddersfield 2-1 and advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup yesterday.

Second-half substitute Fabregas scored from the spot on 86 minutes after League One side Huddersfield had fought back bravely from 1-0 down to level.

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas (second from left) scores a penalty kick
during their FA Cup match against Huddersfield Town at the Emirates
Stadium in London yesterday. PIC/AFP

Fabregas's winner came after Terriers defender Jamie McCombe flattened Nicklas Bendtner in the area.

The Gunners, who had Sebastien Squillaci sent off just before half-time, had earlier taken the lead through a Peter Clarke own goal on 22 minutes.

Huddersfield hit back through an Alan Lee header on 66 minutes to leave Arsenal facing the unwelcome prospect of a fourth round replay.

Afterwards Fabregas expressed relief that Arsenal, who have reached next month's League Cup final and face Barcelona in the Champions League last 16, had avoided another replay.

"Today we won and we are happy we don't have to play an extra game," he told ESPN. "We are in Europe and playing the best European team (Barcelona), so we don't need an extra game." Meanwhile, Arsenal ace Samir Nasri could be out for three weeks due to a hamstring injury.